MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow is mocked for saying Joe Biden isn’t too old to lead because he ‘rides a bike’ after bombshell report that found he had ‘diminished faculties’
MSNBC host Rachel Maddow attempted to refute claims that President Biden is too old to lead the White House by bringing up that he can ride a bike — despite the embarrassing stumble he suffered in June 2022.
The issue of Biden’s age came back into focus this week after a damning conclusion from the special counsel that he had mishandled confidential material but was considered too old to be convicted by a jury.
It said a jury would likely conclude he had “diminished faculties” and was a “well-meaning, elderly man with poor memory.”
In a discussion on Maddow’s late-night show about the case, commentator Chris Hayes pointed out that Biden’s age is a politically tricky topic since he cannot refute the fact that he is 81 years old.
‘He is cycling!’ Maddow interjected, a comment that was quickly mocked online.
MSNBC host Rachel Maddow tried to refute claims that President Biden is too old to lead the White House by bringing up that he can ride a bike on Friday
Maddow’s comment that Biden can ride a bike was mocked as many brought up a June 2022 incident in which the president fell off his bike while on vacation
Following the release of the special counsel’s report Thursday evening, many noted that Biden made matters worse when he held an impromptu news conference.
After exclaiming, “I know what I’m doing!”, the president confused the presidents of Egypt and Mexico in another blunder.
And with polls showing Biden’s age becoming an increasingly important issue for potential voters in 2024, Hayes admitted it could be the president’s downfall.
“We need to be clear here: Age is the central story question here that this is all about,” he said, pointing out the age factor in how the charges were never brought against Biden.
“In terms of the political ramifications of it, the way the news happened today and the questions being asked of him by several figures there.
“And what ultimately makes it such a useful political tool for people who want Donald Trump to be elected, or want (Biden) not to be re-elected, is that the fact of his age is not something you can refute. ‘
Hayes compared the line of attack to another popular line of attack from the political right, which is that Biden may be too liberal, to argue that Biden can’t necessarily talk his way out of it.
“If someone says, ‘You’re too left,’ you can go to the center,” he said. “But the man is 80 years old!”
Despite the widely publicized incident in June 2020 when Biden, who is actually 81 years old, fell off his bike after appearing to get his foot stuck, Maddow felt his history of being able to ride a bike qualifies him as young enough to lead to give.
After chuckling at the joke, Hayes concluded: “He’s the age he is – for that reason it’s a very useful political attack.”
It’s far from the first time Maddow has shown her preference for the Democratic side of Washington, and she recently came under fire for refusing to air Donald Trump’s victory speeches because they were full of “untrue things.” ‘.
Maddow’s joke came after commentator Chris Hayes argued that age is a politically tricky issue for Biden because the 81-year-old is ‘the age he is’
Joe Biden imagined falling off his bike during a ride near his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware in June 2022, as he and his wife celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary.
It was far from Biden’s only blunder, including a stumble as he stormed up the steps of Air Force One in March 2021.
Maddow’s comment drew sarcastic responses online, feeling she downplayed the important issue of Biden’s perceived competence.
‘So cycling is the only requirement to become president of the United States!’ said conservative commentator Kathleen Winchell.
Another said: ‘My three year old cycled too.’
“Presidency standards have certainly fallen,” another added. ‘He can ride a bike is now a qualifier.’
It came after Biden angrily addressed the nation on Thursday evening to condemn the special counsel’s conclusion about his alleged advanced age, telling Americans: “I know what the hell I’m doing!” and insisting that ‘my memory is fine.’
At the hastily prepared press conference, he continued: “Look what I’ve done since I became president.”
“Nobody thought I could get through the things I was given. How did that happen? I guess I just forgot what was going on….”
Moments later, however, he made another surprising blunder, calling the Egyptian leader the president of Mexico.
Special counsel Robert Hur’s 388-page report confirmed he would not be charged for keeping classified documents in his garage.
But it said that was because a jury would likely conclude he had “diminished faculties” and was a “well-meaning, elderly man with poor memory.”
On Thursday night, Biden fumed over special counsel Robert Hur’s accusation that the Scranton resident didn’t know when his son Beau died — part of the damning conclusion that a jury would likely conclude he had “diminished faculties” and was a “good man” . i.e., older man with a bad memory’
The president was particularly animated when Hur included the claim that he could not remember the timing of his son Beau’s death.
Hur’s report read: “In fact, within several years he did not remember that his son Beau died.”
Biden himself broached the subject, fuming: “It’s even said I can’t remember when my son died. How on earth does he dare bring that up? I don’t need anyone, I don’t need anyone to remind me of his death.
“Honestly, when I was asked the question, I thought to myself, it was none of their damn business.”
He also said reports of his “deliberate” retention of documents were “misleading.”
At one point he shouted: ‘I have not shared any classified information! I do not have!’