President Joe Biden suggested in a recent interview he could do the job of president as an 85-year-old man “better than anybody you know.“
But, The Wall Street Journal published an article with the headline, “Behind Closed Doors, Biden Shows Signs of Slipping.” It was based on interviews with 45 people who interacted with the president suggesting he is showing “his age” in several meetings behind closed doors.
“Some who have worked with him… including Democrats and some who have known him back to his time as vice president, described a president who appears slower now, someone who has both good moments and bad ones,” the Journal reported. “For much of his career, Biden enjoyed a reputation on Capitol Hill for being a master negotiator of legislative deals, known for his detailed knowledge of issues and insights into the other side’s motivations and needs—and for hitting his stride when the pressure was on. Over the past year, though, with Republicans in control of the House, that reputation has diminished.”
A White House spokesperson told the paper, “Congressional Republicans, foreign leaders and nonpartisan national-security experts have made clear in their own words that President Biden is a savvy and effective leader who has a deep record of legislative accomplishment.”
“Now, in 2024, House Republicans are making false claims as a political tactic that flatly contradict previous statements made by themselves and their colleagues,” they added.
The article conceded most of those who said Biden is showing signs of slowing down were Republicans, but adds some Democrats also said the same.
According to the article, “The White House kept close tabs on some of The Wall Street Journal’s interviews with Democratic lawmakers. After the offices of several Democrats shared with the White House either a recording of an interview or details about what was asked, some of those lawmakers spoke to the Journal a second time and once again emphasized Biden’s strengths.”
“They just, you know, said that I should give you a call back,” Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) told the paper.
White House spokesman Andrew Bates told Journal,”We thought it was important that all perspectives be represented.”
In one incident involving a January meeting on Ukraine aid, the paper reported, “The president moved so slowly around the Cabinet Room to greet the nearly two dozen congressional leaders that it took about 10 minutes for the meeting to begin, some people who attended recalled.”
“Biden started the meeting reading from notes to make broad points about the need to give money to Ukraine, which struck several participants as odd given that the lawmakers present already generally agreed that more funds were needed. Some attendees had trouble hearing him,” it added.
Attendees of that meeting said the president frequently deferred to lawmakers or staffers, and did not answer questions, with one person saying, “You couldn’t be there and not feel uncomfortable.”
The article comes as polls have found a majority of Americans think Biden is too old for the job.
However, during an interview with Time, when he was asked about his age and ability to do the job for another four years, Biden said, “I can do it better than anybody you know.
“You’re looking at me, I can take you too,” he added.
