President Joe Biden may have suffered a mild injury on Sunday as he bumped his head while exiting Marine One after returning to Washington, D.C. from a weekend in Delaware.
The 78-year-old commander-in-chief, who has faced ongoing scrutiny over his cognitive abilities, did not appear to react after hitting the top frame of the helicopter’s exit. This incident has further fueled questions about Biden’s mental fitness for office, particularly after a recent report by Special Counsel Robert Hur revealed that the president has significant memory issues.
The incident occurred as Biden, accompanied by First Lady Jill Biden, was returning to the White House from his home in Delaware. He had left there just before 10 p.m. as the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers began.
The first couple was seen walking together towards the exit of Marine One, where Biden appeared to accidentally bump his head on the top frame. Despite the event being captured on camera, Biden did not show any visible reaction and continued to walk toward the awaiting press pool.
This latest incident comes on the heels of a report by Special Counsel Robert Hur that highlighted significant memory issues for the president. The report describes Biden as “a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory” who struggles to recall details of significant life events. The revelation has sparked renewed concerns about Biden’s mental acuity among both his critics and supporters.
Biden, however, has been quick to dismiss these concerns. Just last week, he held a last-minute White House press conference to address the issue. During the conference, Biden insisted that his memory was “fine” and pushed back against the notion that his age would impact his performance in office. Unfortunately for Biden, the event was widely criticized as a “political disaster,” even by major news outlets like The New York Times.
Adding more fuel to the fire, just moments after claiming that his memory was sound, Biden mistakenly referred to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi as the “president of Mexico” during a speech. He then proceeded to go off-script and take questions from reporters, leading to a tense exchange with CNN correspondent MJ Lee. Lee questioned Biden about Americans’ concerns over his mental faculties and why it had to be him on the Democratic ticket instead of other candidates who could potentially defeat former President Donald Trump.
These ongoing concerns about Biden’s age have been reflected in recent surveys, even among Democrats. A new survey by ABC News/Ipsos found that 86% of Americans believe that Biden is too old to hold office, while 62% hold the same opinion for former President Trump. This sentiment has also been echoed in the left-wing media, with hosts on “The View” suggesting that Vice President Kamala Harris or California Governor Gavin Newsom should replace Biden on the Democratic ticket.
Despite the concerns raised by the recent incident and the Hur report, the White House has downplayed any suggestion that Biden’s age or memory issues would impact his performance as president. In response to questions about the incident, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki stated that the president is in good health and continues to lead the country effectively. She also noted that Biden has undergone regular medical check-ups and has consistently shown that he is fit for office.
For now, Biden’s supporters will have to wait and see if these incidents and ongoing concerns will impact his ability to govern effectively. With the 2022 midterm elections on the horizon and the possibility of a second presidential term, the issue of Biden’s age and mental fitness is likely to remain in the spotlight for the foreseeable future.
