During Israeli President Isaac Herzog's White House visit on Tuesday, President Biden's opening remarks were noticeably unclear, prompting renewed discussion online regarding his cognitive abilities. A video clip circulating on social media highlighted Biden's mumbled delivery as he spoke about the U.S.-Israel relationship.
While summarizing progress between the two nations, including the largest gathering of Arab Israelis in a decade, resolving the maritime boundary dispute between Israel and Lebanon, and opening airspace over Saudi Arabia and Oman for Israel, Biden frequently looked down and mumbled, making portions of his speech difficult to understand.
He reaffirmed America's unwavering commitment to Israel and its security, emphasizing the goal of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. However, his unclear articulation fueled criticism on platforms like Twitter, with some users expressing concern over his fitness for office. Several commentators questioned what Biden was saying and labeled the incident "scary."
This isn't the first time Biden's public appearances have drawn scrutiny. During Herzog's previous visit in October, Biden was observed seemingly mimicking and mocking the press. Herzog's recent visit also follows controversial remarks by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) who labeled Israel a "racist state." While the White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre acknowledged the U.S.'s special relationship with Israel and its commitment to the nation's security and legitimacy, she stopped short of directly condemning Jayapal's statement, noting only that the congresswoman had apologized.
