In a recent interview with Fox News, newly-elected House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) expressed concerns about what he perceives as President Biden’s diminishing cognitive abilities. When questioned by Fox News host Sean Hannity about whether he sees a decline in Biden’s cognitive function and its potential impact on the nation, Johnson, who is 51, affirmed that he does see a decline. He emphasized that his observation is not intended as a personal attack on the President but rather a comment on the natural aging process, which affects everyone differently.
Johnson pointed out that a comparison between Biden’s past speeches, particularly those made during his tenure on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and his more recent public addresses reveals noticeable differences. Johnson reiterated that his comments were not meant to insult the President but to state what he believes is an observable fact.
The Speaker assumed his new role amid a period of upheaval in the House of Representatives, where the Republican Party had previously nominated and failed to elect three other candidates for the position. Following his election, Johnson met with President Biden at the White House. In a statement, Biden congratulated Johnson and expressed his willingness to collaborate with him for the betterment of the American people, citing his own track record of bipartisan accomplishments in areas such as infrastructure, competition with China, gun control, and veterans’ care.
However, the Biden campaign struck a different tone. A spokesperson for the Biden-Harris 2024 campaign labeled Johnson as a staunch supporter of the MAGA agenda, warning that his rise to the speakership signifies a further shift of the House Republican Conference towards extreme positions. The spokesperson cautioned that Johnson’s leadership could lead to nationwide abortion bans, challenges to election results, and cuts to Social Security and Medicare, all in the service of an agenda that could harm middle-class families.