When 81-year-old Joe Biden met with congressional leaders in January to discuss an agreement on financing Ukraine, he, according to sources, occasionally spoke so quietly that the meeting participants could barely hear him. He also read "obvious conclusions" from a sheet of paper, took long pauses, and sometimes closed his eyes for extended periods—so much so that those present wondered if the president had fallen asleep, the article says.
More than 45 sources close to Biden shared this with The Wall Street Journal.
In February 2024, the U.S. president had a "one-on-one" conversation with House Speaker Mike Johnson. The conversation touched on changes in the Biden administration's policy. After the meeting with the president, Johnson was reportedly concerned that "Biden had lost memory of the details of his own policy," six people familiar with the situation told WSJ.
The newspaper notes that for most of his career, Biden "enjoyed a reputation as a skilled negotiator" and an expert in jurisprudence, but over the past year, this reputation has weakened. Among the more than 45 politicians interviewed by the publication, Biden was most frequently criticized by Republicans.
White House spokesperson Andrew Bates called the accusations against Biden "false and politically motivated," noting that the president has a sharp mind and clear consciousness.
