A scathing article about President Biden's mental acuity — which included examples of gaffes and lack of energy in private meetings — sparked backlash from Democrats in Congress, their allies in the media and the White House, who described the article as nothing more than “false.” “stories.
Earlier this year, a report from Biden's Justice Department special counsel called him an “elderly man with a poor memory” at the end of an investigation into his mishandling of classified documents dating back to his tenure at Senate, which ultimately spared him from having charges brought against him by special advisor Robert Hur.
At 81, Biden is the oldest sitting president, and his critics say his age has caught up with him cognitively. If he is re-elected in November, he will be 86 years old at the end of his second term.
TRUMP RIPS BIDEN AS 'INCOMPETENT TO BE TRIED' IN DOCUMENTS INVESTIGATION: DOES NOT WANT 'THIS KIND OF EXEMPTION'
Biden has been prone to gaffes since his days as vice president, but the frequency and nature of his verbal missteps in recent years appear greater.
In May, Biden appeared to have broken with reality when he mistook the timing of the COVID pandemic by a factor several years when he said, “And when I was vice president, things were pretty bad for the pandemic, and what happened? That’s when Barack said to me, “Go to Detroit – and help us solve this problem.” » » The pandemic occurred years after Biden's time as vice president.
The president has repeatedly referred to the dead as living. In 2022, at a White House event, Biden called out former Rep. Jackie Walorski during a speech: “Jackie, are you there?” Where is Jackie? Walorski had died in a car accident the previous month.
At a campaign rally in February, Biden told the audience: “Right after I was elected, I went to a G7 meeting in the south of England. And I sat back and said, “America is back!” and Mitterrand of Germany – I mean France – looked at me and said: “How long are you staying here?” » » Mitterrand was president from 1981 to 1995 and died in 1996.
In 2021, Biden claimed he spoke with the late German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, who died in 2017, while reminiscing about past conversations at fundraising events.
On Tuesday evening, The Wall Street Journal published a report detailing instances in which the president demonstrated a lack of clarity in private meetings with staff and members of Congress.
Many of those who work most closely with the president say the Wall Street Journal got it completely wrong.
“NATIONAL SECURITY QUESTION”: EX-WH DOCTOR SOUNDS ALARM ON BIDEN’S MENTAL HEALTH AFTER BOMBSHELL REPORT
President Biden, second from right, holds a meeting with his cabinet in Washington, DC, January 5. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm was blunt, telling Fox News Digital, “The article was nonsense.”
“The president is totally on his game,” she added. “He is the wisest and most knowledgeable person in the room. He asks the toughest questions and has the deepest insight into the complex issues presented to him. He is sharp, thoughtful and wise.”
Others at the highest levels of government echoed Granholm's sentiment, such as Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
“I’ve worked for President Biden for 22 years,” Blinken told Fox News Digital. “Now as then – in strategic discussions and in meetings with foreign leaders – his depth of knowledge, mastery of policy and ability to get to the point and make his case are exceptional. He has invariably one step ahead of us.”
BIDEN'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS BOOSTED MENTAL ACUITY, CONCERNS ABOUT AGE, REPUBLICANS SAY
Attorney General Merrick Garland vouched for the president's mental acuity on domestic issues.
“I have complete confidence in the president,” Garland said. “As a member of the President's Cabinet and the National Security Council, I have always seen first-hand his ability to solve extraordinarily complex problems that are of the utmost importance to our national security.
“I have also seen him address domestic policy issues, guiding us clearly and decisively on complex issues to achieve results that benefit the American people.”
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen also objected to the claim that the president is in a state of mental decline, saying in a statement to Fox News Digital: “Both in Washington and in meetings with US leaders. around the world – including during difficult negotiations with President Xi – I have always seen President Biden as extremely well informed, master of the facts and very effective in advancing American interests. »
President Biden arrives with U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, right, during a Medal of Valor ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, May 17, 2023. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas also pushed back on that narrative.
“I strongly disagree with the depiction of the story,” Mayorkas said. “I am fully prepared for my meetings with President Biden, knowing that his questions will be detailed, thorough and demanding. In our exchanges, the President always draws on our previous conversations and past events to analyze issues and draw his conclusions .”
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin agreed with Mayorka's assessment, saying, “As someone who has seen President Biden make difficult national security decisions and seen his commitment to keeping our troops safe, I have nothing but complete confidence in our Commander-in-Chief.
Gina Raimondo, former governor of Rhode Island and current Secretary of Commerce, expressed her full support for her boss, saying: “I have spent countless hours with President Biden, discussing everything from our strategic competition with China technical aspects of CHIPS. for America, and in every conversation he was precise, focused and insightful, I could not disagree more with the misrepresentation of the President in this article. There is no one I would rather lead our country today.
Foreign media pulls no punches on Biden's 'confusion' and 'rage' after surprise press conference
President Biden speaks as Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas listen during a cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House on November 12 2021, in Washington, DC (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
VA Secretary Denis McDonough also came to Biden's defense.
“President Biden is not only as sharp and incisive as ever, he holds VA accountable every day – he holds Me responsible every day – to serve veterans,” McDonough said, “This article is completely inconsistent with the man I have served for 12 years.”
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in a statement: “I have participated in dozens of personal and larger meetings with President Biden, and I always note that his ability to handle difficult issues simultaneously is astonishing .
“President Biden has always had a deep understanding of policies at every level and never forgets to bring policies back to how they help the American people.”
GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Former President Trump and President Biden. (Associated Press)
It's no surprise that President Biden's top advisers are contradicting the narrative that the president's mental acuity may be declining. But talk of its decline began long before the Wall Street Journal article. Former President Trump and his supporters endured a lengthy attack on Biden's cognitive state. Trump has called his opponent “Sleepy Joe” since 2019.
These attacks may have been effective in shaping public opinion. According to a Pew Research poll released in late April, only 21% of respondents are extremely or very confident in Biden's mental fitness to act as president, with 16% somewhat confident and 62% somewhat or not at all confident.
Get the latest 2024 election campaign updates, exclusive interviews and more on our Fox News Digital election hub.