According to a new report in the Wall Street Journal, President Biden's staff noticed his physical weakness and increasing disorganization within his first months in office.
The newspaper based its report on interviews with about 50 people, including current and former White House staff and members of Congress, who had direct contact with the president.
One former aide recalled national security officials explaining why the spring 2021 meeting was canceled altogether.
“He has good days and bad days, and today was a bad day, so we're going to address this tomorrow,” he recalled officials saying.
Democrats in Congress reported that Biden has been less responsive than previous presidents. He said he rarely met with members of Congress, and those meetings were often short.
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“Biden's White House has been more isolated than most other White Houses,” Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., told the Journal. “I spoke to Barack Obama many times when he was president, and I wasn't even the chairman of the committee.”
“I didn't really have any personal contact with this president. I had more personal contact with Obama, which is kind of strange because I was much younger,” said the Connecticut Democrat. Congressman Jim Himes agreed.
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Even Biden's own Cabinet members quickly stopped requesting calls with the president, recognizing from interactions with staff that the calls were unwelcome, the Journal reported.
A person familiar with the paper's reporting said the newspaper conducted recorded interviews with a number of Cabinet members who rejected claims that Biden lacked mental acuity. Those Cabinet members include Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and EPA Administrator Michael Regan, the sources said. The Journal did not include their comments in the report.
President Joe Biden's age became a central issue in his 2024 campaign before he left office. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Biden has held less than half as many Cabinet meetings as his immediate predecessor. President-elect Trump held 25 such meetings, former President Barack Obama held 19 in his first term, and Biden held just eight.
In a statement provided to Fox News Digital, the White House denied the contents of the Journal's report, saying Biden's policy accomplishments provide “irreconcilable evidence” of his qualifications and leadership. Ta.
“President Biden meets with his Cabinet members daily and most of them multiple times a week, and remains in close contact with Washington about implementing important legislation and strengthening national security. “There are people who don't. Whoever the president is, they get as much time as they want, but that doesn't mean they don't engage with others as thoroughly as this president does.” said Andrew Bates.
“Cabinet meetings are an important tradition, but given modern work environments they may be fewer and farther apart.As scholars who study the presidency have emphasized, Not to mention that every Cabinet member is a busy school principal, and many more Cabinet members are busy,” either speaking one-on-one with the president on behalf of the American people or interacting in smaller settings with officials holding relevant portfolios. “This should be achieved by doing so,” he added.
Fox News Digital reached out to Cabinet officials and their departments to ask if they think Biden is fit to serve as president this week and whether they stand by past statements expressing confidence in Biden's ability to continue.
DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement in September that he had “full confidence in President Biden's ability to do his job.”
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“As I have previously stated, I am well prepared for my meeting with President Biden and am aware that his questions will be detail-oriented, probing, and tough. “In our interactions, the president always uses our prior conversations and past events to help us analyze issues and reach conclusions,” he said.
on monday, DHS said The Commissioner supports those comments.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said he stands by Biden's claim that he was mentally sound throughout his administration. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo praised Biden, calling him “one of the finest presidents in American history, and his steady hand continues to effectively guide our country.”
“As someone who has been present when the president meets with Cabinet members and foreign leaders, I can tell you that he is an extraordinary leader with great insight,” Raimondo said.
A spokesperson said this week that Raimondo stands by those comments.
Sabrina Singh Deputy Ministry of Defense “Secretary Austin, as I've said before, sees President Biden making tough national security decisions and President Biden's commitment to keeping our military safe,” the spokesperson told Fox in September. “I have seen his efforts. He has nothing but complete confidence in the commander in chief of our country.” ”
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Singh said this week that those comments still stand.
