“Every day is my test,” insisted Joe Biden in response to George Stephanopoulos’ call for him to undergo cognitive testing during their damage control interview broadcast during primetime tonight. He continued: “Not only am I campaigning but running the world — this is not hyperbole. “
Biden boasted of his legislative and foreign policy accomplishments while consistently dodging any questions regarding taking an intellectual/psychological test throughout their nearly 30-minute interview.
“Just watch me, there’s still plenty of time left in this campaign!” Biden quipped as one response, dismissing any talk of hypotheticals as meaningless.
Stephanopoulos asked Biden directly if he believed he could still beat poll-topper Donald Trump, to which Biden responded that “if that were not my belief then I wouldn’t be running”.
Biden responded that, although congressional Democratic leaders could come and ask him to drop out, this unlikely scenario wouldn’t occur and declined to address that particular question.
Biden said he did his best, yet appeared disdainfully dismissive when discussing how and his responsibility should a “congenital liar” like Trump return to power in November and implement his openly oppressive and retaliatory agenda.
White House officials have long teased an unscripted live-to-tape sit down between Vice President Joe Biden (81 years old) and Donald Trump for their big play to put an end to calls for him to withdraw his candidacy in light of Biden’s poor debate performance against former presidential opponent and current rival Al Gore (86). It aired earlier today on World News Tonight where clips showed both men appearing unprepared during an unplanned live-to-tape sit-down that is being staged as an effort by them (White House) against demands that Biden should withdraw his candidacy or risk expulsion by Trump (both campaigns have come).
“I realized I just wasn’t in control,” Biden admitted near the start of their interview, attributing his former President’s apparent outbursts when his microphone was muted as being an unnecessary and distracting factor.
President Donald Trump claimed Friday afternoon he suffered from a cold on debate night and this caused his performance to falter; Biden has asserted his intent not to step aside; in response, Biden noted “I felt terrible” prior to their meeting live on CNN and stated he is currently feeling better now than a week prior.
“When visiting with doctors to ascertain why something wasn’t quite right,” explained President Carter in explanation, they performed a Covid test “to see whether I had contracted some infection – such as viruses – but instead found nothing more sinister; rather I simply had an extremely severe cold.”
Cold or more, media and contributors alike have seen Biden’s scattered words and distant look more than once during this past year. Given all that Biden is facing as President – wars in Ukraine and Gaza; DC political wars; authoritarianism from Trump; as well as facing authoritarianism within himself — it would be understandable if Biden felt burdened by leading a Free World government.
Tonight, Biden maintained an energetic posture but occasionally faltered when speaking of himself or other matters. When discussing Sen. Mark Warner and his reported attempt at rallying senators over President Barack Obama withdrawing, Biden made an error when responding to one question on him being involved with mobilization efforts as other senators mobilized against Obama renouncing presidential bid. When responding about Warner, he mistakenly replied “Mark is good man; he also tried his luck getting nominated as president himself but Senator Warner never ran himself for president!” Rather than providing details, Biden replied simply that Sen. Mark Warner never ran himself for president either way!
Biden had initially intended for his interview to air this Sunday after teaser clips surfaced this past weekend, however ABC News postponed broadcast until Tuesday instead, when an arrangement could be reached between Stephanopoulos and Biden that allowed them to arrange it without delay and tonight’s date (July 3) came under frantic calls from donors, pundits, and others demanding that Biden sit with an unscripted network in one-on-one interviews in order to explain what had transpired and demonstrate his cognitive health wasn’t showing itself through his debate performance or otherwise.
But this interview and press conference at next week’s NATO Summit has not alleviated calls from some major donors in Hollywood and elsewhere – as well as lawmakers – for Biden to withdraw. Polls showing Biden falling further behind Trump were the focal point when President Trump met with Democratic governors earlier this week to alleviate personal and electoral worries of each governor present.
Stephanopoulos noted how damaging to Biden’s case have been the stories in The New York Times and The Washington Post where anonymous sources suggest his faltering performance wasn’t an isolated incident; these sources also mentioned instances in which Biden became disoriented or forgotful during other interviews with them.
With Trump taunting Friday his opponent by demanding another debate without moderators, not only donors but other Hollywood supporters have closely observed Biden’s interview. One major supporter noted how campaign efforts may overlook what people really experienced at Biden events.
As Democratic House members have scheduled an online virtual meeting tomorrow to address what went down between Biden and his staff today, tonight’s interview may do little to change that fact.
