President Biden's highly anticipated solo press conference at the 2024 NATO Summit was met with scathing criticism from conservatives, who denounced his performance as a "humiliation" for both the president and the United States.
President Biden's press conference on Thursday evening at the NATO Summit in Washington, D.C. drew swift condemnation from conservative commentators and critics, who panned his performance as a "disaster" and a "humiliation" for the United States.
Fox News contributor Tammy Bruce tweeted during the press conference, "This NATO press conference with Biden is another disaster. It is inexplicable the people advising this man continue to think that somehow he's not going to humiliate himself and this country. Why do they continue to allow this to happen?"
Biden's NATO Presser Deemed a "Disaster" by Conservatives
Another Fox News contributor, Leo Terrell, chimed in, "This press conference is a disaster. Joe Biden is not answering the questions."
Former President Donald Trump also joined in the criticism, posting on Truth Social, "Crooked Joe begins his ‘Big Boy’ Press Conference with, 'I wouldn't have picked Vice President Trump to be vice president, though I think she was not qualified to be president.' Great job, Joe!"
Biden's NATO Presser Deemed a "Disaster" by Conservatives
The criticism stemmed from a series of gaffes and stumbles by Biden during the press conference. He confused Vice President Kamala Harris with former President Donald Trump, trailed off while answering a question, and announced to the room that he had a list of reporters he would call on.
Biden's press conference comes amid heightened concerns over his health and mental acuity, which have been amplified by his poor debate performance late last month. The 81-year-old president has vowed to remain in the race despite calls for him to drop out and let another candidate take on Trump.
However, speculation about Biden's future remains, with former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi urging Democrats to hold off on any public statements until after the president's performance this week.
"Let’s just hold off," she said on MSNBC. "Whatever you’re thinking, either tell somebody privately, but you don’t have to put that out on the table until we see how we go this week."
Thursday's press conference marks the first time Biden has held a solo press conference since November of last year. His prolonged absence from the podium had raised questions about his fitness for office, and his performance at the NATO Summit has done little to alleviate those concerns.
Conservatives have seized upon the press conference as evidence of Biden's declining mental abilities, arguing that he is no longer capable of leading the country. They have also accused the president's advisors of failing to protect him from embarrassment and humiliation.
It remains to be seen whether Biden's poor performance at the NATO Summit will have a lasting impact on his presidency. However, the criticism from conservatives is likely to continue as the president faces the prospect of a challenging re-election campaign against a resurgent Donald Trump.
