When President Biden met with congressional leaders in January to negotiate a Ukraine funding deal, he spoke so softly at times that some participants struggled to hear him. He read from notes to make obvious points, paused for extended periods, and sometimes closed his eyes for so long that some in the room wondered if he had tuned out. This scene, described by five people familiar with the meeting, underscores growing concerns about Biden’s age and cognitive fitness.
In a February one-on-one chat in the Oval Office with House Speaker Mike Johnson, the president mischaracterized a recent policy change by his administration as just a study, according to six people briefed on the meeting. Johnson worried the president’s memory had slipped about the details of his own policy.
Last year, Biden’s demeanor and command of the details seemed to shift unpredictably during debt ceiling negotiations with House Republicans. On some days, he had loose and spontaneous exchanges with Republicans, and on others, he mumbled and relied heavily on notes. Kevin McCarthy, then-House Speaker, noted, “I used to meet with him when he was vice president. I’d go to his house. He’s not the same person.”
The Wall Street Journal documented these accounts, conducting interviews with more than 45 people over several months. The interviews included both Republicans and Democrats who participated in meetings with Biden or were briefed on them. While most negative comments came from Republicans, some Democrats also expressed concerns about Biden showing his age in several exchanges.
The White House has kept a close eye on the WSJ’s interviews with Democratic lawmakers. After several offices shared recordings or details of interviews with the White House, some lawmakers spoke to the Journal again, emphasizing Biden’s strengths. White House spokesman Andrew Bates dismissed many accounts as politically motivated, stating, “Congressional Republicans, foreign leaders, and nonpartisan national-security experts have made clear in their own words that President Biden is a savvy and effective leader.”
Despite these assertions, several incidents point to Biden’s cognitive decline. During a Rose Garden event in May, Biden mistakenly said one of the U.S. hostages held in Gaza was present at the event before correcting himself. At a campaign event in Detroit, he indicated he was vice president during the Covid-19 pandemic, which began three years after he left office. In January, he mixed up two of his Hispanic cabinet secretaries, Alejandro Mayorkas and Xavier Becerra. In February, he recounted speaking to German Chancellor Helmut Kohl and former French President François Mitterrand, both of whom died years ago.
In January’s Ukraine meeting, Biden’s slow movement and reliance on notes for broad points left some attendees uncomfortable. Gene Sperling, a top Biden aide, defended the president, stating it is standard practice to read from cards in serious policy meetings. However, some participants felt Biden’s frequent deference to other lawmakers and his reliance on staffers indicated disengagement.
In a February exchange about an energy policy with House Speaker Mike Johnson, Biden appeared to misunderstand the details of his own administration’s actions. Johnson was dismayed by Biden’s apparent memory lapse. The White House disputed Johnson’s account, emphasizing that the policy in question was part of a broader study.
During last year’s debt ceiling negotiations, McCarthy observed Biden’s uneven engagement. While Biden’s team maintained he was effective, McCarthy noted Biden’s reliance on notes and his tendency to repeat anecdotes. Some attendees struggled to hear Biden, and his repetition of stories raised concerns about his acuity.
Despite administration officials defending Biden’s performance in critical situations, such as his handling of the Iran missile attack on Israel, public slips and inconsistencies have amplified concerns about his cognitive fitness. The WSJ article highlighted voter skepticism, with a March survey showing only 28% of voters in battleground states believed Biden was better suited physically and mentally for the presidency compared to Trump.
The White House’s concern over the WSJ article and its effort to manage perceptions of Biden’s cognitive abilities reflect the broader debate about his fitness to lead. As Biden campaigns for a second term, questions about his age and mental acuity remain prominent in the minds of voters and political opponents alike.
