White House aides have raised a number of troubling concerns with President Biden’s cognitive abilities, as well as his capability to carry out his duties for another four years, according to a report from Axios.
White House aides have “seen flashes of an absent-minded Biden, but typically brush them off as ordinary brain farts because they usually see him engaged,” Axios reported after speaking to eight current and former Biden Administration aides.
The fallout from Thursday night’s debate is taking an effect on some aides, however, some of whom are questioning whether the president can continue to function. Others are more optimistic that things can be turned around, though Biden’s staff is more or less in agreement that the president’s frequent freeze-ups, slurred words, and wide-eyed facial expressions resulted in a poor night for the campaign.
“Some campaign aides projected calm Friday and framed the debate as just a bad night that they’d recover from. Other Biden aides, donors and senior Democrats were deeply shaken, as Trump and other crowing Republicans questioned his fitness for office,” Axios reported.
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“Beyond the politics of whether Biden can beat Trump again, the aides expressed new worries about whether the president can carry out his duties through another four-year term.”
While the report noted that Biden’s rally in North Carolina on Friday — which still featured freeze-ups and blank stares — has calmed some staff members, the report went on to make a stunning revelation about the symptoms of Biden’s cognitive decline.
“The time of day is important as to which of the two Bidens will appear,” Axios reported after speaking with White House staff. “From 10am to 4pm, Biden is dependably engaged — and many of his public events in front of cameras are held within those hours.”
“Outside of that time range or while traveling abroad, Biden is more likely to have verbal miscues and become fatigued,” aides told the outlet.
Thursday’s 90-minute debate began at 9 p.m. eastern time.
Increased confusion and cognitive decline in evening and nighttime hours is a common symptom of Alzheimer’s and Dementia known as “sundowning.”
“Sundowning is increased confusion that people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia may experience from dusk through night,” reads a description from the Alzheimer’s Association website. “Also called ‘sundowner’s syndrome,’ it is not a disease but a set of symptoms or dementia-related behaviors that may include difficulty sleeping, anxiety, agitation, hallucinations, pacing and disorientation. Although the exact cause is unknown, sundowning may occur due to disease progression and changes in the brain.”
Campaign aides were confident that President Biden was prepared for Thursday’s debate and felt he would do well. “Some of the close-knit Biden aides who prepped him for the debate told confidantes they were optimistic beforehand, and that he’d done well in their practice sessions,” Axios reported.
While the campaign is in agreement that the debate was a disaster, there are varying opinions on the extent of the damage. Holding the debate early was meant to provide Biden with a boost in the polls, not set him back, though some elements of the campaign remain confident that they can turn the tide.
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