WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden forcefully defended himself late Thursday night, hours after special counsel Robert Hur’s report on his handling of classified information suggested the President suffers from memory loss.
Speaking from the White House, Biden slammed Hur’s finding that the President’s memory was “significantly limited, both during his recorded interviews with the ghostwriter in 2017, and in his interview with our office in 2023.”
The report also said Biden did not remember, “even within several years”, when his son Beau died.
How in the hell dare he raise that,” Biden said. “Frankly, when I was asked the question I thought to myself: ‘Wasn’t any of their damn business.’ “
“I don’t need anyone to remind me when he passed away,” he added.
Hur’s report said Biden wouldn’t be charged for having classified documents but labeled him as an “an elderly man with a poor memory”.
“My memory’s fine,” Biden told one reporter before adding “I know what the hell I’m doing” to another reporters question.
“My memory — take a look at what I’ve done since I’ve become president. None of you thought I could pass any of the things I got passed. How’d that happen?” he said.
The damning report comes as Americans grow increasingly concerned about Biden’s age and fitness for office. A recent NBC News poll found 76% of voters had “major or moderate concerns” when asked whether Biden, 81, has “the necessary mental and physical health to be president for a second term.”
Later in his remarks, Biden mistakenly referred to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi as the president of Mexico when answering a question about Hamas hostages.
“I think that, as you know, initially, the President of Mexico, el-Sisi, did not want to open up the gate to allow humanitarian material to get in,” he said, referring to the border between Egypt and Gaza.
Just days ago, Biden slipped up again as he was heard referencing talks with dead world leaders.
Administration officials said Biden was eager to address the special counsel’s most damning allegations head-on while the White House felt Hur’s use of Biden’s memory issues in the report was political criticism from the special counsel.
