 Much of the briefing was spent trying to parse the excuses for why his performance was so bad. The White House saying they're not trying to give excuses, but an explanation. First, it was that he had a cold. And then just yesterday, the president said at a fundraiser that it was his travel, his European travel schedule, which, by the way, ended 12 days before that debate. He spent seven days intensively prepping. But the White House is watching these reports coming out, and they are responding to them