The White House and its Democratic allies are vigorously pushing back against a recent Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report that questions President Joe Biden’s mental fitness. The article, which has sparked significant controversy, includes accounts suggesting that the 81-year-old president displays unevenness in meetings and is sometimes difficult to hear when speaking.
White House officials have criticized the story, arguing that it relies heavily on accounts from anonymous Republicans. Despite interviewing over 45 people, the majority of those expressing concern about Biden’s mental acuity were Republicans. Notably, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was the only lawmaker to publicly criticize the president on the record, asserting that Biden is “not the same person” he was during his tenure as vice president.
Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Delaware has also come to Biden’s defense, stating that the authors of the WSJ piece got it wrong. While acknowledging that some Democrats noted Biden’s unevenness, Coons and other allies argue that these observations do not reflect the president’s overall capabilities or effectiveness.
The pushback from the White House and Democrats underscores a broader defense of Biden’s leadership and abilities, particularly as he continues to navigate the complexities of his presidency amid scrutiny and political opposition.
