President Joe Biden recently addressed rising concerns about his cognitive abilities and age in a revealing interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos.
In the interview, Biden stated he would not undergo an independent cognitive test and attributed his debate performance against former President Donald Trump to temporary factors, including exhaustion and illness, as the Washington Examiner reports.
During the ABC interview, Biden was questioned about his mental acuity following the controversial debate with Trump. He firmly stated he would not take an independent cognitive test, emphasizing that he undergoes daily cognitive assessments as part of his routine.
Biden explained that the demands of his dual roles in governing and campaigning, as well as illness, contributed to his subpar debate performance. He also reinforced the importance of the United States on the global stage.
Reflecting on his overall health, Biden admitted he can no longer run as fast as he used to, though he claimed to be in good condition. He challenged Stephanopoulos to keep up with his schedule as proof of his capabilities.
Biden responded to questions on whether he was similar to his former self, affirming that he still achieves significant successes, despite the toll his first term took on his health. He categorized the debate incident as merely a "bad episode" and not a sign of a serious condition.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had previously expressed concern about Biden’s debate performance possibly indicating a health issue. Biden dismissed these concerns, repeating that his poor performance was due to tiredness and not adhering to his instinctive preparation methods.
Following his European trips, Biden spent some downtime at Camp David, where he reportedly felt unwell. His doctors conducted various tests, including for COVID-19 and other infections, but concluded he had only a severe cold.
"Matter of fact, the docs with me, I asked them," Biden recalled. "They did a COVID test because we were trying to figure out what was wrong. They did a test to see whether or not I had some infection, you know, a virus. I didn’t. I just had a really bad cold."
Biden shared that he did not recall watching his debate performance afterward and stated that he did not place any blame on his team for the incident.
In the interview, Biden highlighted that despite the challenges, he remains focused on the campaign and leading the country. He promised his supporters that there is ample time left in the campaign for him to demonstrate his capabilities. "Watch me between — there’s a lot of time left in this campaign," Biden said, denying he is frail.
He reflected on the accomplishments of his tenure and remains confident in his physical condition and cognitive abilities. Biden's standpoint is that the incident was isolated and not reflective of his overall health or capacity to lead the nation.
In summary, Biden declined to commit to an independent cognitive test, attributing his debate performance to exhaustion and illness. He asserted his daily cognitive checks, the significant role of the U.S. on the global stage, and his overall good health. He addressed concerns from Pelosi, discussed the toll of his first term, and assured the public of his continued capabilities.
