Trump Suggests Biden May Use Supplements to Get ‘Jacked Up’ for Debate

In his last scheduled rally before he takes the stage for a presidential debate, former President Donald J. Trump on Saturday mocked President Biden over his preparations, suggesting his opponent might be using medical supplements.

“Right now, crooked Joe has gone to a log cabin to ‘study,’” Mr. Trump said at a rally in Philadelphia, pantomiming quotation marks with his hands. “He’s sleeping now, because they want to get him good and strong. So a little before debate time, he gets a shot in the ass.”

Mr. Trump and his campaign for months challenged Mr. Biden to debate, taunting him with an empty lectern and suggesting he was too afraid to take the stage. But since the candidates agreed in May to two debates, one on June 27 and another on Sept. 10, Mr. Trump has at recent rallies sought to reframe the low expectations that he has set.

Mr. Trump has during rallies and speeches consistently attacked Mr. Biden’s mental capacities, contending that the president cannot put “two sentences together.”

But he did not use that line at Saturday’s rally before thousands of people at the Liacouras Center in North Philadelphia. Instead, he seemed to be preparing his supporters for the possibility that Mr. Biden might prove a formidable opponent by accusing him of using a chemical boost.

“I say he’ll come out all jacked up, right?” Mr. Trump said, referring to Mr. Biden. Moments later, Mr. Trump, who has previously demanded Mr. Biden take a drug test before their debate, seemed to accuse Mr. Biden of using illegal drugs.