At the annual Gridiron Club dinner in Washington, DC on Saturday night, President Biden needled his Republican opponent for his age and ongoing legal difficulties, commenting that Donald Trump exhibits signs that his advanced age has led to mental decline and lapses in judgment, the Associated Press reports.
“One candidate is too old and mentally unfit to be president,” said in his ten-minute address. “The other is me.” Noting that 77-year-old Trump failed to correctly identify two of his wives in a photo, Biden also commented that Trump seemed confused about the 2024 campaign. “Don’t tell him, [but] he thinks he’s running against Barack Obama. That’s what he said,” Biden commented.
This was Biden’s first address as president at the Gridiron Club, a professional organization for journalists that has become a traditional stop for presidential candidates. After taking shots at Trump, Biden then reminded the assembled journalists of their import role in maintaining American democracy.
“We live in an unprecedented moment in democracy. An unprecedented moment for history. Democracy and freedom are literally under attack. Putin’s on the march in Europe. My predecessor bows down to him and says to him, ‘do whatever the hell you want’,” Biden said, adding as he signed off, “Good journalism holds a mirror up to society. We need you.”