Wikipedia

Age and health concerns of Joe Biden

Joe Biden, the 46th president of the United States, is the oldest sitting president in United States history.[1][2] Republican president Donald Trump and right-leaning media raised concerns about his age, including his cognitive state, in the 2020 United States presidential election. These concerns increased after a poor performance by Biden during a debate against Trump in the 2024 presidential election, which led a number of commentators and some Democratic lawmakers to call for Biden to drop out of the 2024 presidential race.

Background

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In 2018, when Biden was considering running for president, he consulted with friends, aides and longtime supporters as to whether he was too old to seek the presidency.[3] By 2019, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Politico, CNN, The Atlantic, the Associated Press, and Slate all published articles on Biden's age and fitness for office.[4] That year, in advance of the 2020 United States presidential election, many of his Democratic opponents used his age against Biden, who was 76 at the time. Biden supporters criticized this as ageist discrimination.[5] According to ABC News, Vladimir Putin and the Russian government spread disinformation about Biden's mental health during the 2020 presidential election,[6] and the Department of Homeland Security withheld publication of a bulletin warning law enforcement agencies about this campaign.[7] During and in the years since the 2020 presidential campaign, Trump has claimed that Biden has dementia, calling him "Sleepy Joe" at rallies.[8] This angle has remained popular among right-wing media outlets.[9][10][11]

 
Joe Biden's 81st birthday cake, jokingly referred to as his "146th birthday" cake by the Biden White House

The Biden administration has routinely aimed to make light of the president's age by poking fun and joking about it. This approach has been met with both praise and mockery.[12][13][2] The Biden administration has also been criticized for allegedly gaslighting or harassing journalists who asked questions about Biden's health or age.[14]

In 2022, a New York Times–Siena College poll found that 61% of Democratic voters wanted someone other than Biden to be the presidential nominee, citing his age as the main concern. Biden's aides dismissed age-related concerns as politically motivated attacks by Republicans.[15] According to a 2024 poll, Biden's age and health are major or moderate concerns for 86% of voters generally,[16] up from 76% earlier in 2024.[17] According to another 2024 poll, most of those who voted for Biden in 2020 say they believe he is too old to be an effective president; The New York Times noted that these concerns "cut across generations, gender, race and education".[18] The Wall Street Journal has reported that since 2023 or earlier, Biden's team has limited his schedule, personal interactions, media appearances, interviews, and unscripted exchanges in order to minimize concerns about his age and mental acuity.[19]

According to Biden's 2023 annual physical examination, he is in good health for a man of his age. Biden is on medication for non-valvular atrial fibrillation (a form of irregular heartbeat), has a mild sensory peripheral neuropathy, and has a stiff gait due to spinal arthritis and the aftereffects of injury. No signs of cognitive decline or dementia were noted.[20][21]

February 2024

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Upon concluding the investigation into Biden's handling of classified documents, special counsel Robert Hur suggested that Biden would be able to present himself to a jury as an "elderly man with poor memory" and wrote that his memory "appeared to have significant limitations".[22] White House lawyers disputed this characterization[17] and Biden rejected the claim in a televised press conference on the day the special counsel's report was released, though during the conference he referred to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as the President of Mexico.[23]

Jon Stewart raised concerns about his age in his Daily Show return in mid-February.[24][25]

June 2024 debate

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Further information: 2024 United States presidential debates

