President Biden finally emerged from his Delaware hideaway to face off with NATO press conference questions, marking his first interaction of this kind in an embarrassingly long stretch. One can only imagine the mental gymnastics happening in the White House to prepare him for this momentous occasion.
Originally, Biden’s handlers had planned for him to grace the stage at 5:30 p.m. EDT, but in a predictable fashion, the event was delayed by an hour. Clearly, it takes some extra time to prep for one’s rare public appearances these days, especially when there’s a need to dispel the growing concerns about his competence.
Who hopes Tony Bobulinski gets every dime Fox News host Jessica Tarlov has? pic.twitter.com/5xugFvRTII
— JOSH DUNLAP (@JDunlap1974) July 11, 2024
The high-stakes nature of this press conference is crystal clear to everyone outside the liberal bubble: it’s Biden’s chance to prove that his shaky debate performances are just the unfortunate result of “off days.” Of course, those who’ve watched his merry-go-round of gaffes might find that hard to believe.
The last time the President subjected himself to real questions from the media was a year ago, following a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. It was a fleeting 20-minute session that did little to assure anyone of his ability to handle the pressures of the highest office in the land.
One can only wonder if this new press conference will make Americans more convinced that Biden is fit for duty. Or will it just be another episode in the ongoing reality show that is his presidency? The popcorn might come in handy for this one.