US President Joe Biden expressed his intention to avoid scheduling late events to ensure he gets more sleep, stating he will no longer schedule meetings after 8 p.m.
Biden made this comment during a meeting with Democratic governors at the White House on Wednesday.
The 81-year-old president’s remark left several governors frustrated, contributing to the discontent among some participants. This frustration was further exacerbated by a statement of loyalty and enthusiasm distributed by the Biden campaign on Thursday, US broadcaster CNN reported, citing sources.
So far, the White House has not commented on the president’s statement. However, a Biden campaign aide defended him, noting that he had been involved in debate preparation and official work, in addition to campaign activities, following his two trips to Europe.
“President (George W.) Bush went to bed at 9, and President (Barack) Obama made dinner at 6:30,” said Biden campaign spokesperson Kevin Munoz. “Normal presidents strike a balance, and so does Joe Biden. Hardly the same rigor as Donald Trump, who spends half of his day ranting on Truth Social about plans that would cause a recession and the other half golfing.”
During the same meeting, Biden made a joke about his mental well-being, which did not sit well with the governors, the publication reported.
“I’m fine — I don’t know about my brain, though,” Biden joked.
In his defence, Biden’s campaign chairwoman, Jen O’Malley Dillon, clarified that the president was “clearly making a joke” and followed it with, “All kidding aside.”
These comments come in the wake of Biden’s poor performance during the recent presidential debate with Donald Trump, prompting some Democrats to call for him to withdraw from the 2024 election race. This has also left the White House scrambling to convince skeptics within the party and voters.
Biden’s remarks about needing more sleep and less work at night, first reported by The New York Times, came shortly after the publication revealed that some officials have observed an increase in the frequency and severity of the US president’s cognitive declines over the past few months.
As the oldest president in US history, Biden has faced questions about his age and health for years. However, on Thursday, he reiterated his determination to stay in office during an Independence Day celebration at the White House.
Responding to a supporter’s encouragement to “keep up the fight,” the 81-year-old US president said, “You got me, man. I’m not going anywhere.”
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