President Trump said Thursday that he did not notice any evidence of cognitive decline in President Biden when the two met in person at the White House, shortly after the November 2024 presidential election.
“No, not really,” Mr. Trump said when asked whether he could detect signs of mental decline in the 46th president, who was both his successor and predecessor.
“We did the ritual,” Mr. Trump said of the tradition of having an outgoing president inviting the president-elect to the White House. “He was fine as far as I was concerned. I don’t know.”
Mr. Trump added, however, that Mr. Biden spoke “very softly” during their White House meeting, but said they “got along really well.”
“He was the same guy I was watching for a long time,” Mr. Trump said, adding that he had been watching Mr. Biden for 30 or 40 years.
“He was never the sharpest guy,” Mr. Trump continued. “It wasn’t like he was sharp as a tack but it was the same guy.”
The two presidents have met only once since that encounter, on Inauguration Day in January for the ceremonial limousine ride to the U.S. Capitol.
Renewed scrutiny of Mr. Biden’s health and mental acuity has resurfaced this week after former first lady Jill Biden published a memoir saying she believed her husband was having a stroke during his June 2024 presidential debate against Mr. Trump.
Mr. Trump said Thursday that he believes something happened to Mr. Biden during the debate, but couldn’t explain exactly what that was.
“It could have been me,” Mr. Trump said. “I thought I had a very good debate. Nobody ever says that. They say that Biden did badly. What about me? Did I do well?” Mr. Trump said.
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