President Joe Biden continues to fuel speculation about his mental state after asking his staff for permission to take questions from the press during a recent campaign stop. The incident occurred at the New Hampshire Democratic headquarters, where the 81-year-old incumbent appeared confused and hesitant as he asked, “Am I allowed to take any questions?”
The laughter from the crowd quickly turned to concern as the president appeared to trail off, looking around for reassurance from his staff. A panicked staff member quickly interjected, “Thank you, press,” before the camera feed was abruptly cut off.
BIDEN: “Am I allowed to take any questions? Anybody here?”
Biden’s handlers IMMEDIATELY kick the press out of the room and end the feed. pic.twitter.com/VgIyewvQNz
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) March 11, 2024
Biden, amid a coughing fit, just can’t seem to figure out why Americans aren’t satisfied with his economy pic.twitter.com/j7Zav8cqrm
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) March 11, 2024
Biden attacks the press: “I know the press is here and they’re all wonderful people. I don’t know why they don’t like me a lot more than Trump…” pic.twitter.com/7XRJAPN7S9
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) March 11, 2024
This is not the first time President Biden has had a strange interaction with the press. He has repeatedly referenced his staff trying to control him and has been caught using note cards with prepared statements from handpicked reporters. Those close to Biden seem to be attempting to prevent him from going off-script and saying something that will cause further concern about his mental acuity.
Even during his first press conference, the president’s wife, Jill Biden, tried to intervene and stop him from answering questions for an extended period of time. According to a new book by New York Times correspondent Katie Rogers, the first lady was furious after her husband’s unscripted remarks, asking, “Why didn’t anybody stop that?”
It’s not just Biden’s gaffes and confusing statements that have people worried. In April of 2022, during the White House Easter Egg Roll, a staffer dressed in an Easter Bunny costume stopped the president from answering questions about Afghanistan. This incident and others have led to speculation that the White House is actively trying to prevent the president from speaking freely.
Obviously, there are concerns about President Biden’s mental state. The White House has pushed back against these concerns, claiming that the president frequently interacts with the press and does not need to take a mental acuity test. However, a recent Department of Justice report paints a different picture, stating that Biden has a “poor memory” and struggles with making difficult decisions.
