Biden Issues Message Online About Foreign Aid Bill
On Tuesday, the release of a new report from the Hur Health Group reignited concerns about President Joe Biden's age and fitness to lead. The report, which was based on polling data from American citizens, suggested that many Americans have been worried about Biden's memory issues for years.
The report comes as Biden's 2024 reelection campaign is in full swing, and it has served as an "elephant in the room" moment for his supporters. In an effort to disprove the longstanding observations made about his memory issues, the campaign has been working hard to promote the president's abilities.
However, the efforts may not be enough to silence Biden's critics, as a video shared on the official "POTUS" Twitter account on Tuesday has garnered attention for all the wrong reasons. In the pre-recorded two-minute clip, Biden can be seen speaking while gesturing about his commitment to America's allies worldwide. He also takes the opportunity to criticize his likely GOP opponent, former President Donald Trump, regarding his recent statements about Russia and the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
What is perhaps even more significant is the fact that the video has been making the rounds on social media due to the noticeable absence of any bouts of confusion or forgetfulness from Biden. This is a marked change from previous public appearances where such instances have raised serious questions about the president's mental acuity.
You may have heard some call into question the sanctity of America's commitment to our Allies.
That's not who we are.
We're a nation that can be relied on, that stands up to Putin. Let's prove it by passing the bipartisan National Security Bill so I can sign it into law. pic.twitter.com/BYXU1lwnkh
— President Biden (@POTUS) February 20, 2024
Suspicion about the video intensified when it was revealed that there were at least 29 cuts in the 120-second video. Some netizens even counted as many as 34 edits, highlighting the effort that it took to make Biden look coherent and in control of his message.
Media critic Joe Concha, along with many others, has expressed alarm at the number of edits in the video, pointing out that this is not normal for presidential communication. This pattern of heavy editing and scripting has been observed in the past, particularly during Biden's low-key basement campaign in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic provided a convenient excuse for his campaign to keep him secluded and tightly controlled, with his handlers often stepping in to cut feeds or end interviews when he went off script.
The video posted on Twitter on Tuesday, though not a campaign ad, serves as a preview of what we may see from Biden in the next eight months leading up to the 2024 presidential election. Despite his team's best efforts to shield him from questions and scrutiny, it is unlikely that the concerns about Biden's mental state will dissipate. If anything, this new video may reinforce the doubts and fuel speculation about his ability to lead the country for another term.
As the 2024 campaign intensifies, it remains to be seen how Biden's team will navigate the delicate issue of his mental health. As the pressure mounts, they may resort to even more scripted appearances and tightly controlled interactions with the public. However, as this latest video has shown, that may not be enough to sway voters who are already skeptical about Biden's fitness for the job. With the election still years away, this is a challenge that the Biden campaign will have to contend with.