In a recent White House meeting with nearly two dozen Democratic governors, President Joe Biden expressed his need for more sleep and fewer working hours. This revelation was reported by the New York Times, citing sources who attended or were briefed about the meeting. The president’s admission comes as he is currently 81 years old and has faced previous reports stating that he can only fully handle the job between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
During the same gathering, Biden responded to a question from Hawaii Governor Josh Green about his health with humor, referring to the issue as “just my brain.” However, this attempt at lightening the mood went unnoticed by at least one state leader present in the room.
Biden-Harris campaign spokesman Kevin Munoz defended the president’s work habits, stating that he strikes a balance between his personal life and work responsibilities. Munoz also highlighted how Biden’s daily routine compares to those of former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, who would go to bed at 9 p.m. and make dinner at 6:30 p.m., respectively.
While both Bush and Obama were considerably younger when they left office, Biden is already the oldest president in US history, and if he completes a second four-year term, he would be 86 years old. This fact raises concerns about his cognitive abilities and capacity to lead effectively.
Furthermore, a report published by New York magazine reveals that some of the president’s longtime friends have noticed a decline in his memory, with instances where he no longer remembers their names. In one instance, First Lady Jill Biden reportedly had to “feed” the president a greeting to a Democratic mega-donor at a White House reception.
The president’s cognitive decline has become increasingly difficult for him to manage, as he is now often “cocooned within mounting layers of bureaucracy, spoken for more than he was speaking or spoken to,” according to writer Olivia Nuzzi.
These disclosures about the president’s mental state come amid his public insistence on running for a second term despite a disappointing debate performance against presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump in Atlanta on June 27. The president initially attributed his lackluster performance to his extensive foreign travel ahead of the event, even though he had been in the Eastern Time Zone for ten days prior and spent a week preparing at Camp David.
The White House later cited a “cold” as the reason for Biden’s struggles on stage; however, this explanation seems dubious given that he was seen visiting a Waffle House and greeting patrons shortly after the debate.
According to Axios, citing White House aides, President Biden is prone to absent-minded gaffes and fatigue whenever he takes part in events held before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. Despite these concerns, the president’s campaign held a fundraiser at New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s home recently, as part of an effort to reassure wealthy donors about the viability and wisdom of their support for his reelection bid.
The ultimate goal is for the president to deliver concise remarks that demonstrate his competence without risking further criticism or scrutiny over his cognitive decline and fatigue. As concerns about Biden’s capacity to lead grow, it remains to be seen whether he can effectively address these challenges while maintaining his commitment to running for a second term.
