The bomb hidden in the special counsel's report regarding Joe Biden's fragile mental health caused a cascade of reactions on social media, ranging from disbelief to sarcasm to indignation to concern. The common theme of these reactions was: if Biden is mentally incompetent to stand trial, how is he competent to be president? Republican Congresswoman Claudia Tenney went a step further and sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland to demand that, in accordance with the 25th Amendment, he activate the procedure to remove the leader of the Executive.
Claudia Tenney
The representative for New York did not limit herself to giving her opinion on the contents of the document. Tenney sent a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ), accessed by Fox News, in which he notes that Biden "most seemingly lacks the ability to execute his presidential responsibilities," so, " it is incumbent upon you [Garland] to explore procedures to remove the President pursuant to the 25th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. President Biden needs to be impeached, or he needs to be removed. There is no middle ground."
Biden is either mentally capable to stand trial & should be charged for mishandling classified documents as Vice President OR he is unfit to serve as President.
There is no middle ground.https://t.co/EFIyHVVvUv
— Rep. Claudia Tenney (@RepTenney) February 9, 2024
Donald Trump
Surprisingly, Donald Trump did not focus his attacks on the report in this aspect, but on the DOJ's double standard. On Truth Social, he reposted numerous comments from right-wing personalities and politicians on the matter. Of course, he had comments of his own. However, the only reference to Biden's mental state went against the grain: he insisted that Biden was in his "mental primetime" when he "willfully retained" those documents. This is illegal, Trump maintains, since, as vice president, "he wasn't protected by the Presidential Records Act."
Nikki Haley
Trump's rival for the Republican presidential nomination stressed that, despite it being "sad" that Biden "can't remember major events in his life, ... it will be even sadder if we have a person in the White House who is not mentally up to the most important job in the world." Therefore, she says, "Joe Biden should take a mental competency test immediately, and it should be shared with the public." In a subsequent post, the former governor of South Carolina held Trump to the same standard, pointing out that "neither is at the top of their game and both were reckless with American documents."
Joe Biden can’t remember major events in his life, like when he was vice president or when his son died. That is sad, but it will be even sadder if we have a person in the White House who is not mentally up to the most important job in the world. Joe Biden should take a mental…
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) February 8, 2024
Dean Phillips
Biden's rival for the Democratic nomination responded to the report by calling for a change of guard in the U.S. presidency. On one hand, he highlighted the Trump's legal problems, and on the other hand he noted that "the special prosecutor considers President Biden too forgetful to prosecute," encouraging his followers to "just consider how great it's going to feel with a new generation of leadership next January. Change is coming!" Later, Phillips addressed the attacks on Biden's cognitive abilities with a loving message: "President Biden's emotion about his son, Beau, was the humanity that America loves in its Presidents. I felt it tonight."
As the Supreme Court considers whether Donald Trump is an insurrectionist.
And the Special Counsel considers President Biden too forgetful to prosecute.
Just consider how great it’s going to feel with a new generation of leadership next January. Change is coming! 🇺🇸
— Dean Phillips (@deanbphillips) February 9, 2024
Mike Johnson
For House Speaker Mike Johnson, Biden's appearance to deny the content of Hur's report "further confirmed on live television what the Special Counsel report outlined. He is not fit to be President."
The President’s press conference this evening further confirmed on live television what the Special Counsel report outlined.
He is not fit to be President.
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) February 9, 2024
Jim Jordan
The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee summarized the report in two forceful sentences: "There's a double standard of justice in this country. And Joe Biden isn't fit for office."
Today’s report from Robert Hur tells us two things:
There’s a double standard of justice in this country.
And Joe Biden isn’t fit for office.
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) February 8, 2024
Ted Cruz
The senator gave voice to a concern of many citizens: Biden "cannot remember when he was Vice President, but this man has the nuclear codes..."
Truly astonishing.
The US Department of Justice formally laying out evidence that the sitting President of the United States IS NOT COMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL.
He cannot remember when he was Vice President, but this man has the nuclear codes…. pic.twitter.com/GpJ6H9jtfw
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) February 8, 2024
Greg Abbott
The governor of Texas went a step further with his reaction to the report on Biden's mental state, asking, "Who is in charge? America deserves to know!"
Who is in charge?
America deserves to know!
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) February 9, 2024
Ron DeSantis
Although the governor of Florida did not share any comments on his social networks, some followers remembered his words during his debate with Gavin Newsom: "Yes, he's in decline. Yes, it's a danger to the country. He has no business running for president. And, you know, Gavin Newsom agrees with that. He won't say that, but that's why he's running a shadow campaign."
Ron DeSantis saw this moment coming months ago on national television.
“Yes he’s in decline. Yes it’s a danger to the country. He has no business running for President. Gavin Newsom agrees with that. He won’t say that. That’s why he’s running a shadow campaign.” pic.twitter.com/4BOFxZFHks
— Dustin Grage 🇺🇸 (@GrageDustin) February 9, 2024
Vivek Ramaswamy
The former presidential candidate was very clear that "Biden will not be the Democratic nominee. Get ready for Michelle Obama."
Biden will not be the Democratic nominee. Get ready for Michelle Obama.
pic.twitter.com/1fG29EnOmo— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) February 9, 2024
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The independent candidate for the White House pointed out that it is time for Americans to ask themselves about the president's competence and if he is truly capable of making decisions "that require complex levels of thinking." In addition, he accused Biden of having become "the sock puppet for these large industries, the big hedge funds, BlackRock, State Street, and Vanguard, who give equally to the Republican and Democratic Party, and now are just comfortable calling the shots."
I think we’ve reached a time where it’s no longer character assassination to ask legitimate questions about the President’s competency.
There are so many decisions that require nuance, that require complex levels of thinking and that those kind of issues are coming at you many… pic.twitter.com/nCtJkAtZRd
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) February 9, 2024
