According to the Wall Street Journal report, Biden’s aides began noticing signs of fatigue and occasional mistakes early on in his term. In meetings, Biden reportedly grew tired quickly, especially if they ran long, and would occasionally make errors. To manage this, meetings were intentionally kept short, and on some days when Biden was not at his best, they were rescheduled or canceled altogether. One former aide recalled that national security officials would explain, “He has good days and bad days, and today was a bad day.”
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As Biden’s health declined, senior advisers like Jake Sullivan, Steve Ricchetti, and Lael Brainard frequently filled in for the president during important interactions. Lawmakers and Cabinet members were said to have fewer face-to-face meetings with Biden than their predecessors had with past presidents. For instance, House Armed Services Committee Chair Adam Smith struggled to reach Biden ahead of the Afghanistan withdrawal, noting that he had more direct contact with Barack Obama during Obama's presidency.
In addition to his limited interaction with officials, Biden’s campaign and public engagements were also impacted. Biden’s campaign team often pre-vetted questions from attendees to avoid unexpected moments, and pollsters were said to have limited direct communication with the president. The Wall Street Journal also reported that Biden seemed unaware of