Age and health concerns about Joe Biden explained

At 81 years of age, Joe Biden, the 46th president of the United States, is the oldest sitting president in United States history.[1] [2] Former Republican president Donald Trump and mass media raised concerns about his age, including his cognitive state, during and after the 2020 United States presidential election. These concerns increased after a poor performance by Biden during a debate against Trump in the 2024 presidential election, which led a number of commentators and some Democratic lawmakers to call for Biden to drop out of the 2024 presidential race.[3] He later withdrew his candidacy while stating that he would continue serving as president until the conclusion of his term.[4]

Background

In February 1988, after several episodes of increasingly severe neck pain, Biden underwent surgery to correct a leaking intracranial berry aneurysm.[5] [6] While recuperating, he suffered a pulmonary embolism, a serious complication. After a second aneurysm was surgically repaired in May,[7] Biden's recuperation kept him away from the Senate for seven months.[8]

In 2018, when Biden was considering running for president, he consulted with friends, aides, and longtime supporters as to whether he was too old to seek the presidency.[9] By 2019, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Politico, CNN, The Atlantic, the Associated Press, and Slate all published articles on Biden's age and fitness for office.[10] That year, in advance of the 2020 United States presidential election, many of his Democratic opponents used his age against Biden, who was 76 at the time. Biden supporters criticized this as ageist discrimination.[11] According to ABC News, Vladimir Putin and the Russian government spread disinformation about Biden's mental health during the 2020 presidential election,[12] and the Department of Homeland Security withheld publication of a bulletin warning law enforcement agencies about this campaign.[13]

During and in the years since the 2020 presidential campaign, Trump has claimed, without evidence, that Biden has dementia, calling him "Sleepy Joe" at rallies.[14] This angle has remained popular among right-wing media outlets.[15] [16] [17] On a couple of occasions during the 2020 campaign Biden called himself a "bridge candidate", leading some to believe he would not seek a second term.[18] The Biden administration has routinely aimed to make light of the president's age by poking fun and joking about it. This approach has been met with both praise and mockery.[19] [20] The Biden administration has also been criticized for allegedly gaslighting or harassing journalists who asked questions about Biden's health or age.[21] On his 81st birthday, Biden posted an image of a birthday cake with dozens of candles, jokingly captioned to be for his "146th birthday". The photo brought to the surface concerns among the public about Biden's age according to a majority of those polled at the time.[22] [23]

In 2022, a New York Times–Siena College poll found that 61% of Democratic voters wanted someone other than Biden to be the presidential nominee, citing his age as the main concern. Biden's aides dismissed age-related concerns as politically motivated attacks by Republicans.[24] James Carville,[25] Ezra Klein,[26] and The Economist called for Biden to not run again as early as 2022.[27] According to Biden's 2024 annual physical examination, he is in good health for a man of his age. Biden is on medication for non-valvular atrial fibrillation (a form of irregular heartbeat), has a obstructive sleep apnea which he receives treatments through positive airway pressure, has a sensory peripheral neuropathy, and has a stiff gait due to spinal arthritis and the aftereffects of injury. No signs of cognitive decline or dementia were noted.According to a February 2024 poll, Biden's age and health were major or moderate concerns for 86% of voters generally,[28] up from 76% earlier in 2020.[29] According to another 2024 poll, most of those who voted for Biden in 2020 say they believe he is too old to be an effective president; The New York Times noted that these concerns "cut across generations, gender, race and education".[30] The Wall Street Journal has reported that since 2023 or earlier, Biden's team has limited his schedule, personal interactions, media appearances, interviews, and unscripted exchanges in order to minimize concerns about his age and mental acuity.[31] Democrats were concerned about his ability to serve a second term, as he would be 86 if he won a second term when he gets out. Many of them were also concerned if he could beat Donald Trump a second time.

Longevity

In January 2024, Dr. Jay Olshansky gave Biden a close to 75% chance of living through a second term based on publicly available information about his health. This is about a 10% better survival chance when compared to other men his age.[32] [33]

February 2024

Upon concluding the investigation into Biden's handling of classified documents, special counsel Robert Hur suggested that Biden would be able to present himself to a jury as an "elderly man with poor memory" and wrote that his memory "appeared to have significant limitations".[34] White House lawyers disputed this characterization, and Biden rejected the claim in a televised press conference on the day the special counsel's report was released; during the conference, he referred to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as President of Mexico.[35]