In June 2024, Biden took part in the first presidential debate. The debate reinforced concerns about Biden's age, with Biden appearing confused and disoriented during its first half, giving meandering answers to questions, particularly on health policy.[26] The New York Times reporter Reid Epstein wondered whether voters would see him as someone physically able to run the country, even if they preferred his policies to Trump's.[27] Some Democrats were unsure whether he should continue his campaign.[28][29] Many officials and foreign leaders who encountered Biden in the months or year preceding the debate noticed he was increasingly frail, tired, meandering, and less lucid in his speech. In many parts of Europe, this led to concern about a second Trump presidency.[30] Biden declined to undergo a cognitive exam such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, saying that he has "a cognitive test every single day" in performing his presidential duties.[31] It later emerged that a neurologist specializing in Parkinson's disease had met with Biden's official White House physician; the White House said he was not being treated for the disease.[32][33][34]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Klein, Betsy (November 20, 2023). "Biden's birthday prompts debate about age and wisdom of America's oldest president | CNN Politics". CNN. Archived from the original on February 11, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Baker, Peter (November 19, 2023). "For an Aging President, a Birthday With a Bite". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on March 8, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  3. ^ "Is Biden Too Old to Run for President Again?". Bloomberg News. Associated Press. December 14, 2018. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  4. ^ Shafer, Jack (August 2, 2019). "Is Joe Biden Too Old?". Politico. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  5. ^ Erickson, Bo (June 4, 2019). "When a young Joe Biden used his opponent's age against him - CBS News". CBS News. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  6. ^ Barr, Luke (September 8, 2020). "Russia spreading disinformation about Biden's mental health: DHS". ABC News. Archived from the original on September 10, 2020. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  7. ^ Margolin, Josh; Bruggeman, Lucien; Steakin, Will; Karl, Jonathan (September 2, 2020). "DHS withheld July intelligence bulletin calling out Russian attack on Biden's mental health". ABC News. Archived from the original on September 10, 2020. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  8. ^ Chait, Jonathan (October 23, 2020). "Trump's Plan to Make Biden Look Senile Disappeared Without a Trace". Intelligencer. Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  9. ^ Stuart, Arlette Saenz,Elizabeth (March 5, 2023). "Jill Biden says the idea of a competency test for elderly politicians is 'ridiculous' | CNN Politics". CNN. Archived from the original on June 24, 2023. Retrieved June 24, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ Klawans, Justin (November 19, 2021). "Joe Biden Didn't Take Cognitive Test in Annual Exam, Sanjay Gupta Says". Newsweek. Archived from the original on June 24, 2023. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  11. ^ Keene, Houston (May 12, 2023). "Dozens of House Republicans demand Biden take cognitive test or drop out of 2024 race". Fox News. Archived from the original on June 24, 2023. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  12. ^ Duhon, Clara (November 21, 2023). "Biden marks '146th birthday' with flaming cake". The Hill. Archived from the original on March 8, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  13. ^ "Biden celebrates his 81st birthday with jokes as the White House stresses his experience and stamina". AP News. November 20, 2023. Archived from the original on March 8, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  14. ^ Stelter, Brian (July 3, 2024). "Did the media botch the Biden age story?". Vox. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  15. ^ Bidgood, Jess (July 1, 2024). "The Problem in Plain Sight". The New York Times. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  16. ^ Garrity, Kelly (February 11, 2024). "Poll: Overwhelming majority of Americans think Biden is too old for another term". Politico. Archived from the original on February 13, 2024. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  17. ^ a b "Age isn't just a number. It's a profound and growing problem for Biden". Politico. February 8, 2024. Archived from the original on February 9, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  18. ^ Lerer, Lisa; Igielnik, Ruth (March 3, 2024). "Majority of Biden's 2020 Voters Now Say He's Too Old to Be Effective". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 3, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  19. ^ Restuccia, Andrew; Linskey, Annie; Glazer, Emily; Ballhaus, Rebecca; Schwartzel, Erich (July 8, 2024). "How Biden's Inner Circle Worked to Keep Signs of Aging Under Wraps". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  20. ^ Bennett, Brian (February 16, 2023). "Biden's Physical: 'Healthy,' But 'Gait Remains Stiff'". Time. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  21. ^ Winakur, Jerald (June 2023). "A Geriatrician's Perspective on an Aging Joe Biden". Caring for the Ages. 24 (5): 5. doi:10.1016/j.carage.2023.05.001. ISSN 1526-4114. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  22. ^ Matza, Max (February 8, 2024). "No charge for Biden over classified documents but report questions memory". BBC News. Archived from the original on February 9, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  23. ^ Lebowitz, Megan; Alba, Monica; Lee, Carol E. (February 9, 2024). "'How in the hell dare he': Biden strikes defiant tone on special counsel report". NBC News. Archived from the original on February 9, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  24. ^ Fortinsky, Sarah (February 20, 2024). "Stewart defends critique of Biden's age". The Hill. 'Biden's lost a step, but Trump regularly says things at rallies that would warrant a wellness check,' Stewart said to laughs last week. 'The question then becomes, what the f‑‑‑ are we doing here, people?'
  25. ^ Abovyan, Kristina (February 13, 2024). "In 'Daily Show' return, Jon Stewart skewers Biden and Trump over age and fitness". ABC News. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  26. ^ "A halting Biden tries to confront Trump at debate but stirs Democratic panic about his candidacy". Associated Press. June 27, 2024. Archived from the original on June 28, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  27. ^ Lemon, James; Zappone, Chris; McSweeney, Jessica; Tomazin, Farrah; Ralston, Nick (June 28, 2024). "US presidential debate LIVE updates: Donald Trump, Joe Biden clash over abortion, economy and foreign affairs ahead of 2024 US election". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on June 28, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  28. ^ Stein, Chris (June 27, 2024). "Democrats lament 'really disappointing' Biden debate – reports". The Guardian. Archived from the original on June 28, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  29. ^ Daniels, Eugene (June 27, 2024). "Dems freak out over Biden's debate performance: 'Biden is toast'". Politico. Archived from the original on June 28, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  30. ^ Abutaleb, Yasmeen; Dawsey, Josh; Sacchetti, Maria; Hudson, John; Diamond, Dan (July 6, 2024). "Biden's aging is seen as accelerating; lapses described as more common". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  31. ^ Kanno-Youngs, Zolan (July 6, 2024). "Biden Says He Has Not Had a Cognitive Test and Doesn't Need One". The New York Times. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  32. ^ Helmore, Edward (July 6, 2024). "Biden's doctor reportedly met with top neurologist at White House". The Guardian. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  33. ^ Baumgaertner, Emily; Baker, Peter (July 8, 2024). "Parkinson's Expert Visited the White House Eight Times in Eight Months". The New York Times. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  34. ^ "President Biden not being treated for Parkinson's, White House says, amid questions over doctor's visit". Sky News. July 9, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
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