President Joe Biden continued to struggle to go off script Thursday as he attempted to insert a jab at former President Donald Trump into his July 4 remarks.
President and First Lady Jill Biden, along with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, spoke to military families on the South Lawn, the first of two presidential appearances at the White House to mark the holiday.
The 81-year-old is under heavy scrutiny following his botched debate performance last Thursday, with a handful of Democratic lawmakers saying publicly they believe Biden should drop out of the presidential race.
The White House has pointed to an upcoming interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos to demonstrate that Biden is capable of speaking off the cuff, but he flubbed his remarks when he came off the teleprompter on Thursday.
“By the way, you know I was in that World War I cemetery in France and one of our colleagues, a former president, didn’t want to go and be there,” Biden said. “I probably shouldn’t even say that. Anyway,” he continued, lowering his voice.
President Joe Biden continued to struggle to go off script Thursday as he attempted to insert a jab at former President Donald Trump into his Fourth of July remarks.
President Joe Biden is under intense scrutiny after his botched performance in a debate last Thursday against former President Donald Trump (pictured)
At another point in the speech he said again: “By the way.”
“I’ve been all over the world,” he said, lowering his voice to a whisper. “I’ve been in and out of battles, anyway. They’re amazing,” he told the military members and their families gathered on the South Lawn.
The president began greeting members of the crowd when he was told that his presence outside meant no more guests would be allowed inside the White House gates.
Biden promised to come back and talk to people.
One supporter shouted: “Keep fighting. We need you.”
“You got me, man. I’m not going anywhere.”
Biden continued: “I’ll be back when they let me open the door, OK? Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
President Joe Biden (left) and First Lady Jill Biden (right) arrive on the South Lawn for the first of two appearances commemorating the Fourth of July
President Joe Biden addresses attendees during Thursday night’s Fourth of July picnic for military families.
He then delayed his departure by telling one more story.
“When I was a senator, there was always congestion on the roads. There isn’t any more,” Biden said.
I was talking about the advantages of having the presidential motorcade.
“And the way to stop me from talking is to just shut down all the roads, Mr. President,” Biden said.
“I’ll be back,” he promised.
There was a cloud hanging over Thursday’s festivities, and it wasn’t just the flurry of words that suddenly appeared in the late afternoon, as Biden’s political future hung in the balance.
After Democratic governors expressed support, albeit initially lukewarm, for the president’s decision to stay in the race, those at the meeting began leaking juicy details to the press.
President Joe Biden poses for photographs after delivering brief remarks to military members and their families on July 4
The New York Times reported that the president told governors he wanted to stop hosting events after 8 p.m. in an effort to get more sleep.
During the same meeting, Hawaii Governor Josh Green asked Biden about his health.
The president responded that his health was fine.
“It’s just my brain,” he later said.
Some governors took the comment as a joke, while at least one found it strange, the newspaper reported.
Biden campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon later took over.
“He was clearly making a joke,” he said.