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Biden in the 2024 debate: What's the truth behind his poor performance?
The 2024 US presidential election is in full swing. As the incumbent president, Joe Biden, at the age of 82, has set the record for the oldest incumbent president in US history. However, Biden's age and health have become a focus in this election, especially in the recent first debate, where his performance was widely criticized.
Many critics and some Democratic lawmakers called on Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race after the debate, questioning his ability to continue running.
Biden's performance in the debate not only worried the audience, but his opponent, former President Donald Trump, also used the opportunity to step up his attacks on him. Trump has repeatedly mentioned Biden's age and mental health during the campaign, which has caused many American voters to question whether he is qualified for the presidency.
Interestingly, Biden's health was already controversial before this debate. In February 2024, prosecutor Robert Hull mentioned in his investigation report that Biden had "significant limitations" in his memory ability after a five-hour investigation of Biden. This statement caused a strong backlash within the Democratic Party, which believed that Hull's report was politically biased.
Background of health issues
Biden's health problems date back to 1988, when he underwent surgery for neck pain and subsequently suffered a pulmonary embolism, which took a toll on his health. His age has also become a major concern for his friends and advisers as he considers running for president again.
As early as 2019, several authoritative media outlets had begun commenting on Biden's age and health issues, pointing out that this could pose a threat to his competitiveness in the 2020 election.
During the 2020 election, Biden's opponents used the issue of age to attack him, while Biden's supporters attributed it to ageism. Even during the campaign, Biden was subjected to a disinformation campaign from the Russian government questioning his mental health.
Current State of the Debate
In the June 2024 debate, Biden's performance once again attracted attention. At the start of the debate, he seemed confused and hesitant, and his answers frequently veered off topic. Such performance has caused many people to doubt his physical condition and his ability to govern effectively. Some officials and foreign heads of state who had contact with Biden also noticed that Biden's physical strength was gradually declining.
The debate raised widespread concerns: Even if voters prefer Biden's policies, can he physically support the role?
In addition, Biden's refusal to take cognitive tests such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment has also raised concerns about his health. Although the White House said Biden has no relevant issues with treatment, does this answer satisfy voters?
Public reaction
There have been mixed reactions from the media and the public regarding Biden's health and age. In some polls, more than 85% of respondents said age and health issues were major factors in their support for Biden. That has left Biden's camp seeking strategies to limit his public schedule, media appearances and impromptu communications to reduce questions about his age and cognitive abilities.
According to a New York Times report, one of the polls showed that most voters who supported Biden in 2020 believed that he was "too old" to govern effectively, and this concern spanned different generations and Social class.
Concerns about Biden's re-election have also begun to emerge within the Democratic Party. Many Democratic officials are concerned not only about whether Biden can complete his second term, but also whether he can defeat Trump and return to the White House.
Conclusion
Biden's health and age will continue to be key issues as Election Day approaches. Many people began to doubt whether this president, who is over 80 years old, is capable of handling this role.
