President Biden, who is 81 years old, informed the press on Wednesday that he is due for his annual physical examination. This announcement comes amid growing concerns about his cognitive health as he prepares to run for a second term in the upcoming November elections. As he made his way to the Marine One helicopter on the White House lawn, he declared, “I’m going to Walter Reed to get my physical.”
The president’s medical appointment was not previously disclosed, nor was it included in the presidential schedule that is typically shared with the executive press corps a day in advance. The unexpected visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland was a surprise to many.
Special counsel Robert Hur recently released a report on allegations that Biden mishandled classified documents over several decades. The report, published on February 8, suggested that Biden should not face criminal charges, partly because it was unlikely a jury would convict him due to perceived cognitive decline.
Dr. Kevin O’Connor, the presidential physician, is expected to release a report following the president’s appointment at Walter Reed. This is a departure from historical norms, as O’Connor has not been permitted to answer journalists’ questions about the president’s health.
Earlier this month, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that O’Connor had not conducted a cognitive exam on Biden last year. She said the decision was based on the president’s performance, which indicated that such an exam was not necessary.
Hur’s report also suggested that Biden had knowingly retained and disclosed classified materials after his vice presidency. However, it was noted that Biden would likely present himself to a jury as a sympathetic, elderly man with a poor memory.
Recent polls indicate that voters are more concerned about Biden’s age than that of former President Donald Trump, who is 77. An ABC News/Ipsos poll this month revealed that 86% of US adults believe Biden is too old for another term, while 59% believe both Biden and Trump are too old. A New York Times poll in November found that 71% of swing-state voters believe Biden is “too old to be an effective president,” compared to 39% who said the same of Trump. A Wall Street Journal poll in September found that 73% of registered voters believed Biden was too old, versus 47% who said so of Trump.