The 46th president of the United States last November became the first sitting president to reach the age of 80, and if he wins the 2024 election he will break a record again when he is sworn in in 2025 at the age of 82.
Amid continued concerns in the Democratic camp that his advanced age was impairing his functioning — and just days after he was filmed stumbling on a stage and falling because of an unnoticed sandbag — the New York Times published an extensive article over the weekend about the steps being taken by the White House to maintain the president's optimal level of functioning. People who have known him for years and spoke to the newspaper said they did notice a "small" erosion in his functioning. For example, when he sits, he "places his hand on the table so that he can hold his body weight and does not get up with the same energy as he used to do in the past." He also skips dinners with world leaders when he travels abroad occasionally.
Documentation: US President Biden falls during ceremony // Reuters
Among other things, the newspaper obtained details of his daily routine, indicating that his aides try to schedule all his meetings between 12 noon and 4 p.m., and that on weekends they do everything possible to clear his schedule completely. He also eats pasta almost every day for dinner, and according to a former aide who spoke to the newspaper, when he's outside the White House, there's always something to carry tomato sauce so he can eat his favorite dish. His wife, Jill Biden, tries to get him to eat salmon every day, but he doesn't always listen to her. Lunch is usually one of three options: sandwiches, soup or salad.
Either way, they both retire to sleep until 11pm. Five days a week – that is, not on a weekend – he starts the morning pedaling his bike at home and around 9 arrives in the Oval Office for updates – but as mentioned, no work meetings until noon.
As noted, polls show that the American public is most concerned about its ability to move forward, and this is also reflected in polls within the Democratic Party. According to a well-known Wall Street source, that's also the only thing Democratic donors are talking about. The article reported that earlier this year, a group of former Democratic senators and governors met for dinner and all noted that he was too old. Local Democrats are also calling the White House to find out how Biden is doing.
Also, the number of interviews he has given so far is unusually small - only four. This is for fear that he will say unplanned things in a way that will damage his image. The article said Biden, who only a decade ago used to shoot water guns in the summer with the children of his reporters or aides, has now been seen "walking slowly."
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