After an emergency meeting with Democratic governors, President Joe Biden reportedly declared that he would limit his nocturnal activities after 8 p.m. in order to sleep better at night. This decision has led some members of his party to question his ability to manage a busy campaign and presidency.
President Biden told Democratic governors that he plans to stop scheduling events after 8 p.m. so he can get more sleep, sources say https://t.co/Akv9rnTtyQ
— CNN (@CNN) July 4, 2024
Wednesday night’s meeting was intended to reassure Democratic governors that Joe Biden is capable of governing effectively and running a campaign to defeat former President Donald Trump in the next election.
The New York Times reports that Biden made the request to give himself a balanced schedule.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, a staunch supporter of Joe Biden, tried to downplay the president’s comments, saying they were not to be taken literally, but that Biden needed to manage his energy better. Newsom also stressed the need to maintain a reasonable schedule to avoid burnout.
An unnamed Democratic lawmaker, meanwhile, expressed concern about Biden’s decision and questioned the president’s ability to manage potential crises that may arise at night. Joe Biden’s campaign has defended this approach, drawing comparisons with former presidents such as George W. Bush and Barack Obama, who maintained structured schedules to balance their schedules.
The controversy comes after a difficult debate performance from Mr. Biden, worrying some Democrats about his re-election campaign. The debate, which took place at 9 p.m., showed a president who appeared exhausted and struggled to express himself. This fueled concerns about his health and his ability to be president for a second term.
Sources close to Biden say that since then, he has been taking daily naps as early as 11am.
After the debate, Michigan Democratic candidate Debbie Dingell raised the possibility of a change of course if Biden failed to convince voters of his vitality.
Biden relies heavily on the inner circle of his family, which includes wife Jill Biden and son Hunter Biden. Both have reportedly encouraged him to continue his campaign, while suggesting that he make significant changes to his team of advisors.