On Monday, a bewildered President Biden was seen pacing back and forth behind King Abdullah II of Jordan, seeming unsure of where to stand during the royal's remarks at the White House.
In a comical and confusing moment, the 81-year-old president appeared to be searching for a mark indicating the appropriate spot for him to stand. Eventually, after some wavering, Biden settled on standing to the left of the king and in front of the Jordanian flag.
The incident comes just days after special counsel Robert Hur announced that he would not be recommending criminal charges against Biden for his handling of classified White House documents. Hur cited concerns about the president's age and poor memory, which could affect a jury's perception of the case. Biden has previously struggled to recall details and events from his time as vice president under Barack Obama and the death of his son Beau Biden.
The Republican National Committee's research account on X, RNC Research, wasted no time in capitalizing on the incident, posting a clip of Biden's confusion with the caption, "BIDEN: What am I doing? Where am I going?" Meanwhile, Andrew Giuliani, a former Trump administration official and son of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, took to X to criticize the president's team for "rolling him out there" and called it "elder abuse."
Others on social media also expressed concern about Biden's mental state, with many pointing to his age and frequent gaffes as evidence that he may not be fit for office. One X user, radio host and political strategist Melik Abdul, sarcastically remarked that the public should "judge him [Biden] by his ability to get things done, like stand where the tape is and do so on the appropriate side of your invited guest." Another user, golfer Steve Flesch, accused Democrats of exploiting Biden and called it "elder abuse."
Don't judge his mental acuity. Judge him by his ability to get things done, like stand where the tape is and do so on the appropriate side of your invited guest. https://t.co/lAiumD3irG
— Melik Abdul (@MelikAbdul_) February 12, 2024
However, there were also those who came to Biden's defense, arguing that the incident was not as alarming as some were making it out to be. One X user, Josh Fields, pointed out that Biden was likely searching for the tape marking his spot for the camera shot, a common practice in movies, plays, and press conferences. Fields added that while there are legitimate concerns about Biden's age, this was not one of them.
Despite the differing opinions on social media, polling data has consistently shown that a majority of Americans have concerns about Biden's mental fitness for office. According to a recent ABC News/Ipsos poll, 86% of Americans believe that Biden is "too old" to be president. This number is even higher than the 62% who said the same of former President Donald Trump, who is 77 and seeking a rematch against Biden in the 2024 election.
This incident adds to the ongoing debate about Biden's age and his ability to effectively lead the country. While some see it as a lighthearted gaffe, others view it as a concerning sign of cognitive decline. As the country grapples with complex issues and multiple crises, the question of whether or not the president is mentally fit for the job will likely continue to be a topic of discussion.