MSNBC host Joe Scarborough on Wednesday reiterated his stance that President Joe Biden appeared mentally sharp before his June debate against then-President Donald Trump, despite reports suggesting otherwise.
Special counsel Robert Hur and outlets like The Wall Street Journal had indicated concerns about Biden’s cognitive abilities before the debate. However, Scarborough, speaking on Morning Joe, maintained that Biden exhibited impressive mental acuity, echoing his March claim that Biden was at his intellectual peak. This view contrasted with that of Financial Times columnist Edward Luce.
“I spent, as I’ve said before, two and a half, three hours with Joe Biden in the White House, all over the White House, talking at length about foreign policy matters. And he was as sharp as anybody else I’ve spoken to,” Scarborough said. “Was he slower physically? Yes. Did he occasionally jumble a few words or names? Yes. But he corrected those. After spending hours with him, I did not see the decline others mention.”
Scarborough also noted foreign leaders were impressed with Biden’s sharpness during negotiations. “I spoke with French leaders after tough negotiations with him. They were surprised at how sharp he was, especially after hearing reports claiming otherwise,” he said. “I’ve spoken to leaders in the Middle East, and they’ve echoed similar sentiments.”
Luce responded by acknowledging Biden’s fluctuating performance, saying, “People who are getting older and have waning energy and vitality can have strong moments and weak moments. The debate last June happened after Biden had been traveling, and his performance reflected his state at the time.”
Concerns about Biden’s mental fitness have persisted. In his February report on Biden’s handling of classified documents, Special Counsel Hur described Biden as presenting himself as “an elderly man with a poor memory,” detailing instances where Biden forgot key details, including the year his son Beau Biden passed away.
In a recent opinion piece, Luce alleged there was “a conspiracy of silence around Biden’s waning capacities,” suggesting Biden’s inner circle shielded him from press conferences and unscripted events. “It was an open secret in Washington that his mind was in decline,” Luce wrote.
Dozens of individuals familiar with Biden’s operations told The Wall Street Journal that aides insulated the president in the years leading up to the debate, raising questions about his ability to serve effectively.
