Discussion on Biden’s Role and Health
On Friday, Fox News host Harris Faulkner expressed surprise when Democratic strategist Fred Hicks referred to former President Joe Biden as the “standards officer” for the Democratic Party.
Details about Biden’s health concerns and cognitive decline have been highlighted in an excerpt from a newly released book, particularly in “Original Singh” by CNN host Jake Tupper and Axios reporter Alex Thompson. They noted that Biden has not acknowledged Academy Award-winning actor George Clooney or many of his longtime supporters. Faulkner brought attention to the conversation when Hicks mentioned Biden’s role amidst internal struggles within the Democratic National Committee.
“Unfortunately, the unique situation we’re in is that previous standard bearers are still very much in the spotlight,” Hicks said. “We really need to move past the 2024 election and focus on what’s transpired since January 20th. It has created opportunities because Americans are experiencing challenges we’ve not seen before.”
Faulkner was taken aback by Hicks’s remarks. “Wow,” she said, “you just labeled Joe Biden, the former president, as the standard bearer. Who did he set the standard for?”
An article from the Wall Street Journal, published on December 19, 2024, described a “sheltered” Biden aide, insulated even from Cabinet members, as concerns about Biden’s health and mental acuity were raised. This led to some media backlash prior to Biden’s announcement to withdraw from the 2024 re-election race on July 21, 2024.
“The president has always served as the standard bearer,” Hicks replied.
Faulkner countered, “Look at all these books! There was a standard, but honestly, it was very low.”
Concerns about the White House’s honesty regarding Biden’s health have been part of ongoing discussions. Biden has made statements suggesting he spoke to deceased individuals, like former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl and former French President François Mitterrand, who died years apart.
Additionally, he had called on Indiana lawmakers at a White House event related to hunger just weeks after the tragic car accident involving Walorski and two staff members in her district.
In response to his age, Biden began using a different staircase on the VC-25 after several incidents in which he appeared to trip. The modified Boeing 747 is being used as Air Force One, reflecting adjustments to his duties as he navigates the challenges of aging. There have also been incidents where he fell off a bicycle in June 2022 and experienced another fall at the Air Force Academy.
