(Washington, DC) – President Biden vigorously defended his cognitive abilities and memory in response to a special counsel report that raised questions about his recollection of key aspects of his life and political career. Special counsel Robert Hur characterized Biden as a “sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory,” using this evaluation to argue against potential legal consequences for Biden’s handling of classified documents.
During a last-minute White House briefing, Biden refuted the report’s most notable details, emphasizing his competency and asserting that his memory is sound. He sarcastically remarked on the idea of forgetting critical events since taking office and dismissed concerns about his age raised by reporters during a rare and occasionally tense press conference from the Diplomatic Reception Room.
Expressing emotional frustration, Biden contested a portion of the report claiming he forgot when his son, Beau Biden, had died, deeming it an intrusive question. However, he inadvertently underscored concerns about his memory when, in response to a final question about the Israel-Hamas conflict, he mistakenly referred to the “president of Mexico, Sisi,” instead of the president of Egypt.
The 388-page report by Hur concluded that Biden “willfully” retained classified documents but did not recommend charges. It also painted a stark picture of the 81-year-old’s limited memory during recorded interviews in 2017 and an interview with Hur’s office in 2023. The report highlighted instances where Biden did not remember key aspects of his vice presidency, including when his term began and ended, and exhibited a hazy memory discussing a critical Afghanistan debate for his memoirs.
Republican leaders seized on the findings to suggest Biden’s “unfitness” for office, with descriptions of his memory likely becoming fodder for future campaigns against the president’s age and mental capacity.
With questions lingering over Biden’s potential second term and Democrats, including former President Obama’s adviser David Axelrod, raising concerns, Biden affirmed his candidacy, stating, “I’m the most qualified person in this country to be president of the United States and finish the job I started.” Despite defending his handling of classified documents and declaring the matter closed, the fallout from the report continues to shape the discourse around President Biden’s leadership.
