Sometimes stinging rudeness can be wrapped in friendly wording. Special investigator Robert K Hur excels in the art, when he describes US President Joe Biden as “a likable, well-meaning older man with a bad memory.”
There wasn’t much left of Biden’s benevolence at the hastily convened press briefing at the White House on Thursday night. Biden became furious when asked questions about his age and cognitive ability.
A reporter was told she was judgmental. Others received snarky answers.
Biden was visibly upset at the press conference. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP
Now it wasn’t wonder if the president was upset.
At first glance, the review of the secret documents contained good news. Representative Donald Trump has already been indicted for his handling of classified documents at the private Mar-a-Lago club. Joe Biden, on the other hand, is cleared of criminal charges, after taking classified material from the White House after his eight years as vice president. There will be no trial over the folders found in the Wilmington garage. Biden’s negligence cannot be equated with Donald Trump’s stubborn refusal to follow rules and calls from the authorities.
But Robert K Hur — who served as federal prosecutor in Maryland during the Trump administration — hands down an unofficial sentence in his 388-page report.
The special investigator claims that Biden’s age and failing memory is an argument to avoid prosecution. He describes the president as a person who has difficulty remembering crucial dates in his life’s history. Among other things, the president reportedly had difficulty explaining the year in which his son Beau Biden died.
– How the hell does he have the guts to bring it up, Biden wondered, close to tears, on Thursday evening in the White House.
Documents in Joe Biden’s garage in Wilmington Photo: US Department of Justice/AP
This is serious information. Biden has consistently denied that he was aware that he was in possession of classified documents from the vice presidency. He made another denial at the press conference.
After answering a few questions from a screaming group of journalists, he tried to leave the room. He turned on his heel and returned to the podium to take a question about the Gaza war – promptly confusing the presidents of Egypt and Mexico.
It was a mistake in the amount. In the past week, Biden has invoked long-dead top politicians in various appearances. He has confused French President Emmanuel Macron and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel with representatives Francois Mitterand and Helmut Kohl.
According to an opinion poll by the news company NBC in January, three quarters of voters worry about Biden’s physical or mental health. Political opponent Donald Trump – who himself turns 78 in June – has an advantage in several opinion polls.
The president may be oblivious but his party mates are actively suppressing the problems
Now votes are being raised in the Republicans to force Biden to resign early. Voters probably care more about what will happen in January 2025.
In a normal world, the humiliating wording of the classified documents report would spell the end of Biden’s presidential campaign. But it is a bit grand with the Democrats’ insight into the crisis as with the Republicans’ blind reverence for Donald Trump – for outsiders, the political logic can be difficult to understand.
The president may be oblivious but his party mates are actively suppressing the problems.