June–July 2024

June 2024 debate

On June 27, 2024, Biden took part in the first presidential debate. The debate reinforced concerns about Biden's age, with Biden appearing confused and disoriented during its first half, giving meandering answers to questions, particularly on health policy.[36] The New York Times reporter Reid Epstein wondered whether voters would see him as someone physically able to run the country, even if they preferred his policies to Trump's.[37] Some Democrats were unsure whether he should continue his campaign.[38] [39] Many officials and foreign leaders who encountered Biden in the months to year preceding the debate noticed he was increasingly frail, tired, meandering, and less lucid in his speech. In many parts of Europe, this led to concern about a second Trump presidency.[40] Biden declined to undergo a cognitive exam such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, saying that he has "a cognitive test every single day" in performing his presidential duties.[41] It later emerged that a neurologist specializing in Parkinson's disease had met this year with Physician to the President Kevin O'Connor; O'Connor and the White House both said Biden was not being treated for the disease and that other officials use O'Connor as their physician.[42] [43] [44]

COVID-19 diagnosis

On July 17, 2024, Biden tested positive for COVID-19. He experienced mild symptoms, including a cough, runny nose, and "general malaise".[45] Images of him looking frail exiting from Air Force One on the way to isolation fuelled further speculation on Biden's health.[46]

