Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sidesteps questions about President Biden's fitness, while acknowledging concerns raised by Democrats about his mental stamina.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi deflected questions about her relationship with President Biden, stating that he would need to be asked about his perspective on their dynamic. Despite the evasion, Pelosi commended Biden's accomplishments during his presidency.
In an interview with journalist Katie Couric, Pelosi was pressed on the Democratic Party's "transparency" regarding Biden's fitness for office. Couric cited a section in Pelosi's new book where she expressed concerns about former President Trump's fitness and suggested that a similar intervention could have been considered for Biden, who withdrew from the 2024 election amid concerns about his cognitive abilities.
Pelosi Deflects Questions on Biden Relationship, Praises Presidency
Pelosi dismissed the comparison, asserting that the situations were "completely different." She argued that Trump's behavior posed a threat to democracy, while Biden's physical stamina was a separate issue that had been addressed by the president himself.
Couric persisted, inquiring whether there should have been more transparency from Democrats about Biden's health. Pelosi reiterated her stance that the situations were not equivalent, prompting Couric to ask if Biden had been protected from public scrutiny for too long.
Pelosi Deflects Questions on Biden Relationship, Praises Presidency
Pelosi evaded the question, stating that Biden was not the candidate in the upcoming election. Couric pressed further, asking if the issue should have been addressed earlier, but Pelosi again declined to provide a direct response.
Instead, Pelosi defended Biden's performance, pointing to his successful prisoner swap to bring home journalist Evan Gershkovich and others. She maintained that Biden had been "functioning A-plus" since the June debate, where concerns about his mental acuity had first surfaced.
Pelosi Deflects Questions on Biden Relationship, Praises Presidency
Pelosi concluded by arguing that the Democratic candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris, was a different individual with separate qualifications. She reiterated that Biden had withdrawn from the election, emphasizing that the focus should now be on the remaining candidate.
