The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) published a comprehensive report on President Joe Biden's mental health.
The newspaper interviewed more than 45 people, including Republicans and Democrats, for the report, which took months to prepare.
Those who spent time with Biden reported that he has been very quiet in recent months and that what he says is barely understood.
"THEIR ATTITUDE CHANGES DAY BY DAY"
It was suggested that Biden's demeanor and grasp of policy details varied from day to day, that he often relied on notes while speaking, and that he received support from his aides during conferences.
It was also reported that Biden's mood and demeanor also changed from day to day, pausing for very long periods of time while speaking and closing his eyes long enough to be thought to be asleep.
"HE CAN'T SPEAK WITHOUT LOOKING AT HIS NOTES"
"It was impossible to be there and not feel uncomfortable," said one person who took part in the critical talks on aid to Ukraine in January.
Attendees said it took about 10 minutes for Biden to start the meeting after he entered the room, and after he started the meeting, he was already speaking "in a barely audible voice on issues that everyone agreed on," they said, referring to his notes.
"HE IS NO LONGER THE SAME PERSON"
"He didn't do most of the talking himself," the report said, adding that the President asked his staff to answer some of the questions he was asked directly.
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who met with Biden during the debt limit debate in May 2023, said, "He always had cards. He could not negotiate otherwise. I used to meet with him when he was vice president, I used to go to his house. He is not the same person anymore."
"WE TALKED ABOUT IT LONG AGO"
Emphasizing that Biden had serious memory problems, McCarthy said, "He was going back to old issues that had been finished a long time ago. 'No, Mr. President. We talked about that a long time ago, we're past that,' and he was shocked."
DEFENSE OF CONTRADICTORY STATEMENTS
White House Deputy Spokesperson Andrew Bates argued that the story was false.
Claiming that the Republicans in the House of Representatives made these false claims as a political tactic, Bates claimed that they directly contradicted his and his colleagues' previous statements.
OLDEST PRESIDENT IN USA HISTORY
Born in 1942, Joe Biden is the oldest president in US history. If he is re-elected and can survive, he will turn 86 at the end of his second term.
TRUMP'S MENTAL ACUITY ALSO UNDER SUSPICION
Former President Donald Trump, 77 years old and 3.5 years younger than Biden, also faced questions about his mental acuity.
Both candidates have repeatedly been caught on camera fumbling facts or failing in their public statements.
This has provided both Democrats and Republicans with a steady stream of fodder to attack the mental capacity of the opposing candidate.
