A recently released recording suggests that Joe Biden experienced memory lapses while serving as President of the United States. This audio, obtained during an interview with a special counsel regarding his handling of classified records, showcases Biden struggling to recall significant dates, such as the year his son Beau Biden passed away and the year Donald Trump was first elected. The recording features long pauses, a faint whispered voice, and moments of confusion over these key historical events.
This audio was released by Axios and documents Biden's interviews with Robert Hur, the special counsel from the Department of Justice, conducted in October 2023. During these discussions, Biden's staff members can be heard attempting to remind or correct him on vital details. Hur's investigation focused on Biden's handling of classified materials, and his final report characterized the president as a "sympathetic, well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory." Ultimately, Hur recommended against charging Biden with any criminal activity.
While a written transcript of the five-hour interview was made available last year, the newly released audio provides additional context regarding Biden's difficulties in recalling certain facts. Following the release of Hur's report, White House officials firmly denied any claims that Biden was impaired in his presidential duties. Nevertheless, pressure mounted on Biden to withdraw from the race for re-election after a challenging debate with Trump in June 2024, leading him to step aside in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris a month later.
At the time of these events, polling indicated that many Americans viewed Biden, then 81 years old, as too old to seek another presidential term. Despite having defeated Trump in 2020, Biden's decision to run again against Trump, who was only three years younger, has faced increasing scrutiny. Following the release of Hur's report, Biden expressed frustration over its findings, particularly regarding his memory of his son's death: "How in the hell dare he raise that? Frankly, when I was asked the question, I thought to myself it wasn’t any of their damn business."
The audio also captures Biden discussing his time as Vice President under Barack Obama, revealing that Obama did not want him to run for the presidency in 2016, believing that Hillary Clinton had a better chance of winning. In a more lighthearted moment, Biden deviated from the serious topics to reflect on the impact of the Gutenberg printing press and share anecdotes about driving a Corvette with comedian Jay Leno.
In the aftermath of Biden's struggles, Trump has consistently mocked the president's age and memory lapses. In the previous election cycle, Trump went on to defeat Harris, further intensifying the public's focus on Biden's age. However, Trump himself has faced criticism for confusing E. Jean Carroll, who accused him of sexual abuse, with his ex-wife Marla Maples during a deposition. Additionally, Trump claimed that the audience "went crazy" during his televised debate with Harris, despite the room being empty.
On Friday, Trump stirred controversy again when he made a reference to a notorious racial epithet while discussing a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. During an interview with Fox News, he stated, “It was getting deeper and more, I mean, more missiles. Everyone was stronger, stronger, to a point where the next ones are going to be you know what: the N-word.” After prompting from host Brett Baier, Trump confirmed the reference was to "nuclear," leading to laughter between the two men.
This newly surfaced audio and the surrounding discussions highlight the ongoing concerns regarding the cognitive abilities of both Biden and Trump, setting the stage for a contentious political landscape as the 2024 elections approach.
