President Joe Biden, in his first televised interview since the presidential debate, defended his reelection campaign and dismissed suggestions to step aside amid concerns about his mental and physical health.

The 22-minute interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos occurred as some Democrats, including lawmakers, have called for Biden to withdraw and let someone else be the nominee. Biden attributed his performance during the June 27 debate to a “bad night.”

“It was a bad episode, no indication of any serious condition,” Biden said. “I was exhausted. I didn’t listen to my instincts in terms of preparing and it was a bad night.”

When asked what he would do if urged by Congress members to drop out, Biden refused to answer, asserting it wouldn’t happen. Concerns about his cognitive abilities have grown after moments of confusion during the first presidential debate.

Biden downplayed Virginia Sen. Mark Warner’s plan to gather Democratic senators to discuss his campaign’s future. Biden mistakenly claimed Warner sought the presidential nomination, although Warner announced in 2006 that he would not run.

“Mark is a good man,” Biden said. “Mark and I have a different perspective. I respect him.”

Stephanopoulos questioned Biden’s mental and physical capacity to serve another term and whether he was honest about his age. Biden expressed confidence in his abilities and declined to commit to a cognitive exam, citing his busy schedule as proof of his capability.

“I have a cognitive test every single day. Every day I have that test, everything I do,” Biden said. “You know, not only am I campaigning, I’m running the world.”

Biden suggested voters should judge his suitability over the remaining 125 days of the campaign.

In a rally in Madison, Wisconsin, Biden shifted focus to Republican nominee Donald Trump, criticizing his character and citing past blunders, including a 2019 speech where Trump inaccurately mentioned airports during the Revolutionary War.

“He said George Washington’s army won the Revolution by taking control of the airports from the British,” Biden joked. “Talk about me misspeaking — airports from the British in 1776? It’s true, he is a stable genius.”

Biden highlighted his achievements such as canceling student loan debt, nominating Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, signing a same-sex marriage bill, approving gun safety measures, and working on a climate change law.

“I’m not letting one, 90-minute debate wipe out three-and-a-half years of work,” Biden said.

Biden emphasized the importance of the next four years, mentioning the potential appointment of at least two new Supreme Court justices. He warned that a Trump presidency could challenge the country’s democratic principles.

“For over two centuries, America’s been a free, democratic nation,” Biden said. “And I’ll be damned if in the year 2024 — just two years before our 250th anniversary as a nation — I’ll let Donald Trump take this away.”

Despite calls for his withdrawal, including from Illinois Democratic Rep. Mike Quigley, Biden remained resolute. Quigley suggested on MSNBC that Biden should step aside to preserve his legacy.

“Mr. President, your legacy is set. We owe you the greatest debt of gratitude,” Quigley said. “The only thing that you can do now to cement that for all time and prevent utter catastrophe is to step down and let someone else do this.”