In a fiery, unscripted moment on Friday, former President Joe Biden responded to intensifying scrutiny over his cognitive health and decision to run for reelection by issuing a defiant and colorful rebuke: “I can beat the hell outta both of them.” The comment, aimed at CNN anchor Jake Tapper and journalist Alex Thompson, was a reference to their newly published book chronicling what it alleges was a marked cognitive decline during Biden’s presidency—and a White House effort to conceal it.
The remark was made during a public event in Delaware when a reporter referenced mounting concerns about Biden’s mental and physical fitness. The 81-year-old Biden, appearing energized and combative, shrugged off the claims with trademark sarcasm: “You can see that I’m mentally incompetent and I can’t walk, and I can beat the hell out of both of them.”
The confrontation came as Biden faces growing criticism—not just from political opponents, but increasingly from members of his own party—about whether he should have pursued a second term. When pressed on that concern, Biden didn’t flinch: “Why didn’t they run against me then? Because I’d have beaten them.”
Biden Responds To Book: "I'm Mentally Incompetent, I Can't Walk, And I Could Beat The Hell Outta Both Of Them"https://t.co/QG0IMiy2Iv
"The prognosis is good."
"I don't have any regrets." pic.twitter.com/EV4xqHQgRV
— RCP Video (@rcpvideo) May 30, 2025
That answer reflects a familiar theme in Biden’s post-presidency posture: a man who believes his political instincts are still sharp, even as others question the very premise of his leadership in his final years in office.
Biden emphasized his pride in the decisions made during his administration, referencing what he believes was a pivotal historical period. “I think we’re in one of those inflection points in history where the decisions we make in the next little bit are going to determine what things look like for the next 20 years,” he said. “And I’m very proud. I’d put my record as president against any president at all.”
He also couldn’t resist a final jab at his longtime political nemesis, Donald Trump. “You notice the 12—the 10 leading presidential historians rated me pretty good up on that list—and the guy I ran against, [they] rated him last,” he said with evident satisfaction.
In a quieter moment during the event, Biden spoke candidly about his recent cancer diagnosis—revealed earlier this month. “The prognosis is good,” he assured reporters. “It’s all a matter of taking a pill, one particular pill, for the next six weeks, and then another one.” Biden said the disease hadn’t spread to any organs, noting, “My bones are strong. It hasn’t penetrated. So I’m feeling good.”
That revelation, coupled with his willingness to publicly address his condition, may serve to calm concerns in some quarters. But it’s unlikely to silence critics—or the media.