Biden Hosted Press Conference With Indian Prime Minister
President Biden once again found himself at the center of confusion during a public appearance, this time alongside India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday. In what should have been a simple moment—introducing Modi during a press conference in Wilmington, Delaware—Biden became visibly disoriented, leading to an awkward pause and a moment of uncertainty.
As Biden concluded his remarks, thanking the attendees, he suddenly seemed lost, unsure of who he was supposed to introduce next. “Now, who am I introducing next?” Biden asked, followed by a loud, almost frantic, “Who’s next?” The uncomfortable silence was only broken when an announcer took over, formally introducing Modi to the crowd. Modi then approached Biden for a handshake, but the moment left many questioning the president’s mental sharpness.
This incident comes on the heels of another strange moment in Biden’s leadership: his decision to let First Lady Jill Biden play a significant role in a cabinet meeting just one day earlier. For the first time in nearly a year, Biden convened his Cabinet last Friday, and while that might seem significant enough, the event took an unexpected turn when Jill Biden, not the president, took center stage to deliver remarks on the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research.
We really don’t have a president.
Biden completely FORGOT he was at a press conference with the Prime Minister of India.
The entire world is laughing at us.
This guy is COOKED. pic.twitter.com/useM07uh0R— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) September 21, 2024
Joe Biden introduced his wife, explaining her presence by saying, “Here and across previous administrations, first ladies have attended these meetings for specific reasons.” He went on to emphasize the importance of the issue she was about to address before casually passing the torch with, “It’s all yours, kid.” Jill Biden then spoke for more than four minutes, far longer than her husband’s own two-minute introduction, according to reports from the New York Post.
The unusual dynamic, with the first lady sitting at the head of the Cabinet Room’s table, a place traditionally reserved for the president, raised eyebrows. Historically, first ladies have rarely attended Cabinet meetings, and when they do, it is typically in a purely symbolic or ceremonial capacity.
In fact, the last sitting first lady to attend a Cabinet meeting was Hillary Clinton, who was already known for her unusually active role in policy discussions during Bill Clinton’s presidency.
Jill Biden’s increased presence in the administration has sparked debate and criticism. Many observers have pointed out the parallels between her influence and that of Edith Wilson, the wife of President Woodrow Wilson, who effectively controlled access to the president after he suffered a stroke in 1919. The New York Post even quoted insiders who described Jill Biden as the most powerful first lady since Edith Wilson, highlighting concerns about the extent of her influence over both her husband and his administration.
The back-to-back incidents—first with Jill Biden at the Cabinet meeting, and then Joe Biden’s confusion during the Modi event—have only fueled these questions. Social media was abuzz with commentators expressing unease about the president’s reliance on his wife in official settings and the increasing frequency of these public gaffes. Critics argue that these moments are more than just slip-ups; they point to a deeper concern about Biden’s fitness to lead and who is really pulling the strings behind the scenes.