President Biden seemed to forget the name of his defense secretary in an interview with BET late Wednesday, adding to his image of an elderly leader with declining ability.
The 81-year-old president struggled to recall Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s name during a discourse on “dignity” in his sit-down with the network, which is geared toward a Black audience.
“Look at the heat I’m getting because I named a — the, uh — secretary of defense, a Black man,” Mr. Biden, before pivoting to his appointment of the first Black female Supreme Court justice. “I named Ketanji Brown [Jackson], because of the people I’ve named.”
The clip went viral on social media during a difficult stretch for the president.
Mr. Biden faces increasing calls to let an alternative lead the Democratic ticket to avoid party losses in November.
A trickle of reports said Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat, confronted Mr. Biden with polls suggesting Mr. Biden cannot win and down-ballot Democrats may suffer with him at the top.
Pressed on his decision to stay in the race, Mr. Biden told BET’s Ed Gordon that his “wisdom” is an asset to the party despite having once positioned himself as a transitional candidate.
Mr. Biden called his June 27 debate performance a “serious mistake” and said there is one thing that would make him reconsider his run.
“If I had some medical condition that emerged, if somebody, if doctors came to me and said, you got this problem and that problem,” he said.
The Biden campaign defended the president’s performance, saying he outlined a clear agenda to Black voters at an appearance before the NAACP on Tuesday.
“President Biden talked at length about the importance of Black America, the historic ways he has delivered for Black communities, and his proactive vision to stand up for civil rights, grow an economy where hard work pays off, and make housing more affordable,” said campaign spokeswoman Sarafina Chitika. “Meanwhile at the RNC, Donald Trump and his MAGA allies doubled down on extremism, division, and their Project 2025 agenda, making it clear that they are only interested in helping billionaires while turning Americans against each other.”
The campaign also pointed to Mr. Biden’s racially diverse Cabinet and record of appointing more Black lifetime judges than any other president in a single term.
Mr. Biden has dismissed calls to drop out of the presidential race. He was diagnosed with COVID-19 late Wednesday, forcing him off the trail and into isolation, and leading Democratic Senate candidate Rep. Adam Schiff of California called on the president to drop out.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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