Joe Biden struggles to function after 4 pm, prone to gaffes, fatigue: Report

US President Joe Biden is facing mounting scrutiny over his ability to function effectively outside a limited six-hour window of daylight, according to a report by Axios.

White House aides revealed that the 81-year-old Democrat typically functions best between 10 AM and 4 PM. Outside of this time range or while travelling abroad, Biden is more prone to verbal flubs and fatigue, raising concerns about his fitness to serve another term.

The report, which follows Biden’s lacklustre performance in the recent presidential debate, states that White House officials ensure that the President’s public appearances are within this preferred time frame, to minimise the impact of his age.

Moreover, according to several former and current White House officials, many aides have observed flashes of absent-mindedness in Biden but typically dismiss them as gaffes.

The issue has sparked debate about Biden’s physical fitness and mental acuity, particularly given that he would be 86 years old by the end of a potential second stint.

The 90-minute debate against former President Donald Trump was Biden’s chance to demonstrate his capability to handle another four-year term. However, the debate, which took place at 9 PM — five hours past Biden’s peak performance window — saw the president appear vacant, struggle to articulate coherent thoughts, and make absent-minded mistakes.

Trump capitalised on these moments, questioning Biden’s ability to serve another term. “I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence, and I don’t think he did, either,” the former President remarked after one of Biden’s responses.

In an attempt to reassure voters, Biden delivered a more energetic speech in North Carolina a day after the debate, acknowledging his physical and verbal limitations but doubling down on his commitment to honesty and effectiveness in office.

“I don’t walk as easy as I used to. I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to,” he said. I don’t debate as well as I used to, but I know what I do know: I know how to tell the truth!”

Biden added that he would not be running for a second term if he did not believe “with all my heart and soul I can do this.”

Despite this, the debate has intensified pressure from donors and political commentators urging him to withdraw from the electoral race.