President Joe Biden stumbled during a joint press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, experiencing a moment of confusion that raised eyebrows. The incident occurred when Biden was supposed to introduce Modi in Wilmington, Delaware, but instead seemed to forget the context and thought he was waiting for a question from reporters. An uncomfortable silence ensued before an announcer stepped in to introduce Modi, who then approached Biden and shook his hand.
This episode comes on the heels of criticism directed at First Lady Jill Biden for her prominent role in a recent Cabinet meeting. On Friday, Biden convened his Cabinet for the first time since October 2023, and Jill Biden joined him to discuss the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research.
The New York Post reported that Jill Biden, seated at the head of the Cabinet Room’s table, delivered a four-and-a-half-minute speech on maternal health initiatives after her husband spoke for a mere two minutes. This sparked debate about the First Lady’s influence within the administration, with many commentators taking to social media to express their concerns.
The amount of influence the First Lady has over Joe Biden, and therefore his administration, has been a frequent source of controversy. Some observers have compared Jill Biden’s influence to that of Edith Wilson, who tightly controlled access to her husband, President Woodrow Wilson, after he suffered a debilitating stroke in 1919.
These incidents have reignited the debate about the role of the First Lady in American politics and the extent to which their influence should be felt within the administration. The public is likely to continue to scrutinize both President Biden’s cognitive abilities and the First Lady’s role in the White House, particularly as the 2024 election draws closer.
