During the debate, Biden became the center of attention for all the wrong reasons. He looked like he was trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube while blindfolded, freezing up and stumbling over his answers. Despite the rising chorus suggesting the 81-year-old should call it quits, Biden’s team is in full spin mode, chalking it up to a “rough night.” Insiders whisper to Axios that Biden is “dependably engaged” between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.—because apparently, he’s like a smartphone that loses signal after office hours—leaving him prone to “verbal miscues” and fatigue once the clock strikes four.
According to Axios, White House aides have reportedly confirmed that President Joe Biden is exhibiting a common symptom of dementia. Aides have noticed “flashes of an absent-minded Biden” throughout Biden’s presidency. Still, these instances have typically been overlooked because he is usually engaged, according to eight current and former Biden officials. The outlet noted that the time of day plays a significant role in Biden’s display of his duties.
As concerns about Biden’s fitness for office have grown, his memory has come under scrutiny due to frequent gaffes, confusion with world leaders, and forgetting facts. The behavior described by Biden’s aides aligns with a symptom of dementia known as “sundowning.” Sundowning is a state of confusion that primarily affects elderly individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia, particularly in the evening or as the sun sets. More extreme cases can involve anxiety, aggression, pacing, wandering, hallucinations, and trouble sleeping, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Despite these concerns, the White House doctor determined in February that Biden was fit for office following a physical examination. Kevin O’Connor, the White House physician, reported that Biden was an “active” 81-year-old, capable of fulfilling his presidential duties.
The White House Deputy Press Secretary gushed to Axios about Joe Biden’s tireless efforts for families, claiming he achieves unprecedented results due to his determination, experience, and decency. This rosy statement came in response to a report highlighting Biden’s inconsistent behavior throughout the day.
Following Biden’s disastrous debate performance, the blame game kicked into high gear, with White House aides insisting the president wasn’t adequately prepped. Biden supposedly spent nearly a week at Camp David rehearsing on a mock stage. “He was over-prepared and obsessed with minutiae when all that mattered was vigor and energy,” one source told Axios. “They prepped him for the wrong debate. He was over-prepared when what he really needed was rest.”
A former White House official added, “It’s sad, but it also makes me so mad to think of all the smart people lying and trying to make this work.”
