Doctors voice concern as Biden shows 'troubling' cognitive decline during debate, Internet agrees

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Incumbent Joe Biden's performance in the first presidential debate of 2024 against Donald Trump reportedly left many Americans including his supporters shaken and concerned about his mental fitness for the top office.

The President struggled to follow his chain of thought while speaking on the debate stage on the night of June 27, and his voice appeared raspy and at times hard to comprehend. The White House has tried to explain the issues, claiming that 81-year-old Biden was fighting a cold at the time. However, doctors viewing the debate held separate views, reported Fox News.

Neurosurgeon shares his take on Biden's debate performance

Florida-based neurosurgeon Dr Brett Osborn, who specializes in cognitive function, told the publication on Friday, June 28, "President Biden's performance in (Thursday) night’s debate reignited longstanding discussions about his cognitive abilities and his overall leadership capacity."

"Throughout the evening, Biden struggled to maintain a coherent narrative, often losing his train of thought mid-sentence, and providing vague, rambling, and undecipherable answers to highly critical questions. His frequent pauses, stumbling over words, and reliance on notes underscored concerns about his mental acuity," he continued.

Osborn felt that the cognitive decline demonstrated by Biden highlighted a "growing inability" to manage the complexities required by the job of the presidency.

"His difficulty in articulating clear, concise responses and his apparent disorientation during the debate were seen by many – including his own constituents – as very troubling indicators of his overall health and an obvious decline in his cognitive function," he noted, adding, "President Biden lacks the mental sharpness required for the highest office in the land, especially amid current national and international crises."

Fox News medical contributor shares his views

"The debate is, in a way, a psychiatric or cognitive stress test," Dr Marc Siegel shared with the publication.

He stated that Biden displayed "frequent disorientation" and had "problems with spontaneity or redirecting," even though he was able to respond to questions and seemed to be spatially aware.

While physical illnesses such as a cold can highlight cognitive issues more, Siegel felt that "it's hard to believe this is all from a cold. Either way, we need someone who is sharp despite a cold."

"It is an issue of fitness, not of age. It is an issue of mental acuity, which is especially important if there is a crisis," he later added.

Internet reacts to statements of health experts

Netizens claimed Biden's troubles with cognitive functioning were long obvious, as the following tweets in response to the Fox News article demonstrate.

"No one has to be a doctor to figure that out," wrote a user.

"Everyone is concerned. Let him step down," stated another.

"He’s been fading for years," expressed a third.

"Clearly didn't administer the correct amount of amphetamines before the debate," jibed a fourth user.

"Why are ppl just now noticing this?" inquired a fifth.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.