There are growing concerns about President Joe Biden's mental sharpness and consistency during high-stakes meetings and negotiations, according to accounts from lawmakers and officials who have interacted with the 81-year-old commander-in-chief, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.
In a January meeting on Ukraine aid in the West Wing, Biden moved at a sluggish pace and spoke so softly at times that some participants struggled to hear him, five people familiar with the gathering said. The president relied heavily on notes to make basic points and frequently deferred to aides when faced with questions, giving the impression he had tuned out at certain moments.
A month later, Biden appeared to misunderstand the details of his own administration's policy temporarily halting permits for LNG export terminals during a one-on-one exchange with House Speaker Mike Johnson. Biden claimed it was just a study, contradicting the actual directive and alarming Johnson, according to six people briefed on the conversation.
The episodes reflect a broader pattern of uneven behavior and engagement from the president, displaying both lucid moments and prolonged lapses, over a dozen lawmakers, administration officials and others who have negotiated with Biden said in interviews. His demeanor and command of policy minutiae would shift day-to-day, they recalled.
"He's not the same person," former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy bluntly stated about Biden compared to when he was vice president.
During last year's debt ceiling talks, McCarthy said Biden would have loose, spontaneous exchanges one day, only to mumble and rely excessively on notes the next meeting. The president spoke so inaudibly at one point that attendees struggled to understand him, three people present said.
The White House pushed back, providing numerous examples of Biden staying sharp and vigorous during crises. Spokesman Andrew Bates accused Republicans of peddling "false claims as a political tactic" about Biden's capacities. The president's doctors have deemed him fit, with no need for cognitive testing, Bates noted.
Biden has faced steady questioning and mockery from Republicans over his age and mental acuity, an issue that has caused some concern among Democrats as well heading into his re-election campaign. His public stumbles and verbal gaffes have provided fodder for critics questioning whether the oldest-ever president remains up for the job.
