President Biden made headlines once more this week, this time for a confusing misstatement during a press conference, which has fueled ongoing questions about his mental agility and fitness for leadership. While standing alongside Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in the White House Rose Garden, Biden perplexingly told attendees to ‘Elect me, I’m in the 20th century’, a remark that instantaneously spread across social media platforms, with critics highlighting it as further evidence that he may not be up to the task for another term.
Combative exchanges are not uncommon during such conferences. However, when numerous reporters simultaneously posed questions for the president, Biden expressed his confusion by remarking, ‘Why doesn’t everybody holler at once?’ before attempting to address several inquiries thrown at him. Among the journalists present was NBC News correspondent Peter Alexander, who sought the president’s views regarding a recent abortion ruling by the Arizona Supreme Court.
This ruling upheld a more than century-old law, dating back to 1864, that outlaws abortion from the instant of conception. The law allows only a single exception, that is if the abortion is required to save the mother’s life. Notably, President Biden’s response was both bewildering and somewhat dismissive: ‘Elect me,’ he said, followed by, ‘I’m in the 20, 20th century’. Critics, and even some supporters, were left scratching their heads at the president’s disjointed response.
Realizing his mistake almost immediately, Biden quickly corrected his century reference, saying he meant the 21st century and not the 20th. However, his added remark, ‘They weren’t even a state’, only further illustrated his disjointed thought process. These instances have been giving credence to the skepticism among voters about Biden’s mental competence to continue the job of presidency. It is of note that Biden would reach the ripe age of 86 by the end of a presumptive second term in 2029; a fact not lost on many concerned observers.
BIDEN: “Elect me. I’m in the 20th Century.”
We are in the 21st Century.
This guy has the nuclear codes… pic.twitter.com/HxndFlYLIw
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) April 10, 2024
A recent survey from Gallup does not bode well for the incumbent president’s chances of reelection. Both the White House and campaign officials are feeling the heat as they scramble to stem the tide of his plummeting approval scores. As Gallup succinctly put it on Monday, fewer Americans in 2022 believe that positive personality traits and characteristics, which were once associated with Biden, still apply.
In some of the more alarming revelations from this poll, the largest drop occurred in the perception of Biden’s ability to effectively manage the government. Across several other traits too, Biden’s scores have seen a decline of at least six percentage points. To offer perspective, the Gallup survey covered both President Biden and former President Trump, assessing perceptions involving six main competencies.
The competencies under consideration were, ‘Can manage the government effectively’, ‘Is likable’, ‘Displays good judgment in a crisis’, ‘Is a strong and decisive leader’, ‘Cares about the needs of people like you’, and ‘Is honest and trustworthy’. Biden’s ratings dropped between 13 and 6 points in all these areas, yet surprisingly, he remained ahead of Trump in three categories.
Biden eclipsed Trump in ‘Is likable’ (57% versus 37%), ‘Cares about the needs of people like you’ (48% compared to 42%), and ‘Is honest and trustworthy’ (46% as opposed to Trump’s 35%). However, Biden lagged behind Trump in the more pragmatic categories: ‘Can manage the government effectively’ (39%, with Trump at 49%), ‘Displays good judgment in a crisis’ (40% to Trump’s 45%), and ‘Is a strong and decisive leader’ (38% compared to Trump’s robust 57%).
According to Gallup’s summary of the poll, such changes are on par with alterations in the candidates’ general approval ratings between 2020 and 2024. Biden’s most recent approval score stands at 41%, eight points lower since the close of his 2020 campaign. Simultaneously, Trump’s score remains relatively stable at 42%, which is just a statistical 3% drop from the 45% score in 2020.
While Biden grapples with this crisis of confidence, it seems former President Trump is eager to exploit this vulnerability. Over the weekend, Trump openly challenged Biden to a debate, insisting he’s ready ‘anytime, anyplace’—a move seemingly designed to underline the perceived deficit in dynamism between the two leaders.
In Wisconsin, at a campaign rally, Trump took his provocation a step further. Next to his speaking podium was an empty mic stand—a clear symbol to signify his readiness to confront the current president. He cheekily referred to it as the spot reserved for ‘Joe Biden’, and publicly invited Biden to a debate.
‘I’m trying to get him to debate,’ Trump declared, challenging what he called ‘Crooked Joe’ to meet him ‘anytime, anyplace’ at his convenience. Trump emphasized his willingness to adapt to any conditions and display genuine political courage for the ‘good of the country’. This symbolic mic stand even bore a placard stating, ‘Anytime. Anywhere. Anyplace.’
By reiterating his challenge, Trump seemed to maintain the momentum of his campaign. He concluded by saying, ‘Let’s go have a good, solid, friendly debate’. With this, he not only signaled his readiness hit the campaign trail but also shone a spotlight on the potential discord between their physical abilities and mental sharpness. This contrast will undoubtedly play a significant role in the lead-up to the November presidential election.
