On Tuesday, President Joe Biden opened up about the possibility of reevaluating his candidacy for president if his doctors informed him he had a medical issue. This statement is the first time the president has acknowledged a potential health concern could force him from the race, according to Politico. Previously, he had stated that only “the Lord Almighty” could do so.
During an interview with BET News’ Ed Gordon, Biden responded to a question about whether he would reconsider his decision to stay in the race if he were diagnosed with a medical condition. He said, “If I had some medical condition that emerged. If doctors came to me and said, ‘You got this problem, that problem.
Biden, who has faced calls from many within the Democratic Party to step aside as the presumptive nominee, clarified that he is not a transitional candidate, as he once promised the party. He explained, “I said I was going to be a transitional candidate, and I thought I’d be able to move on from this, pass it on to someone else. But I didn’t anticipate things getting so, so, so divided.
The recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump temporarily halted the internal conflict within the Democratic Party regarding Biden’s position as the presumptive nominee for the 2024 presidential race. Since the violent attack on Saturday against democracy, no Democrat has publicly come out against Biden. However, it seems that opposition to his candidacy may be resurfacing, though it remains uncertain whether it can compete with the current media cycle focusing on the Republican National Convention, Trump’s vice presidential pick, and the assassination attempt on Trump’s life.
An Associated Press/NORC poll found that approximately two-thirds of Democrats are eager for Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. Special Counsel Robert Hur has described the president as “an elderly man with a poor memory.” According to his annual physical conducted by physician Kevin O’Connor, Biden suffers from atrial fibrillation, peripheral neuropathy in his feet, and hyperlipidemia.
These health challenges may explain why the president has struggled to maintain his balance during various public appearances. Throughout his presidency, he has tripped, tumbled, and stumbled on at least five occasions. In an attempt to draw less attention to his physical ailments, Biden implemented a strategy of walking to and from Marine One with multiple aides. He has also begun boarding Air Force One via the shorter steps at the rear of the aircraft instead of the taller staircase at the front.
Additionally, Biden does not wear typical dress shoes with his suits. Instead, he wears a specially crafted sports shoe designed to help him walk, which is a common wardrobe change for elderly individuals.