- The White House has pushed back against Biden's fitness
- Biden, 81 challenged doubters
- Jean-Pierre rejected speculation that Biden has Parkinson's disease
The White House has pushed back against concerns about President Joe Biden’s mental fitness, with the president himself addressing the issue in a televised interview and a letter to congressional Democrats.
Biden, 81, told MSNBC’s Morning Joe that he is “not going anywhere” and challenged doubters to “challenge me at the convention” next month.
The president’s spokeswoman, Karine Jean-Pierre, rejected speculation that Biden is suffering from an undisclosed illness, including Parkinson’s disease.
The White House has faced questions about Biden’s mental acuity since a poor debate performance against Donald Trump on June 27. Some Democratic lawmakers and donors have expressed concerns about Biden’s fitness for office, with a few calling for him to step aside.
However, others, like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have come out in support of the president. Biden has vowed to “attack, attack, attack” in the second debate against Trump in September and has expressed confidence in his ability to beat the Republican challenger.
The president’s letter to congressional Democrats emphasized his commitment to democracy and the importance of listening to voters.
Despite the criticism, Biden remains the Democratic nominee for the November election.
