Reports indicate that US President Joe Biden is facing significant health challenges that limit his working hours to just six per day. According to Axios, the 81-year-old leader can function effectively only between 10 am and 4 pm, with increased susceptibility to verbal flubs and fatigue outside this window.
Impact on White House operations
These health issues have forced White House officials to schedule Biden’s public appearances and commitments within his optimal timeframe. Despite noticeable signs of absent-mindedness, officials often dismiss them as mere gaffes.
Debate performance and public reactions
The report follows Biden’s poor performance in a presidential debate against former President Donald Trump. Scheduled at 9 pm, the debate fell outside Biden’s peak hours, during which he appeared absent-minded and struggled to articulate his thoughts.
In one instance, Biden said, “making sure that we’re able to make every single solitary person eligible for what I’ve been able to do with the COVID, excuse me, dealing with everything we have to do with…We finally beat Medicare.”
Trump was quick to capitalise upon his gaffe and quipped, “He did beat Medicare. He beat it to death.”
“I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence, and I don’t think he did, either,” Trump replied to one of Biden’s responses.
Biden’s rally remarks
The day after the debate, Biden addressed a political rally in North Carolina with more confidence, acknowledging his physical and verbal limitations. “I don’t walk as easy as I used to. I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to,” he admitted. “I don’t debate as well as I used to, but I know what I do know: I know how to tell the truth!”