Withdrawal

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Klein . Betsy . November 20, 2023 . Biden's birthday prompts debate about age and wisdom of America's oldest president CNN Politics . March 8, 2024 . CNN . en . February 11, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240211045632/https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/20/politics/joe-biden-birthday-81/index.html . live .
  2. News: Baker . Peter . November 19, 2023 . For an Aging President, a Birthday With a Bite . March 8, 2024 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331 . March 8, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240308172853/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/19/us/politics/biden-birthday-age.html . live .
  3. Web site: 2024-07-17 . Rep. Schiff calls on Biden to drop out, citing 'serious concerns' that he can't win . 2024-07-18 . Los Angeles Times . en-US . July 19, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240719090526/https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2024-07-17/schiff-calls-on-biden-to-drop-out-citing-serious-concerns-that-he-can-win . live .
  4. News: Biden steps aside as Democratic presidential nominee . The Washington Post . July 21, 2024 . July 21, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240721131822/https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/2024/07/21/election-2024-biden-trump-campaign-updates/ . live .
  5. News: Altman . Lawrence K. . February 23, 1988 . The Doctor's World; Subtle Clues Are Often The Only Warnings Of Perilous Aneurysms . . August 23, 2008 . April 28, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200428023004/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/02/23/science/the-doctors-world-subtle-clues-are-often-the-only-warnings-of-perilous-aneurysms.html . live.
  6. News: Many Holes in Disclosure of Nominees' Health. Altman. Lawrence K.. The New York Times. October 19, 2008. October 26, 2008. February 25, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100225194337/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/20/us/politics/20health.html. live.
  7. News: Biden Resting After Surgery For Second Brain Aneurysm . . . May 4, 1988 . January 24, 2021 . January 5, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210105212210/http://www.nytimes.com/1988/05/04/us/biden-resting-after-surgery-for-second-brain-aneurysm.html . live.
  8. News: V.P. candidate profile: Sen. Joe Biden . . . August 23, 2008 . September 7, 2008 . Calvin . Woodward . December 30, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191230131941/https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/vp-candidate-profile-sen-joe-biden/ . live.
  9. News: Is Biden Too Old to Run for President Again? . July 11, 2024 . . . December 14, 2018 . February 17, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220217234401/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-12-14/too-old-to-run-biden-wrestles-with-age-as-he-eyes-2020-run . live .
  10. News: Shafer . Jack . Is Joe Biden Too Old? . July 11, 2024 . . August 2, 2019 . July 11, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240711170602/https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/08/02/joe-biden-age-media-227499/ . live .
  11. News: Erickson . Bo . When a young Joe Biden used his opponent's age against him - CBS News . July 11, 2024 . . June 4, 2019 . October 25, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211025222921/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/when-a-young-joe-biden-used-his-opponents-age-against-him/ . live .
  12. Web site: Barr . Luke . September 8, 2020 . Russia spreading disinformation about Biden's mental health: DHS . February 14, 2024 . ABC News . en . September 10, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200910052949/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/russia-spreading-disinformation-bidens-mental-health-dhs/story?id=72879355 . live .
  13. Web site: Margolin . Josh . Bruggeman . Lucien . Steakin . Will . Karl . Jonathan . September 2, 2020 . DHS withheld July intelligence bulletin calling out Russian attack on Biden's mental health . February 14, 2024 . ABC News . en . September 10, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200910052513/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/dhs-withheld-july-intelligence-bulletin-calling-russian-attack/story?id=72747130 . live .
  14. News: Chait . Jonathan . October 23, 2020 . Trump's Plan to Make Biden Look Senile Disappeared Without a Trace . https://web.archive.org/web/20220813032606/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/10/final-2020-debate-trump-calling-biden-senile-dementia-sleepy-joe.html . August 13, 2022 . October 21, 2022 . Intelligencer . en-us.
  15. Web site: Stuart . Arlette Saenz,Elizabeth . March 5, 2023 . Jill Biden says the idea of a competency test for elderly politicians is 'ridiculous' CNN Politics . June 24, 2023 . . en . June 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230624181403/https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/05/politics/jill-biden-nikki-haley-mental-test/index.html . live .
  16. Web site: Klawans . Justin . November 19, 2021 . Joe Biden Didn't Take Cognitive Test in Annual Exam, Sanjay Gupta Says . June 24, 2023 . . en . June 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230624181403/https://www.newsweek.com/joe-biden-unlike-trump-didnt-take-cognitive-test-annual-exam-sanjay-gupta-says-1651558 . live .
  17. Web site: Keene . Houston . May 12, 2023 . Dozens of House Republicans demand Biden take cognitive test or drop out of 2024 race . June 24, 2023 . . en-US . June 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230624181404/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dozens-house-republicans-demand-biden-take-cognitive-test-drop-out-2024-race . live .
  18. News: Saric . Ivana . July 3, 2024 . How Biden went from "bridge" candidate to two-term hopeful . Axios . Between the lines: Biden's campaign comments likely signaled that he was only running because of who his opponent was, Anthony Fowler, a professor at the University of Chicago's Harris School of Public Policy, told Axios. "You could argue he's trying to kind of have it both ways. He's trying to kind of tell people, 'Don't worry, I'm only running for one term,' without ever actually explicitly promising that," Fowler said. . July 13, 2024 . July 25, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240725000403/https://www.axios.com/2024/07/03/biden-campaign-democrats-pledge-one-term . live .
  19. Web site: Duhon . Clara . November 21, 2023 . Biden marks '146th birthday' with flaming cake . March 8, 2024 . The Hill . en-US . March 8, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240308171421/https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/4320009-biden-marks-146th-birthday-with-flaming-cake/ . live .
  20. News: November 20, 2023 . Biden celebrates his 81st birthday with jokes as the White House stresses his experience and stamina . March 8, 2024 . AP News . en . March 8, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240308171736/https://apnews.com/article/biden-birthday-81-age-trump-axelrod-polling-3325ad9d260c17be97d5608349378a91 . live .
  21. News: Stelter . Brian . Did the media botch the Biden age story? . July 11, 2024 . . July 3, 2024 . July 11, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240711170602/https://www.vox.com/politics/358877/biden-age-debate-media-coverage . live .
