Critics are expressing concern over President Joe Biden’s recent press conference, claiming it is indicative of his diminished mental capacity and may serve as the “worst possible outcome” for Democrats hoping he does not seek re-election. Several commentators have noted that the president’s verbal gaffes during the press conference did nothing to ease concerns over his cognitive abilities, while also failing to sufficiently bolster support from within his own party.
Ruthless podcast host Josh Holmes described the situation as one in which “corrupt Democrats” are left frustrated by Biden’s performance, unable to definitively determine whether it is poor enough to warrant an end to his candidacy or strong enough to silence his critics. National Journal Hotline editor Kirk A. Bado likened the press conference to Biden’s ABC News interview, stating that it was neither bad enough to “open the floodgates” nor good enough to quell concerns.
The Spectator editor-at-large Ben Domenech remarked that Trump and the Republican National Committee (RNC) were likely to benefit from the situation, as Democrats are left waiting to release statements in response to Biden’s performance. Kyle Saunders, a political science professor at Colorado State University, highlighted the Goldilocks nature of Biden’s press conference, noting that it is neither catastrophically bad nor particularly impressive, placing Democrats in an undesirable “no win zone.
South Carolina Democrat Rep. Jim Clyburn admitted to NBC that the president is not the same person he was two years ago and acknowledged concerns over his cognitive abilities. However, Clyburn defended Biden’s mental capacity, stating that he still possesses one of the best minds he has ever encountered and that he “is still grasping what this country is all about.
CNN’s chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta called on President Joe Biden to undergo a cognitive exam in order to prove his competence for the role, after noting a number of concerning aspects of his recent press conference performance. Dr. Gupta cited an absence of facial animation and halting speech patterns as particularly noticeable, though he clarified that these observations were not diagnostic of deeper issues.
Despite this, Dr. Gupta argued that a detailed cognitive and movement disorder test should be conducted on the president, with results made available to the public. In support of his argument, Dr. Gupta cited his own extensive experience in reporting on advances in dementia treatment and testing, as well as having undergone cognitive testing himself for a documentary. The president completed his most recent physical exam in February, where a team of 20 doctors declared him “fit for duty.
