US President no longer useful after 4 pm?
After his TV debacle, discussions about US President Biden's fitness have been revived. According to the portal "Axios," there is a window of time when Biden reliably functions. Beyond this timeframe, Biden is prone to stumbling.
US President Joe Biden promises to deliver during public appearances, even his stiff gait provides fodder for conversation. There have been frequent reports that he cannot concentrate properly. The White House denies this regularly. Over the weekend, the portal "Axios" reported, citing unnamed sources, that Biden is particularly fit between 10 am and 4 pm. Therefore, many public events are planned during this timespan. Outside of this timeframe, Biden is more prone to making promises, it was further reported.
Doubts about Biden's suitability for a second term due to his advanced age have been around for a while. If he wins the election in November, he would be 82 years old at inauguration and would still be leading the US at the age of 86.
The Democrats had hoped that Biden would show during the debate how fit he still is. However, the opposite happened: the debate began on Thursday evening at 9:01 pm. Biden lost the thread several times during the spectacle in front of millions of viewers, stared blankly into space, and often couldn't finish his sentences. Ninety minutes later, television cameras captured First Lady Jill Biden helping her husband carefully down the steps from the podium.
"I don't run as easily as I used to ... I don't speak as smoothly as I used to ... I don't debate as well as I used to"
The day after, Biden was able to regain the positive impression he had made the previous evening at a campaign event in North Carolina: with a jubilant crowd and a teleprompter in front of him – at 1 pm local time. He admitted that he had not performed well the previous evening and apologized.
"I don't run as easily as I used to, I don't speak as smoothly as I used to, I don't debate as well as I used to," he told the crowd under the cheers: "But I know how to tell the truth. I know what's right and what's wrong. And I know how to do this job. I know how to get things done."
The Democratic Party still largely supports Biden, rallies behind him, and rejects calls for a new candidate. However, the pressure could increase, especially when Biden has to appear more often in the evenings.
- Despite the Republicans continuously questioning Biden's fitness for the US presidential election 2024, the Democrats remain steadfast in their support for Joe Biden, believing he can deliver during the campaign.
- Should Biden win the elections and serve another term, he will become the oldest US president in history at 86 years old, sparking concerns among Republicans about his ability to handle the responsibilities of the position.
- The upcoming debates, particularly those held in the evening, could be a point of contention in the discussions surrounding Biden's fitness for the 2024 US presidential election, as it may expose potential lapses in his concentration and speech capabilities.
