During an interview with CNN Host Jake Tapper on Wednesday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed concerns about 80-year-old President Joe Biden’s stamina and the challenges reporters face in keeping up with him.
“Is the White House worried that questions about President Biden’s stamina could ultimately impact whether or not voters will be able to support him for a second term?” Tapper asked Jean-Pierre during a Tuesday segment of his CNN show “The Lead.”
“I’ve had conversations with some of your colleagues in the White House press corps, when we travel abroad, [about] how it is hard for us to keep up with this president who is constantly, constantly working every day to get things done and making sure that we are delivering for the American people,” Jean-Pierre said.
“And that’s what, I think that’s what matters. I get it. I get what you’re asking me, but the record matters too, Jake. What he has been able to do, no other president has been able to do if you look at his legislative record.”
Recent data from an Associated Press/NORC poll revealed that Biden’s age remains a significant concern for a large portion of the electorate. A staggering 89% of Republicans and 69% of Democrats have expressed apprehensions about Biden’s age, especially in the context of his 2024 reelection bid.
Among those concerned, a significant 85% would prefer Biden not to contest in the 2024 elections. This data contrasts sharply with the lesser concerns surrounding former President Donald J. Trump’s age, despite him being only three years younger than Biden.
Throughout Biden’s tenure, concerns about his age have consistently surfaced. Several members from within his party have expressed their unease, especially given the decline in his approval ratings. Jean-Pierre, however, remains steadfast in her defense of the president.
“I get asked that question a lot. Here’s the thing. What this president brings to the administration is wisdom and experience, and that is just true,” Jean-Pierre remarked, highlighting the significant prescription drug price cuts for Medicare recipients that Biden achieved through the Inflation Reduction Act. “Look, people have come after the president about his age,” Jean-Pierre added.
“They did it in 2019. They did it in 2020 leading into the general election. And they did it in 2022. And guess what, he beats them every time. Because he has his finger on the pulse of what it is the American people need. He talks about issues that really matter to the American people. And he is delivering.”
This narrative underscores the political dynamics at play, with age becoming a focal point of discussion.
Scroll down to leave a comment and share your thoughts.
