As concerns rise over his health, Biden continues to stumble
The president's latest slip of the tongue in which he assured that Vladimir Putin is "clearly losing the war in Iraq" revives criticism of his ability to govern the country, especially he intends to be reelected in 2024.
(Cordon Press)
Joe Biden has done it again. The oldest active president in the nation's history, who is seeking re-election in 2024, slipped up again while giving remarks to reporters on the South Lawn of the White House. The Democratic leader assured that Vladimir Putin is "clearly losing the war in Iraq."
Biden had been asked how defeated the Russian president might be after the latest developments concerning the aborted uprising of the Wagner Group.
A little more than a month ago, the president suffered a serious fall during the graduation ceremony of Air Force Academy cadets in Colorado.
Biden gave a speech at the event and then proceeded to present the diplomas to the cadets, at which point the incident occurred. In the video posted on social media, the president is seen stumbling as he turns around to return to his seat after handing out the last diploma to a graduate. He extended his hands to avoid further damage and fell with his whole body on his side.
After the fall, Biden tried to get up on his own but had to be helped by security guards accompanying him at the ceremony. Of course, when he stood up, he pointed to the object that tripped him.
Despite being one of the president's most serious falls, this is not the first time we have seen him on the ground due to a stumble. Nor, since he announced his presidential run, is this the only time we have seen him suffering a lapse or look disoriented in front of cameras.
Biden's most recent lapses
Biden's repertoire is extensive: saying words that do not exist, shaking hands with nobody, claiming to have cancer by mistake, looking for a dead person in the audience, confusing names or falling asleep at events of global importance, these are the incidents reported by the media on an almost weekly basis:
- Pelosi, the savior of the Great Depression: in May, during an appearance at the Emily's List Gala, a Democratic Party event that honors influential pro-choice women, Biden was attempting to praise the career of Nancy Pelosi "because she's so incredible." However, because of his disorientation, he implied that former speaker of the House of Representatives was a few years older than she actually is.
In the video, Biden can be seen claiming that Pelosi "rescued America from the Great Depression." Clearly, the president slipped up and confused The Great Recession (between 2007 and 2009) with The Great Depression that occurred between 1929 and 1939 :
Pelosi was born on March 26, 1940.
- The clep clep ... Kleptocracy: the president announced the delivery of an aid package for Ukraine. There he tried to pronounce the word "kleptocracy" but failed to pronounce it correctly. He concluded with a self-deprecating laugh:
- Let's lick the world: also in April, during a speech to Parliament during his visit to Northern Ireland, the president not only offered to "lick the world," but asked people to do it with him.
His most viral lapses
- America is a great country: in a speech on the White House lawn, Biden declares that "America is a great country that can be defined with a single word..." Subsequently, he utters a non-existent expression: "Asafuthimerfutifuterwigh." The vice president, Kamala Harris, stood still as she listens to him.
- Not knowing where to go: his aides constantly try to guide him to the exit when leaving the podium at his speeches or official events. It seems that the president never knows where to go.
- Shaking hands with nobody: among his most controversial incidents of absent-mindedness and confusion is the so-called "phantom hand." Nobody knows who Biden is trying to shake hands with, and he always reacts the same way, a few seconds with his hand outstretched, looks around and then continues on.
-"Jackie, are you here, where's Jackie? I think she was going to be here," were the president's words in the middle of a speech in late September 2022 as he searched the audience for a Republican congresswoman who had died in early August.
- Asleep at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit: the president closed his eyes during the opening speech at the summit while sitting in his seat. One of his assistants had to wake him up.
Age and lapses, Biden's other opponents in the election
Although Biden announced his intention to run for president of the United States once again, many voters ( do not want him to be reelected. Citizens see his age, he would be 86 years old at the end of his second term, and all these lapses captured in public as an obstacle.
Biden also became the lowest-rated president in the last 40 years, according to a FiveThirtyEight analysis. Citizens' perception of the president at this point in his term is lower even than that of Donald Trump, whom he has so far slightly outperformed. Onlyhad a worse approval rating back in 1979.
The White House response and calls for cognitive tests
The White House strongly denies that the president has any health problems that could be a product of his old age. However, all these incidents are raising doubts as to whether he is fit to continue to serve as head of the world's most powerful nation.
Congressman Ronny Jackson, who served as a physician to Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump, has repeatedly called for the president to take a "cognitive test."
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