July 4th 2024.
According to those who have the privilege of regularly seeing him in action, President Joe Biden's demeanor and behavior in the Oval Office, on Air Force One, and in meetings around the world can be described in two distinct ways. On one hand, he is often sharp and focused, commanding the attention of those around him. But on the other hand, there are moments, especially later in the day, when his thoughts appear scattered and he may trail off mid-sentence or seem confused. Occasionally, he may even struggle to grasp the finer points of policy details.
Some have also noticed that President Biden may have trouble remembering people's names and at times, he may stare blankly or move slowly around the room. These occasional struggles with focus may not be uncommon for someone of his age. However, at 81 years old and seeking another four years in the White House, these moments have taken on a new significance following his disastrous debate performance against Republican Donald Trump. During the June 27 faceoff, Biden appeared pale, gave nonsensical answers, and seemed to lose his train of thought. This alarmed Democrats and his supporters, who were used to seeing him at his best during routine moments.
Now, there are concerns about whether Biden is up for a campaign that is only going to get rougher, and whether he can effectively govern for another four years if he wins. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed these concerns, acknowledging them but also assuring everyone that Biden has no intention of stepping away from the campaign. "The president is clear-eyed and he is staying in the race," she said. However, in recent weeks, there have been other notable signs of Biden's age, such as his constrained itinerary during a visit to France and his lackluster demeanor at a Hollywood fundraiser.
To better understand President Biden's conduct in private, this story is based on interviews with two dozen individuals who have spent time with him, some of whom have requested anonymity to discuss private interactions. These sources reveal that how Biden is in private is often a reflection of how he is in public - sometimes uneven. He can be commanding and confident one day, and hesitant and halting the next. For instance, the day after his debate blunder, Biden's voice was forceful and his delivery confident at a rally in North Carolina, earning cheers from the audience. But at other times, he may speak so softly that it's challenging to make out his words, or he may stop mid-sentence and trail off during speeches.
However, his public appearances have not dispelled concerns about his fitness for another four years. In a poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research in August 2023, 77% of US adults said that Biden was too old to be effective for another four years. This sentiment was shared by 89% of Republicans and 69% of Democrats. One person who spends time with Biden regularly shared that there have been visible signs of his aging over the past year, which his team has failed to fully address. The debate performance only exacerbated these concerns, even though Biden has reassured everyone that he can still effectively govern.
Biden's advisers have long been dismissive of questions about his age, but now they are acknowledging that his slowdown is undeniable. The debate has forced the president to confront the limitations of his age, which he previously made light of. However, the steps taken to minimize the public's perception of his age have been largely cosmetic. For instance, they have reduced his use of a long staircase to board Air Force One, and aides often accompany him in public to make his stiff gait less noticeable. They have also built-in recovery stretches in his schedule to allow him to rest after a grueling period of travel.
During Biden's visit to France, three French officials who helped organize his trip noticed their US counterparts' reactions to the options offered for a state visit and D-Day commemorations. They got the impression that the president's health must be fragile and that his entourage was very protective of him. In public, Biden's interactions, especially with journalists, have been limited under the guidance of one of his top advisers, Anita Dunn. Even during events with Democrats or other supporters, the White House sometimes limits his time with the audience. This could be seen as a protective measure, but it may also come across as an attempt to hide something.
In the aftermath of the debate, there has been a shift in strategy to get Biden out there more. A public blitz has been announced, including an interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos, a trip to Wisconsin, and a press conference during the NATO summit in Washington. Biden's allies are concerned that the next inevitable misstep will revive concerns about his fitness for office, regardless of how hard he tries. It seems that no matter what steps are taken, Biden may never be able to fully dispel these concerns.
According to those who regularly witness his actions, President Joe Biden has a dual presence behind closed doors, in the Oval Office, on Air Force One, and in meetings around the world. He is often sharp and focused, but there are also moments, particularly in the evening, when his thoughts seem jumbled and he struggles to finish his sentences or appears confused. At times, he may not fully grasp the finer details of policy.
There are also instances where he forgets people's names, appears to be lost in thought, or moves slowly around a room. While these occasional struggles with focus may not be uncommon for someone his age, at 81 years old and seeking another four years in the White House, they have taken on a new significance following his disastrous debate performance against Republican Donald Trump. During the June 27 faceoff, Biden appeared pale, gave nonsensical answers, and seemed to lose his train of thought.
This alarming display has caused concern among Democrats and his financial supporters, particularly because it was such a stark contrast to his usual sharpness. Questions have been raised about whether he is up for a campaign that will only become more intense, and if he can effectively govern for another four years should he win. However, the White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has reassured the public that Biden has no intention of stepping away from the campaign, stating that "the president is clear-eyed and he is staying in the race."
In recent weeks, there have been notable signs of Biden's age, from his limited itinerary during a visit to France to his subdued demeanor at a Hollywood fundraiser. This story is based on interviews with two dozen people who have spent time with the president privately, some of whom have requested anonymity to discuss private interactions. These individuals have observed that Biden's behavior in private often reflects his public persona - sometimes commanding and other times hesitant. For example, the day after his debate blunder, he gave a powerful speech in North Carolina that showed his confidence and determination to win the election.
However, there are also times when Biden speaks softly, making it difficult to hear him even with a microphone. He may stop mid-sentence or trail off during speeches. Other times, he is in full control of the room, leading the audience, cracking jokes, and shaking hands with enthusiastic supporters. His physical movements can also vary, from a stiff gait to a jog. Overall, his private behavior is often inconsistent, mirroring his public persona.
Despite the public's concerns about his fitness for office, Biden's advisers have been dismissive of questions about his age. However, they have now acknowledged that his slowing down is undeniable, and the debate performance has forced them to address it more directly. They have taken some steps to minimize the public's perception of his age, such as using a shorter staircase to board Air Force One and ensuring that an aide is always present when he walks in public. Additionally, his schedule has been adjusted to include periods of rest and recovery after busy periods of travel.
During his recent visit to France, three French officials who helped organize his trip noticed the US president's entourage was very protective of him, leading them to believe that his health may be fragile. Biden's public interactions, especially with journalists, have been limited under the guidance of one of his top advisers, Anita Dunn. Even during events with Democrats or other supporters, the White House sometimes restricts the amount of time Biden spends with the audience, which can be seen as an effort to hide something.
However, in the aftermath of the debate, there has been a shift in strategy to increase Biden's public presence. He will be sitting down for an interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos, traveling to Wisconsin and Philadelphia, and holding a press conference at the NATO summit next week. Despite these efforts, his allies worry that any future missteps, no matter how minor, may revive concerns about his fitness for office. It is a constant battle for the president to prove that he is up for the job, and it seems as though it may never fully go away.
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