Special counsel alleged Biden couldn't recall personal milestones. His response: 'My memory is fine'
President Biden found himself on the defensive on Thursday as he vehemently defended his cognitive abilities and memory following the release of a scathing special counsel report.
The report, authored by Robert Hur, raised serious concerns about Biden's recollection of key elements of his life and political career, leading Hur to describe him as "a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory." These findings have prompted questions about Biden's cognitive abilities and memory, particularly in the wake of his handling of classified documents.
In a press conference disaster held at the White House, Biden forcefully pushed back against the report's claims.
WATCH: President Biden attempted to defend his mental acuity in a press conference Thursday night that a host of media outlets are rating as politically damaging to the president. The president gave a brief address to the nation from the White House on Thursday night where he took a barrage of questions from reporters regarding concerns over his age and memory.
Biden said, "I'm well-meaning and I'm an elderly man, and I know what the hell I'm doing. I've been president, I put this country back on its feet. I don't need his recommendation."
Biden sarcastically remarked on his memory, saying, "My memory's fine. Take a look at what I've done since I became president... how did that happen? I guess I just forgot what was going on."
The president also addressed concerns about his age raised by reporters, dismissing them as beliefs perpetuated by the media.
During the press conference, Biden seemed to become emotional when discussing Hur's assertion that he had forgotten when his son, Beau Biden, had passed away. Biden expressed anger, saying, "There's even reference that I don't remember when my son died. 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."
However, Biden's response to a final question regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict seemed to underscore the concerns raised by the special counsel report. He mistakenly referred to the "president of Mexico, Sisi," instead of correctly identifying the president of Egypt.
The 388-page report released by Hur earlier in the day accused Biden of "willfully" retaining classified documents but ultimately declined to bring any charges. It also highlighted significant limitations in Biden's memory and ability to recall information.
Hur noted that Biden's memory was significantly limited during recorded interviews in 2017 and during his interview with the special counsel's office in 2023.
The report revealed instances in which Biden could not remember key details, such as when he served as vice president, when his son Beau had passed away, and when recalling a critical debate on Afghanistan.
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These findings have led both Democrat and Republican leaders to question Biden's fitness for office, with concerns over his age and mental capacity becoming central campaign issues.
Biden, who is currently 81 years old, would be 86 by the end of a potential second term. There have been ongoing discussions among Democrats regarding whether he should step aside. Former President Obama's top adviser, David Axelrod, and other Democrats have raised questions about Biden's ability to run for re-election.
When asked about running for a second term, Biden confidently stated, "I'm the most qualified person in this country to be president of the United States and finish the job I started."
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