In a new report from Axios, advisers of President Joe Biden finally admit the truth, namely, that Biden's old age has significant drawbacks that could compromise his ability to lead America.
This comes as Biden recently announced, as anticipated, that he will seek a second term - that he will run for reelection in 2024.
To put things into perspective, Biden, were he to win a second term, would be nearly 82 years old at the start of that term, meaning that he would be 86 at its completion.
Accordingly, it is expected that age will be a huge factor in the upcoming 2024 presidential election. In fact, it already has been an issue for Biden.
Axios, apparently, has done some "behind on the scenes" work, and it is there that the outlet managed to obtain the inside scoop about how "Biden's close advisers" - or at least some of them - feel about Biden's old age.
"Biden's close advisers say he's mentally sharp," Axios reports. "But even some of them concede his age has diminished his energy, significantly limiting his schedule."
The outlet goes on to report that:
Some White House officials say it's difficult to schedule public or private events with the president in the morning, in the evening, or on weekends: The vast majority of Biden’s public events happen on weekdays, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Axios also backs this up by, among other things, highlighting the fact that Jen Psaki, the Biden administration's former White House press secretary, just last month revealed that "President Biden does nothing at 9 a.m.”
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Jen O'Malley Dillon responded to Axios's reporting by calling it "false." Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates also pushed back on Axios's report.
The idea behind Axios's report is likely that, if Biden's people have concerns about his age, then Americans ought to as well, since Biden's people know more about Biden and they are less likely to admit something negative about Biden.
But, it doesn't really matter what Biden's people think. It matters what the American people think. And, the American people have already made it clear - in poll after poll - that, at the very least, they have concerns about whether Biden's age may hinder his ability to lead the country.
An NBC poll, for example, just recently found that about 70% of Americans don't want Biden to seek reelection, and, of that 70%, about half cited Biden's old age as a major reason why.
It's going to be a theme that is repeated throughout the upcoming election cycle. And, it will be up to Biden to convince the American people that he is mentally and physically fit for a second term.
Biden, regarding his age, said:
I respect [Americans] taking a hard look at it — I'd take a hard look at it, as well. I took a hard look at it before I decided to run, and I feel good. I feel excited about the prospects.
