WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump said Thursday that he did not observe signs of cognitive decline in former President Joe Biden when the two met in the Oval Office following Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election.
Speaking with reporters, Trump was asked whether he noticed any decline in Biden’s mental sharpness during their November 2024 meeting as part of the presidential transition process. Trump responded that Biden appeared much the same as he had throughout his decades-long political career.
“He was the same guy I’ve been watching for a long time,” Trump said. “I watched him 40 years ago, 30 years ago, never the sharpest guy. It wasn’t like he was sharp as a tack.”
Trump added that Biden “was fine” during their conversation and noted that the two got along well during the meeting. He acknowledged, however, that Biden’s widely criticized debate performance in June 2024 raised questions about his fitness for office.
“The question is, did he do badly because he choked? Or because he didn’t have it?” Trump said, referring to the debate that intensified scrutiny of Biden’s health and ultimately contributed to the former president ending his reelection campaign.
The comments come as former first lady Jill Biden promotes a new book detailing the final year of the Biden administration. She has described being concerned about her husband’s health during the debate but said she remains uncertain about what caused his poor performance that night.
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