President Biden went full Ron Burgundy on Wednesday — handing former President Donald Trump and Republicans more fodder to make the case that the president is unfit for a second term.
In a speech to North America’s Building Trades Unions, Mr. Biden showed that he would read whatever was on the teleprompter — including when his speechmakers wanted him to take a breath.
“Imagine what we can do next — four more years,” the 81-year-old said before reading aloud “pause” — a note that apparently his handlers slipped in to remind him to pause in his speech.
The Trump campaign circulated the clip in an email that read: “Cognitively Impaired Joe Biden Reading Teleprompter: ‘Four More Years? Pause?’”
In the movie, “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy,” comedian Will Ferrell plays a fictional newscasting legend in San Diego during the 1970s who reads everything on the teleprompter verbatim.
In Mr. Biden‘s case, the “pause” moment adds to a lengthy list of verbal gaffes and miscues that have fed into lingering questions over his age and his ability to continue to perform the job as he seeks another four-year term.
Polls have shown most voters think he is too old to be an effective president.
For his part, Mr. Biden, who overcame a stutter, has tried to spin his age into a political asset, arguing it has given him a wealth of wisdom to rely on as commander in chief.
Mr. Trump has had a different take.
The 77-year-old has mocked the way Mr. Biden has meandered around stages and consistently warned voters he can’t string two sentences together and doesn’t know where he is.
Mr. Trump also suggested Mr. Biden was so energized in his State of the Union address that he must have been medicated or high on drugs.
Mr. Trump is now calling for Mr. Biden to be drug tested if they participate in debates later this year.
Mr. Biden‘s recollection was back in the spotlight earlier this week when he implied that an uncle had been eaten by cannibals in the Pacific theater during World War II. His claim that the plane was shot down was not supported by military records.
It was the latest instance where Mr. Biden has embellished or fabricated stories in public remarks.
In an address last year to service members on the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Mr. Biden falsely claimed to be at Ground Zero after the Twin Towers collapsed in New York City.
He also falsely claimed to have witnessed a bridge collapse in Pittsburgh in 2022, when he actually visited the site after the collapse.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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