President Joe Biden is scheduled to complete an annual physical, but the examination will not include a cognitive test.
The news comes on the heels of Special Counsel James Hur’s report that Biden willfully withheld classified documents from his time as vice president but won’t face charges due to memory problems.
“The president proves every day in how he operates and how he thinks, by dealing with world leaders, by making difficult decisions on behalf of the American people — whether it’s domestic or it’s national security,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
Jean-Pierre added that Biden’s physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, does not believe a cognitive test is necessary.
Former President Donald Trump has regularly boasted about having “aced” cognitive tests, making a claim in 2020 while president and again in 2023 while campaigning for the upcoming election this November, according to The Hill.
“I took a physical, and I passed with flying colors,” Trump said. “And I took a cognitive exam. I said ‘Doctor, give me anything you want, I want to take it.’ But, I took a cognitive exam, and I aced it.”
Trump and other politicos have pushed for mandatory cognitive testing, including former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who is running against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination.
Biden, 81, has recently faced criticism over several gaffes, as reported by The Dallas Express. He mistakenly said that he had recently spoken with two European leaders who are both deceased and called the president of Egypt the president of Mexico.
However, Biden is far from being alone in making mistakes. Trump, 77, recently confused Haley with former House speaker Nancy Pelosi and has appeared to slur his words on occasion.
Trump has maintained a substantial lead over Haley and is the presumed front-runner to take the Republican nomination, which could happen following Super Tuesday. That could mean whichever candidate is elected in 2024 will be the oldest person to be president. Age has emerged as a topic for voters, though most polls show a greater concern for Biden’s age than for Trump.
“Biden clearly finds the conversation about his health and age exasperating,” said author Jonathan Darman in an interview with The New York Times. “This is understandable, particularly given Trump’s own advanced age, his apparent confusion, and his frequent lapses of memory. But even if, as Biden and his aides insist, he is in excellent physical and mental health, he owes it to the country to have a frank and robust conversation about the topic.”
A poll conducted by ABC News/ Ipsos following Biden’s reaction to the special counsel report found that 59% of respondents believe both candidates are too old to serve second terms. However, voters are more skeptical of Biden’s age than Trump’s.
