Saturday, 19 October 2024

Buttigieg Insists ‘We’re All Aware Of’ How Biden Is Doing


Pete Buttigieg, US transportation secretary, speaks during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, May 2, 2024.(Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg declared on Sunday that “we’re all aware” of how President Joe Biden has been doing after the commander in chief ended his re-election campaign.

“Fox News Sunday” anchor Shannon Bream pressed Buttigieg to address questions about whether Vice President Kamala Harris knew of Biden’s decline and did not speak out.

“We’re all aware of how he’s doing,” Buttigieg asserted. “Our country has watched our president lead, and yes, we’ve also seen the fact that he’s 10 years older than he was 10 years ago.”

Buttigieg argued former President Donald Trump has become “older and stranger,” and Democrats do not suffer from the “warped reality” of Republicans.

“On the contrary, the president confronted that reality in what must have been one of the most difficult decisions for an American president to make ever,” he added.

Biden, 81, faced a crisis of confidence in his party after a fumbling debate performance late last month in he appeared confused and lost his train of thought.

A growing number of Democrats called for Biden to drop out amid concerns about his age, mental acuity, and electability. After holding out for a while, Biden exited the race last weekend.

During the intra-party revolt, one media report discussed how top officials in Biden’s administration were being kept in the dark about the president’s condition.

A CNN story in mid-July said the last full Cabinet meeting had taken place more than half a year ago on October 2, 2023.

One unnamed secretary said members of the Cabinet, which includes Buttigieg, were uncertain of how Biden was doing because they hardly ever get to see him.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre claimed on Friday that Biden’s decision to exit the 2024 contest had “nothing to do with his health.”

However, during a prime-time speech that Jean-Pierre suggested would provide answers, Biden did not give an explanation for why he dropped out.

Shortly after saying he was no longer seeking a second term, Biden endorsed Harris to become the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee and take on Trump in November.

One House Republican has introduced fresh articles of impeachment against Harris which accused her, in part, of misleading the public about Biden’s physical and cognitive wellness.


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