President Joe Biden reportedly missed a meeting with world leaders that was scheduled in the early evening shortly after the conflict in Ukraine began, citing the need to “go to bed.”
The surprising disclosure raises significant concerns about Biden’s capacity to handle crises beyond his 6-hour schedule, which spans from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and includes scheduled naps.
The Wall Street Journal reported that German officials, along with other world leaders, sought to meet with Biden in June 2022 during the annual G7 Summit. The request came a few months after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, highlighting the urgency for international dialogue during a critical time in global politics.
However, Biden never showed up. Secretary of State Antony Blinken attended instead “and announced that Biden had to go to bed,” according to the WSJ, which cited multiple sources.
The WSJ said aides to Biden have taken extensive measures to manage his public appearances amidst concerns about his mental and physical capabilities. Over the past two years, these efforts have included micromanaging his engagements, restricting impromptu interactions with reporters, declining certain media opportunities such as halftime interviews during the Super Bowl, and limiting his travel due to concerns about his stamina. Additionally, tactics have been employed to minimize direct questioning from reporters at events, such as using loud music to drown out journalists’ questions.
A former top adviser to Biden expressed concern about the president’s apparent decline during a meeting last summer, describing the situation as “not good.” One Democratic donor told the publication that when they saw Biden earlier this year, it was evident that he had “lost a step” as he struggled to speak at an event in South Florida.
At a fundraiser in New York last year, attendees noted President Biden appeared particularly fragile. During the event, he struggled to recall the word “veteran” and had to ask the audience to help him identify the term used to describe someone who had served in the military, the report said.
