Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, laughed off a question about President Joe Biden’s physical and mental condition during a Monday interview.
In an interview with CNN’s Don Lemon, Jean-Pierre expressed surprise, telling the host that a question about Biden’s physical and mental abilities should not even be asked.
The press secretary then grinned and revealed to Lemon that, at 47, she was having problems keeping up with Biden, who is 79.
A New York Times article earlier this week questioned the president’s mental capacity, which Jean-Pierre dismissed as “hearsay” and “not what we care about.”
In the report, some prominent Democrats questioned Biden’s readiness to lead the Democratic Party into the 2024 election.
“We care about how we are going to deliver for the American people. How we’re going to make their lives better. That’s what the president talks about. That is his focus and that’s what we’ll continue to focus on.” Jean-Pierre continued.
Biden became the oldest person ever elected to the White House in November 2020, and if he decides to compete for re-election in 2024, he might break that record.
Concerns about Biden’s age and ability to lead the Democratic Party come during an administration beset by gaffes, with the president making seemingly new policy pronouncements only to have his team retreat.
In recent months, Biden has shown willingness to go to war with both Russia and China, before administration officials declared that the nation will not shift its diplomatic goals.
In the same month, Biden stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin could not continue in power.
The comment provoked controversy since it looked that Biden was calling for Putin’s removal, but White House officials later clarified that Biden was not advocating for regime change.
