With less than five months until the November general election, constant attacks on President Joe Biden and on the presumptive Republican nominee, Donald Trump, are becoming a daily, ordinary thing for their opponents. The atmosphere has become much more intense since Trump’s last-week guilty verdict in New York, where he was found guilty of all 34 counts of falsifying business records in his hush money criminal trial. Trump has since returned to the campaign trail and is set to hold two fundraising events in California.
The issues for voters
With Trump and Biden likely being the presidential candidates, voters are not happy with the options they are given this year. The biggest concerns for Biden are his age and ability to lead the country for four more years, as well as the economy. The financial struggles as a result of the skyrocketing inflation in recent years might cost him the presidency, as voters, especially in the key battleground states, are shifting to Trump in hopes that the U.S. economy will improve under his leadership. Biden is losing major support from several key groups, including Black voters, Hispanics, and young people.
The other option for voters would probably be Donald Trump, who has been labeled a ‘convicted felon’ since last week. The conviction is expected to have a negative impact on his numbers, but the Trump campaign is hopeful that the former president could overturn some of the swing states he lost in 2020 and win the race. Trump could see a huge boost in the name of Nikki Haley, the most serious challenger in the primaries, if she decides to publicly endorse his presidential bid and help him with her voter base behind him. One should not be surprised if Trump decides to choose Haley as a running mate too.
Biden’s age and mental fitness still a huge issue
An article published earlier this week in The Wall Street Journal triggered significant discussion, leading to a response from the White House. The report, titled “Behind Closed Doors, Biden Shows Signs of Slipping,” claims that President Biden has displayed serious signs of decline in recent private meetings. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has also noticed a change, remarking that President Biden differed from his earlier days as Vice President. “He’s not the same person,” McCarthy stated during an interview.
Texas Representative slams Biden
Representative Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), a former White House physician, also spoke on the issue, particularly after the Wall Street Journal’s article was released. Serving under former Presidents Obama and Trump, Jackson expressed concerns on Fox News Digital about President Biden’s mental capabilities, describing them as having “significant issues.” This commentary followed the publication’s scrutiny of the president’s performance.
“The article’s just documenting what I’ve been saying all along: he’s not fit to be the commander in chief,” Jackson said. “He’s got significant issues, he shouldn’t have the job. You know, it’s a national security issue for us.”
White House and Biden allies fired back
White House officials and Biden’s allies have blasted the report, pointing out past comments from Republicans about Biden’s mental sharpness.
“It’s a little surprising that The Wall Street Journal thought it was breaking news when congressional Republicans told them the same false claims they’ve spouted on Fox News for years, but it’s also telling that the only individuals willing to smear the President in this story are political opponents afraid to use their names — plus one proven liar,” White House spokesperson Andrew Bates responded to the story.
“Surprise, surprise—everyone attacking @POTUS is a Republican with an agenda,” Senator Patty Murray posted on X, the social network previously known as Twitter. “I made clear to the @WSJ regarding the January meeting on Ukraine that the President was absolutely engaged & ran that meeting in a way that brought everyone together. I’m not quoted—I wonder why.,” she added.
About the report
The Wall Street Journal recently published a 3,000-word article titled “Behind Closed Doors, Biden Shows Signs of Slipping.” The report details observations from meetings with congressional leaders where President Biden reportedly “appears slower” and experiences “both good moments and bad ones.” Questions about Biden’s age and mental sharpness are frequent points of criticism from the GOP. Multiple polls indicate that Biden’s age, 81, is a significant worry for voters. Meanwhile, Donald Trump, who is nearing 78, also shows some public missteps. However, these polls suggest that concerns over Trump’s mental fitness are notably lower among the electorate.
