Democrat President Joe Biden appeared lost and confused while telling reporters that he’d “get in trouble” for answering their questions.
Almost immediately after he made the comments, Biden’s handlers cleared the room.
Biden made the admission during a press briefing Tuesday — just hours after his press secretary staunchly defended his mental acuity.
The 81-year-old commander-in-chief started uttering the familiar, yet bewildering, refrain before he even lifted the microphone off the table at the launch of a task force aimed at lowering costs for American families.
“I have a lot of questions,” Biden mumbled, garnering a few laughs from the audience.
“I better not start the questions. I’ll get in trouble.”
He delivered a ragged exhale into the mic before placing it back down and stared blankly ahead with his mouth agape.
He then ignored some of the reporter’s last-ditch attempts to squeeze in a final question as they were rushed out of the room by Biden’s handlers.
Biden appeared out of breath and confused during the incident.
WATCH:
BIDEN: “I better not start the questions. I’ll get in trouble.”
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) March 5, 2024
“Oh my Lord. This man is not well,” former Democrat campaign advisor Peter Daou opined on X.
Biden’s bizarre behavior came hours after White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre chastised a reporter for asking why the president routinely relies on notecards during public announcements.
Although the reporter didn’t insinuate whether such a reliance reflects declining mental health, Jean-Pierre jumped to the defense of Biden.
“You’re upset because the President has note cards?” Jean-Pierre replied, dodging the question.
“You’re asking me a question about the President having note cards?
“The President who has had probably one of the most successful first three years of an administration than any modern-day president?
“He’s done more in the first three years than most presidents who had the two terms.
“I think what’s important here and what the American people care about is how this President is delivering for them.
“And that’s what he’s doing. And that’s what’s the most important thing here.”
The Tuesday afternoon remarks were not the first time Biden admitted he was advised by his staff to limit how much he talks to the press — even previously saying he’d get in “trouble” for doing so.
Biden first made mention of the directive during a press conference in 2021, days after former press secretary Jen Psaki admitted that she didn’t like the president having too much face time with the White House press corps.
“You guys are bad. I’m not supposed to be answering all these questions,” the president said at the time.
“I’m supposed to leave, but I can’t resist your questions.”
He repeated the sentiment just one month later, telling one journalist he’d “get in trouble with staff if I don’t do this the right way.”
Biden’s mental stamina has been a point of contention throughout his presidency and has ramped up ahead of the election.
Polls show that voters are more concerned about Biden’s age than they are about that of Donald Trump, 77.
An ABC News/Ipsos poll this month found that 86% of US adults said Biden is too old for another term.
