On June 16, President Joe Biden made a puzzling remark at the end of a gun-control speech in Connecticut, saying, “God save the queen, man.” The reason behind his adoration for the departed British monarch remains unclear. When questioned about the incident, White House aides provided conflicting and nonsensical answers, highlighting their lack of understanding and the president’s own confusion. It is possible that Biden, being in his eighties, simply used a cool-sounding phrase spontaneously, similar to when an elderly neighbor tells you to “keep on truckin'” without reason.
Alex Thompson, a writer for Axios, notes that Biden frequently uses quirky phrases, and Republicans sometimes weaponize these statements to suggest mental decline on the part of the 80-year-old president. However, there is no need for insinuation when it comes to Biden’s mental acuity, as it has noticeably deteriorated. While he often fumbles “old-timey” sayings and references from his past, such as a remark about his “Corn Pop” days, most reporters who downplay perceptions of Biden’s decline likely wouldn’t consider him fit to babysit their children.
Every week, the president makes statements that are completely nonsensical, yet they are largely ignored. These statements go beyond the usual political lies or exaggerations; they reveal an inability to articulate simple ideas even with the aid of notes. There is little fact-checking of these statements because they often don’t make sense as lies. The issue of competency in our democracy is rarely discussed, and there is no mention of the 25th Amendment.
Listening to any of Biden’s speeches is enough to highlight his incoherence. For example, he once stated, “Put a pistol on a brace, it turns into a gun — makes it more — you can have a higher-caliber weapon, higher-caliber bullet coming out of that gun,” before sending well-wishes to Queen Elizabeth II. These statements are complete gibberish and highlight the extent of the problem.
Biden’s recent gaffes and memory lapses include claiming plans to build a railroad from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean and one of the world’s largest solar plants in Angola. He struggled to remember Winston Churchill’s name when speaking to the UK Prime Minister, and he often lashes out when faced with difficult questions. His occasional flubs and frustrated outbursts were once considered concerning for democracy, but now they are dismissed as quirky and folksy.
The media’s treatment of Biden’s cognitive decline is in stark contrast to how they covered former President Trump’s every move. When Trump walked carefully down a ramp, The New York Times questioned his health. Biden, now six years older than Trump was at the time, fell on stage after a commencement speech at the Air Force Academy, but his surrogates quickly pointed out the presence of a sandbag as an excuse for the mishap.
While everyone ages differently, it is important to acknowledge the evident decline in Biden’s mental acuity. It is not a matter of age alone, but of his ability to lead the nation effectively. Pretending that Biden is in good shape is misleading and does a disservice to the American people.
