A recent report claims that President Joe Biden’s cognitive decline has become evident to numerous high-ranking officials, raising concerns about his ability to effectively lead. The Wall Street Journal report, based on insights from over 45 Republican and Democratic lawmakers and staffers, describes a president who appears noticeably slower and more dependent on aides than in the past.
The report, titled “Behind Closed Doors, Biden Shows Signs of Slipping,” was published on Tuesday and outlines various instances where Biden’s performance has alarmed those around him. According to the sources, Biden now speaks so softly that some struggle to understand him, and he increasingly relies on notes and aides during discussions.
One particularly concerning event occurred during critical negotiations over congressional funding for Ukraine aid in January. Biden reportedly moved so slowly that it took him about 10 minutes to greet the nearly two dozen leaders present, delaying the meeting. Once the discussion began, Biden relied heavily on his notes and delegated most of the conversation to other lawmakers. Several attendees noted they had difficulty hearing him, and he frequently turned to staffers for assistance.
In another instance, Biden reportedly mixed up the names of two of his Hispanic cabinet secretaries, and within weeks publicly forgot the names of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s widow and a deceased German chancellor. He also confused the leaders of Egypt and Mexico, and during a fundraiser in February, incorrectly claimed to have spoken with former French President François Mitterrand, who died in 1996.
In a conversation with Louisiana Republican Mike Johnson about military assistance to Ukraine, Biden appeared to forget details of his own policy, mistakenly stating that a policy halting future permits for shipping liquefied natural gas was only a study. This incident, among others, has fueled speculation about his mental capabilities.
Recent months have also seen Biden make controversial statements, such as calling Chinese President Xi Jinping a dictator, which reportedly unsettled Secretary of State Antony Blinken. During a meeting in May 2023 about the increasing debt ceiling, Biden allegedly rambled and spoke so softly that those present struggled to hear him. He also repeated the same story multiple times, contrasting sharply with his performance during similar talks a decade ago as vice president.
Adding to concerns, Biden recently suggested he might not seek a second term if Donald Trump were not running, a statement at odds with the usual united front of the Democratic Party. This statement, along with a series of public gaffes over the past three years, has further fueled doubts about his cognitive health.
White House officials have dismissed many of the accounts in the report as politically motivated. They emphasized Biden’s strengths and maintained that he is still a capable leader.
The report underscores a growing worry among both Republican and Democratic lawmakers about Biden’s ability to effectively govern, particularly as the U.S. faces significant domestic and international challenges. With less than half a year until a potential faceoff with Trump, Biden’s cognitive health is likely to remain a contentious issue.
