Just months before the 2024 presidential election, a new report illuminates the concerns expressed by some U.S. lawmakers about President Joe Biden showing “signs of slipping.”
On June 4th, The Wall Street Journal released a report titled “Behind Closed Doors, Biden Shows Signs of Slipping,” discussing the 81-year-old president’s cognitive health, after speaking to more than 45 political figures, both Republican and Democrat, over several months.
While the White House maintains President Biden is a “sharp and vigorous leader,” some interview subjects recalled instances of the president allegedly forgetting details about his policies, frequently rambling and losing his train of thought.
A New Bombshell Report Claims Joe Biden Is 'Not The Same Person'
Throughout his years in the Senate and two vice presidency terms, Biden was known for his extensive knowledge of worldly issues and "for hitting his stride when the pressure was on," according to the journal.
Since then, the alleged reputation seems to have become distorted. Biden's age and cognitive fitness are continuously questioned during his current campaign for re-election as he is the oldest person to hold office.
Kevin McCarthy, the former House Speaker, told WSJ that when Biden was negotiating with House Republicans to lift the debt ceiling, last year, his demeanor would vary. Switching from acting spontaneously and confidently one day to mumbling and relying on notes, the next day.
"I used to meet with him when he was vice president. I'd go to his house," McCarthy said in an interview with WSJ. "He's not the same person."
Later in the report, it states that administrative aides familiar with debt-calling negotiations said that McCarthy told administrative officials that he was impressed with Biden.
Six sources also detailed a meeting between the commander-in-chief and House Speaker Mike Johnson, in February. In the one-on-one Biden reportedly didn’t recall that his administration had changed a policy that jeopardized big energy projects, referring to it as "just a study."
Similarly to the negotiations, White House spokesman Andrew Bates denied that Biden misspoke about the policy, according to the report.
White House Officials Maintain That President Biden Is A 'Vigorous Leader'
While many of the Democrats maintained during interviews that the president is still a top leader, it is important to note that WSJ claimed that the White House kept close tabs on the interviews scheduled between the publication and Democratic lawmakers.
The journal made sure to note that after the White House had reportedly heard recordings from interviews with the Democratic lawmakers, many of them called back to re-emphasis "Biden's strengths."
According to the WSJ report, in the past, White House officials have dismissed politicians' concerns as being motivated by partisan politics.
"In 2024, House Republicans are making false claims as a political tactic that flatly contradict previous statements made by themselves and their colleagues," White House spokesman Bates said.
