On Sunday, as President Joe Biden, 80, was giving an incoherent explanation regarding his recent chat with a Chinese communist, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre unexpectedly ended the news conference.
Reporters heard him say, “I don’t know about you, but I’m going to go to bed,” just before his microphone was shut off and soothing jazz music began playing.
As Biden mumbled incoherently in answer to a question concerning his meeting with former Chinese Communist Party chief Li Keqiang at last week’s G20 Summit in India, Jean-Pierre cut him off and dismissed everyone.
The abrupt ending of the news conference was reported by Fox News and CNN, which infuriated members of Biden’s team.
After seeing a CNN article that focused on KJP’s abrupt dismissal of the press when Biden began rambling, numerous Biden aides took to social media to express their displeasure.
During the press conference, Biden also made many age-related gaffes. Among his many examples are his criticism of climate change deniers as “lying, dog-faced pony warriors” and his labeling of Robin Williams’s Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) as a “renowned song.”
As is typical, the president had difficulty reading from the teleprompter while delivering his prepared comments. During the question and answer period, Biden performed no better. He fumbled through the questions his team had prepared for him and mispronounced the names of the reporters. He spoke slowly and incoherently, pausing often to mumble into the microphone.
In the run-up to the 2024 race, Biden’s age has emerged as a significant concern. Many Democrats, including himself, have doubts about his suitability for office. By the time he is sworn in for a second four-year term if he is reelected, Biden will be 82.
Those close to the president and the Democrats who back him have tried to play off these worries.
