Biden's Mental Acuity Under Scrutiny: White House Urges Democrats to Counter 'False' Narratives

The White House has reportedly urged Democratic lawmakers to call back The Wall Street Journal to push back on a report alleging President Biden is showing signs of mental decline in private meetings. Congressman Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., revealed the White House's efforts, saying he was told to emphasize Biden's strengths.

President Biden's mental acuity has come under fresh scrutiny following a report by The Wall Street Journal alleging that he is showing signs of decline in private meetings with lawmakers and officials. The White House has reportedly urged Democratic lawmakers interviewed by the newspaper to call back and push back on "false" narratives.

The Journal's report, titled "Behind Closed Doors, Biden Shows Signs of Slipping," cites dozens of interviews with Republicans and Democrats who either participated in meetings with Biden or were briefed on them. The report describes several instances where the 81-year-old president made gaffes and displayed low energy.

The White House reportedly kept close tabs on some of the Journal's interviews with Democratic lawmakers. After some Democrats shared recordings or details of their interviews with the White House, they were reportedly contacted again and asked to emphasize Biden's strengths.

Rep. Meeks, who was present at a January White House meeting focused on providing funding for Ukraine, told the Journal that Biden's performance raised concerns. He said it took about 10 minutes for the meeting to begin as Biden slowly greeted attendees and relied heavily on notes to make "broad points."

Attendees also reported that Biden deferred frequently to other lawmakers and turned to staffers when questions were directed at him, leading one attendee to comment: "You couldn’t be there and not feel uncomfortable."

However, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., countered that Biden was "incredibly strong, forceful and decisive" at the meeting.

Former Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Biden was "not the same person" as when he was vice president, and a number of unnamed Democrats and others who knew him at that time expressed concerns about his mental sharpness.

Meeks, who has known Biden since 1998, defended his mental acuity, stating, "I found him to be the same Joe Biden that I’ve known since I came to Congress."

Biden aide Gene Sperling said having notes in policy meetings with lawmakers is standard practice for presidents, while a National Security Council official claimed Biden only turned to aides twice during the Ukraine meeting.

When asked for comment, the White House pointed to its statement to the Journal, which read: "Congressional Republicans, foreign leaders and nonpartisan national-security experts have made clear in their own words that President Biden is a savvy and effective leader who has a deep record of legislative accomplishment."

The White House also criticized Kevin McCarthy, calling him a "proven liar" for contradicting earlier statements about Biden's sharpness.

Questions continue to swirl around Biden's mental acuity as he seeks re-election. The issue gained traction in February following the release of Special Counsel Robert Hur's report, which claimed Biden did not remember key details like when he was vice president and the year his son Beau died.