--- title: Biden Trolls MAGA Performer Enhancer Theories Before Debate description: President Joe Biden addressed theories purported by Trump and his allies that he would be taking drugs before the debate in a social post. canonical: https://time.com/6993322/biden-trolls-maga-performance-enhancers/ author: Solcyré Burga article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2024-06-28T01:44:48.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-02-24T17:51:48.879Z article:section: Politics og:title: Biden Trolls MAGA Performer Enhancer Theories Before Debate og:description: President Joe Biden addressed theories pushed by Trump and his allies that he would be taking drugs before the debate. og:url: https://time.com/6993322/biden-trolls-maga-performance-enhancers/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt12b8e5531ae543d3/698a584a457a522cbcd6a756/GettyImages-2159608159.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1024 og:image:height: 576 og:image:alt: Donald Trump And Joe Biden Participate In First Presidential Debate og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Biden Trolls MAGA Performer Enhancer Theories Before Debate twitter:description: President Joe Biden addressed theories pushed by Trump and his allies that he would be taking drugs before the debate. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt12b8e5531ae543d3/698a584a457a522cbcd6a756/GettyImages-2159608159.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Biden Trolls MAGA Performance Enhancer Theories Minutes Before Debate > Sponsored content. 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It is written and edited by TIME journalists, and it is free to join at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=ba6c8723-6568-46ac-987b-7a1729171a66&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1). ### Newsletter facts | Attribute | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Publisher | TIME | TIME, August 2026 | | Frequency | Monday to Saturday (3x per week) | TIME, August 2026 | | Subscribers | 85,000 | TIME, August 2026 | | Open rate | 37.0% | TIME, August 2026 | | Written by | Philip Elliott, Senior Correspondent | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | Sign-up | time.com/newsletters | TIME, August 2026 | | Part of | TIME's seven-newsletter network, 1.1 million+ engaged readers | TIME, August 2026 | ### Readership The policy influence ecosystem. A policy-focused audience spanning government, public affairs, advocacy, law, research, political media, and the institutions that make, interpret and respond to public policy. ### TIME D.C. Brief: key statements * D.C. 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Brief is TIME's Washington newsletter, written by senior correspondent Philip Elliott. It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, three times a week. It reaches 85,000 subscribers with a 37.0% open rate as of August 2026. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters.  by [Solcyré Burga](https://time.com/author/solcyre-burga/)  ## Solcyré Burga Reporter Jun 28, 2024 1:44 AM UTC  U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks during the CNN Presidential Debate at the CNN Studios in Atlanta, Ga., on June 27, 2024. U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks during the CNN Presidential Debate at the CNN Studios in Atlanta, Ga., on June 27, 2024. Justin Sullivan—Getty Images  by [Solcyré Burga](https://time.com/author/solcyre-burga/)  ## Solcyré Burga Reporter Jun 28, 2024 1:44 AM UTC President Joe Biden cheekily addressed theories purported by Trump and his allies that the Democratic nominee would be taking performance-enhancing drugs before the debate in a new social media post of him with his “secret sauce.” “I don't know what they've got in these performance enhancers, but I'm feeling pretty jacked up,” Biden [tweeted](https://x.com/JoeBiden/status/1806486230084812937) on X, nearly 30 minutes before the debate. The sauce in question: a can of water that Biden supporters [can purchase](https://shop.joebiden.com/dark-brandons-secret-sauce/?utm%5Fsource=jrbsocial) for $4.60\. The "additional facts" on the back of the can includes lines about the 34 felony counts against Trump, two impeachments, and 6 bankruptcies. Among the ingredients: MAGA tears, mysterious Orange Liquid, and melted chocolate chip ice cream—the latter of which is the President's [favorite flavor.](https://x.com/Newsweek/status/1651690954590437382?lang=en) Purchases will be a direct donation to the Biden campaign fund. > [](https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1806486230084812937) The can of water also included a picture of Biden’s alter ego “Dark Brandon.” The viral meme, which is symbolized by a laser-eyed Biden, has been repeatedly referenced by the incumbent candidate as a means to poke fun at conspiracies pushed by Trump and his allies. **Read More:** [_What RFK, Jill Stein and Other Third-Party Candidates Are Doing During CNN’s Presidential Debate_](https://time.com/6993283/rfk-jr-jill-stein-presidential-debate/) Earlier this week, former President Trump asked for Biden to take a drug test. “DRUG TEST FOR CROOKED JOE BIDEN??? I WOULD, ALSO, IMMEDIATELY AGREE TO ONE!!!,” Trump wrote Monday [on Truth Social](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/112673301719650670). Since this spring, however, Trump has been calling for Biden to take a drug test before any debate took place. The Republican nominee also called for Biden to undergo drug testing prior to the 2020 debates, [according to ABC News](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/112673301719650670). Many Republicans have been talking about President Biden’s potential debate performance for days. On Monday, Sean Hannity postulated about Biden on Fox News. “The Joe Biden that we’re talking about tonight; I don’t think will be the Joe Biden we’re gonna see on debate night,” he said, claiming that Biden would be “all hyped up, hyper-caffeinated, whatever ‘it’ is.” Rep. Ronny Jackson also contributed to these theories on Donald Trump Jr.’s podcast, _Triggered with Don Jr._, [according to _The New Republic_](https://newrepublic.com/post/182844/maga-conspiracy-trump-biden-debate-drugs), speaking about drugs like Adderall and Provigil, that he says Biden might be taking to increase alertness. Get alerts on the biggest breaking news stories [**here**](https://cloud.newsletters.time.com/signup?nln=breaking-news) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/6993322/biden-trolls-maga-performance-enhancers/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/6993322/biden-trolls-maga-performance-enhancers/"},"headline":"Biden Trolls MAGA Performance Enhancer Theories Minutes Before Debate","datePublished":"2024-06-28T01:44:48.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-24T17:51:48.879Z","description":"President Joe Biden addressed theories purported by Trump and his allies that he would be taking drugs before the debate in a social post.","url":"https://time.com/6993322/biden-trolls-maga-performance-enhancers/","keywords":["2024 Elections","Donald Trump","News Desk"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt12b8e5531ae543d3/698a584a457a522cbcd6a756/GettyImages-2159608159.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Solcyré Burga","jobTitle":"Reporter","url":"https://time.com/author/solcyre-burga/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt12b8e5531ae543d3/698a584a457a522cbcd6a756/GettyImages-2159608159.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Donald Trump And Joe Biden Participate In First Presidential Debate","caption":"Donald Trump And Joe Biden Participate In First Presidential Debate","creditText":"Justin Sullivan—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/politics/","name":"Politics"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/2024-election/","name":"2024 Elections"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/6993322/biden-trolls-maga-performance-enhancers/","name":"Biden Trolls MAGA Performance Enhancer Theories Minutes Before Debate"}}]}] ```