Joe Biden’s aides have revealed that the elderly president alternates between being alert and completely confused, but is “reliably engaged” for only a few hours a day.
Biden’s performance in Thursday’s presidential debate surprised many in the Democratic Party with his confused answers and apparent disorientation.
But White House advisers he told axios that they were not surprised and that it was common knowledge within their inner circle that there were apparently two versions of the president.
The first version, they said, is confident and focused, while the second seems confused, tired and old.
White House advisers told the outlet that Biden is only “reliably engaged” between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day and that outside of those times he is more likely to ramble or appear lost.
White House aides told Axios they were not surprised by Biden’s debate performance and that it was common knowledge within his inner circle that there were two versions of the president.
During Thursday’s 90-minute debate, Biden repeatedly appeared to lose his train of thought and struggle to finish sentences.
Later, Biden himself said: “I don’t walk as easily as I used to. I don’t speak as fluently as I used to. I don’t debate as well as I used to.”
His performance sparked panic among Democrats, with former key adviser to Barack Obama, David Axelrod, saying there was a “sense of shock” in the party and there would be “discussions about whether he (Biden) should continue.”
But some aides told Axios they were not surprised by his performance and raised fresh concerns about whether the president is fit for another term.
They reported that his limitations and mistakes are well known in the White House and many refer to the feeling that there are two presidents: one competent, the other old and confused.
They said whether Biden will get a win at any given time depends on several factors, including the time of day.
Biden is “reliably engaged” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and many of his events take place within these hours, they told Axios.
The outlet was told that Biden is only “reliably engaged” between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day and outside of these hours he is more likely to slur his words or appear lost.
Thursday’s debate, on the other hand, began at 9 p.m.
Outside of those hours, they said, Biden is more likely to get tired, confused or slur his words.
They also said that he is worse when he travels abroad and gets tired more easily.
In response, White House spokesman Andrew Bates told Axios that “there is a Joe Biden.”
She added: “He works his heart out fighting for families like the one he grew up with in Scranton, and who, because of his determination, experience and decency, continues to achieve unprecedented results for them.”
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