Biden says he’s “functioning well” physically and mentally, but admits age is a “valid” concern
President Joe Biden was again forced on Sunday to defend his mental and physical fitness for office as questions continue to mount over whether the 79-year-old leader will — or even might — run for re-election in 2024.
During an interview on MSNBC’s Sunday Show, Biden was confident in his own abilities but acknowledged he understood his nearing 80 was a “concern” for some voters.
Biden continued to press on his own mortality, saying, “I could get a disease, I could drop dead tomorrow.”
It comes after host Jonathan Capehart aired a bizarre segment in which the journalist called his aunt for the interview.
He then asked Biden about his relative, who votes for the Democrats, about his age concerns.
“Well I think Aunt Gloria should take a look, I think it’s a legitimate thing to be concerned about at any age including mine. I think that’s perfectly legitimate,” the president said.
‘But the best way to judge, you know, is to watch me. you know am i slowing down Don’t I have the same pace? Or, you know, and that old joke, you know — everybody’s talking about the new, you know, 70’s, 50’s, you know all that stuff.”
President Joe Biden told MSNBC he was a “great respect for fate” but defended his fitness to run again in 2024
Biden added that he had a “great respect for fate” but pleaded to see if he had “the same passion for what he does.”
He then urged people who doubted his mental or physical fitness to “vote against me” — before quickly taking that back.
“If they think I’m doing it, then that’s fine. If not, they should vote against me – not against me, they should encourage me not to go, but I don’t feel that way,” the president said.
Speaking specifically about Capehart’s aunt, Biden suggested she “support another Democrat” when she doesn’t think he’s up for it.
“But Jonathan, now knock on wood, I don’t want to jinx myself, I’m in good health. Everything about me – everything about me is still functioning well physically, so you know, and mentally too, so,” the president said.
Voters’ mounting doubts about Biden at age 79 come against a backdrop of his stagnant job approval count, which has hovered in the low 40s for months after falling for much of his tenure.
However, most polls still place him above his Vice President Kamala Harris, whose low favor has Democratic poll watchers worried about who will take Biden’s mantle.
Still, Biden praised Harris during his interview on Sunday’s show.
“First of all, she’s damn smart. She has a backbone like a ramrod and tremendous integrity,” he said.
“She’s really, really knowledgeable — especially in areas of foreign policy, national security issues. So I think they’re extremely, extremely well qualified.
He insisted that she would not be disfellowshipped at White House meetings or decisions.
“We keep them busy with everything,” Biden said.
In a preview clip shared earlier this weekend, the President appeared to switch off completely after being asked what his wife, Dr. Jill Biden of his intention to run for the presidency again in 2024.
President Joe Biden seemed to completely lose focus during an interview
When asked what his wife Dr. Jill Biden thought about his possible run for office in 2024, the president seemed to drift away and had to be gently nudged by the interviewer
‘DR. Biden thinks, uh, my wife thinks, uh, I uh, that, that we, we’re doing something very important,” Biden finally says
Joe Biden has been with his wife Dr. Jill Biden married after getting married in 1977
“I haven’t made that formal decision, but it is my intention… my intention to run again. And we have time to make that decision,” the President began.
‘DR. Biden is for it?’ asks the MSNBC interviewer – just to keep silent.
‘Mister. President?’ Reporter clink glasses, virtually no response from Biden.
‘DR. Biden thinks that, uh, my wife thinks that, uh, that I, uh, that, that we, that we’re doing something very important,” Biden finally says, while managing not to answer the question directly.
Biden’s response prompted a flurry of criticism on social media.
“You have to feel sorry for him. But by no means should he be doing any job let alone POTUS,” one user wrote.
“I feel like I’m watching my father talk about my mother who passed away 6 years ago. That’s not funny. This is real,” added another.
“Imagine how low his approval would be if the media didn’t protect him with index cards and pre-selected questions. It’s insane,” suggested another Twitter follower.
Joe Biden is seen making remarks on student debt relief at Delaware State University in Dover on Friday
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11345955/Biden-says-hes-physically-mentally-functioning-admits-age-legitimate-concern.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 Biden says he’s “functioning well” physically and mentally, but admits age is a “valid” concern