  22. Web site: Joe Biden Jokes About Turning 81 with Fiery Cake: 'You Run Out of Space for Candles!' . 2024-07-30 . Peoplemag . en.
  23. Web site: 2023-11-21 . Biden marks '146th birthday' with flaming cake . 2024-07-30 . Yahoo News . en-US.
  24. News: Bidgood . Jess . The Problem in Plain Sight . July 10, 2024 . . July 1, 2024.
  25. News: Berry . Jason . July 2, 2024 . James Carville calls on Democratic party to 'deliver change' and replace Biden . July 12, 2024 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077 . July 9, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240709051334/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/02/james-carville-joe-biden-democrats . live .
  26. News: Klein . Ezra . February 16, 2024 . Democrats Have a Better Option Than Biden . July 12, 2024 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331 . July 12, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240712052320/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/16/opinion/ezra-klein-biden-audio-essay.html . live .
  27. News: November 10, 2022 . Joe Biden should not seek re-election . July 12, 2024 . The Economist . 0013-0613 . July 11, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240711190925/https://www.economist.com/united-states/2022/11/10/joe-biden-should-not-seek-re-election . live .
  28. Web site: Poll: Overwhelming majority of Americans think Biden is too old for another term . February 11, 2024 . Kelly . Garrity . . February 13, 2024 . February 13, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240213044558/https://www.politico.com/news/2024/02/11/poll-biden-too-old-for-another-term-00140852 . live .
  29. Web site: February 8, 2024 . Age isn't just a number. It's a profound and growing problem for Biden. . February 9, 2024 . . February 9, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240209185017/https://www.politico.com/news/2024/02/08/biden-mental-fitness-major-focus-00140503 . live .
  30. News: Lerer . Lisa . Igielnik . Ruth . Majority of Biden's 2020 Voters Now Say He's Too Old to Be Effective . March 3, 2024 . . March 3, 2024 . March 3, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240303155011/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/03/us/politics/biden-age-trump-poll.html . live .
  31. News: Restuccia . Andrew . Linskey . Annie . Glazer . Emily . Ballhaus . Rebecca . Schwartzel . Erich . How Biden's Inner Circle Worked to Keep Signs of Aging Under Wraps . July 10, 2024. . July 8, 2024.
  32. News: January 9, 2024 . Heart attacks, strokes, dementia—can Biden and Trump beat the odds? . 2024-08-19 . The Economist . 0013-0613 . Dr Olshansky stated on January 7th, in an article in the Hill, a Washington-based newspaper, that, 'Today his [Mr Biden’s] chances of surviving through a second term in office are close to 75% (about 10% better survival than for an average man his age). Similar, although slightly less favourable survival prospects are present for Trump.'.
  33. News: Olshansky . S. Jay . Barnes . Ben . Willcox . Bradley . January 7, 2024 . Opinion: Is Joe Biden a superager? We’re asking all the wrong questions. . The Hill.
  34. Web site: No charge for Biden over classified documents but report questions memory . February 8, 2024 . . Max . Matza . February 9, 2024 . February 9, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240209073525/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68245617 . live .
  35. Web site: Lebowitz . Megan . Alba . Monica . Lee . Carol E. . February 9, 2024 . 'How in the hell dare he': Biden strikes defiant tone on special counsel report . February 9, 2024 . . en . February 9, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240209020138/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/biden-national-address-special-counsel-report-rcna138031 . live .
  36. Web site: June 27, 2024 . A halting Biden tries to confront Trump at debate but stirs Democratic panic about his candidacy . June 28, 2024 . . en . June 28, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240628073822/https://apnews.com/article/bidentrumppresidentialdebate-0e7577e9a354a69f50675494fea54ca9 . live .
  37. Web site: Lemon . James . Zappone . Chris . McSweeney . Jessica . Tomazin . Farrah . Ralston . Nick. June 28, 2024 . US presidential debate LIVE updates: Donald Trump, Joe Biden clash over abortion, economy and foreign affairs ahead of 2024 US election . June 28, 2024 . . en . June 28, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240628073809/https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/trump-v-biden-live-updates-first-presidential-debate-to-get-under-way-ahead-of-us-election-20240627-p5jp83.html . live .
  38. Web site: Democrats lament 'really disappointing' Biden debate – reports. The Guardian. June 27, 2024. Chris. Stein. June 28, 2024. June 28, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240628035049/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2024/jun/27/presidential-debate-trump-biden-updates. live.
  39. Web site: Dems freak out over Biden's debate performance: 'Biden is toast'. Politico. June 27, 2024. Eugene. Daniels. June 28, 2024. June 28, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240628024715/https://www.politico.com/news/2024/06/27/biden-debate-opening-concerns-00165595. live.
  40. News: Abutaleb . Yasmeen . Dawsey . Josh . Sacchetti . Maria . Hudson . John . Diamond . Dan . Biden's aging is seen as accelerating; lapses described as more common . July 10, 2024 . . July 6, 2024 . July 11, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240711061117/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/07/05/biden-aging-recent-months/ . live .
  41. News: Kanno-Youngs . Zolan . Biden Says He Has Not Had a Cognitive Test and Doesn't Need One . July 9, 2024 . . July 6, 2024 . July 9, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240709153607/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/05/us/politics/biden-cognitive-test-abc-interview.html . live .
  42. News: Helmore . Edward . Biden's doctor reportedly met with top neurologist at White House . July 10, 2024 . . July 6, 2024.
  43. News: Baumgaertner . Emily . Baker . Peter . Parkinson's Expert Visited the White House Eight Times in Eight Months . July 10, 2024 . . July 8, 2024 . July 18, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240718111117/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/08/us/politics/parkinsons-expert-white-house.html . live .
  44. News: President Biden not being treated for Parkinson's, White House says, amid questions over doctor's visit . July 10, 2024 . . July 9, 2024 . July 10, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240710142239/https://news.sky.com/story/president-biden-not-being-treated-for-parkinsons-white-house-says-amid-questions-over-doctors-visit-13175315 . live .
  45. News: Olorunnipa . Toluse . Nirappil . Fenit . Biden tests positive for covid, cancels events amid mild symptoms . July 21, 2024 . Washington Post . July 20, 2024 . July 22, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240722100604/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/07/17/biden-covid-test-positive/ . live .
  46. News: Kanno-Youngs . Zolan . From Buoyant to Frail: Two Days in Las Vegas as Biden Tests Positive . July 21, 2024 . . July 18, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240718230121/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/18/us/politics/biden-covid-democrats.html . July 18, 2024.

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