Jen Psaki, a former White House press secretary and current MSNBC host, said President Biden’s team hasn’t done enough to show “empathy” as concerns about Biden’s cognitive abilities threaten to undermine the campaign.
“The strategy isn’t working,” Psaki said Thursday on “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” adding that the president’s staff has not been able to work Biden’s “magic” on the campaign trail.
Biden was answering questions from reporters at a NATO summit marking the 75th anniversary of the summit on Thursday night amid concerns about his cognitive health and his ability to perform the duties of president.
Jen Psaki says Kamala Harris is best alternative to Biden, but worries America is too ‘sexist and racist’
Jen Psaki, a former White House press secretary and current MSNBC host, said President Biden’s team hasn’t done enough to show “empathy” as concerns about Biden’s cognitive abilities threaten to undermine the campaign. (NBC)
“When you have everyone watching live and most of the questions are about the health and well-being of the president, that’s not a good sign,” Psaki said. “That’s not a good sign for how things are going.”
She continued: “At the same time, when you’re advising a president, it’s your job to bring out their magic.”
“I know this is a weird thing to say, but I think it’s safe to say that the magic of President Biden isn’t necessarily the press conferences,” Psaki said. “It’s not necessarily the interviews.”
“It’s the way he interacts with people,” Psaki said. “He’s incredibly compassionate. He cares for babies, he loves holding them. He really loves babies. And he loves traveling with members of Congress.”
“So because you’re not watching,” she said, “and you’re not watching, and the public is not seeing the magic that he and Joe Biden are doing, you’re relying on how he answers the ninth question about his intelligence at a press conference. So in that sense, it’s a poor strategy.”
Democrats defend Biden at key press conference, calling it “a very strong performance”
In another gaffe, Biden referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as “President Putin” at a NATO meeting in Washington DC on Thursday. (Getty Images)
Psaki also said Democrats in Congress and the president’s supporters want him to show leadership in the effort to defeat Trump in November.
“Nobody knows the path forward,” Psaki said. “Members of Congress and his supporters want to know how to win this election, how to beat Donald Trump. They just want some kind of clue, and they don’t have it.”
In another gaffe, Biden referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as “President Putin” at a NATO meeting in Washington DC on Thursday.
“And now I want to hand this agenda over to the president of Ukraine, who is as courageous as he is determined,” Biden said before stepping down from the podium. “Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin.”
Biden appeared to realize he had stumbled over his words after referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin following his initial remarks and then quickly tried to correct himself.
“He will beat President Putin. President Zelensky“I’m focused on defeating Putin,” he said. “We have to worry about that, anyway, Mr. President.”
Click here to get the FOX News app
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
Fox News’ Sarah Lampe Whitten contributed to this report.
