Jean-Pierre: 'This Is a President That Works Every Day…In A Grueling Fashion…'
(CNSNews.com) – White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Thursday “it is surprising” to be asked about President Biden’s health and whether he’s capable of leading the country — not just for the next two years, but for the next six, assuming he runs for re-election.
A reporter noted that it’s a “grueling” job, and asked if Biden, now 80 years old, is up to doing it until he turns 86.
“Yes,” Jean-Pierre said.
“Yes, what?” the reporter asked.
“Yes,” Jean-Pierre repeated. You asked me if he’s going to be up to it. Yes.” (She laughed.)
“I mean, look — look, you know, we get this question a lot, as you all know. And here’s what I have to say about it,” Jean-Pierre continued:
“The President always says this, which is, watch him. And if you watch him, you’ll see that he has a grueling schedule that he keeps up with, that sometimes some of us are not able to keep up with.”
Jean-Pierre pointed to the recent State of the Union Address as evidence of Biden’s stamina.
“He was — State of the Union, I believe he spent 90 minutes speaking to Congre- — congressional members in front of him, to the American people. After that, he spent an hour shaking hands and saying hello and greeting the congressional members and their guests.
“And this is a President that works day in and day out, you know, in a — in a grueling fashion, in a gruel- — with a grueling schedule, and delivers.
“And let’s not forget: It is interesting that we get this question about this President, who has had one of the most historical presidency in his first two years than any other President — almost any other President.
“And you think about the historic pieces of legislation that he’s gotten through that many have made jokes about. You think about the bipartisan legislation — Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that — you know, the last guy joked every week that it was Infra- — Infrastructure Week and could not get it done. Many presidents tried to get that done and could not get it done. And this President did it in a bipartisan way.
“And there’s a long list that I can go through. I know you guys don’t want to hear me go through them at this time, but we’ve talked about them over and over and over again.
“And it is surprising that we get this question when you look at this record of this President and what he has been able to do and deliver for the American people. And he is able to do that because he’s clearly capable on so many ways, on so many levels. And he’s going to continue to do that in the years up — in the years coming.
At the beginning of her briefing, Jean-Pierre told reporters that the president’s annual physical at Walter-Reed Medical Center on Thursday was “straightforward.”
“And as you all saw, he returned to the White House to get back to work.”
After she spoke, Biden’s doctor released a report on the president’s medical condition.
A summary of the report does not mention cognitive function:
“President Biden remains a healthy, vigorous, 80-year-old male, who is fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency, to include those as Chief Executive, Head of State and Commander in Chief,” the report said.
“His medical history includes “a-fib with normal ventricular response, hyperlipidemia, gastroesophageal reflux, seasonal allergies, spinal arthritis and mild sensory peripheral neuropathy of the feet. For these, he takes common prescription medications and two common over-the-counter medications.”
The report did say that “an extremely detailed neurologic exam was again reassuring in that there were no findings which would be consistent with any cerebellar or other central neurologic disorder….”
Biden goes home to Delaware just about every weekend. His frequent stumbles and bumbles in public have raised questions about his age and the advent of senility.
More and more, he is refusing to speak more than a few words to reporters; he rarely gives one-on-one interviews; and he has not held a formal news conference for months.
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