July 23, 2024 - 1:49am
Joe Biden ended his campaign for president through a written statement Sunday and hasn’t been seen in public since, inspiring suspicions from conservative commentators that he’s severely unwell and may not have actually agreed to exit the race.
“If this were a hostage situation, that letter would not qualify as proof of life,” wrote Bill Ackman, a hedge fund manager who’s become a vocal critic of DEI over the past year and who recently endorsed Donald Trump.
Many commentators expressed similar concerns, suggesting that Biden is mentally incapacitated and is being held from public view against his will so that top Democrats could force him out of the race through a forged letter. In some cases these theories have merged with Donald Trump and other Republicans’ claims that top Democrats are intentionally sidestepping the democratic process to hand-pick their favoured candidate.
“If this sh*t were happening in another country — assassination attempt on opposition leader, disappearing the current president, and installing a puppet regime overnight — the UN would send special forces and the warmongers would start to feel a tingle up their legs”, Harmeet Dhillon, an attorney and RNC member who gave a Sikh prayer at this year’s convention, wrote.
Fox News host Bret Baier said Biden’s decision to drop out via social media rather than through a live public statement was “disconcerting,” while cohost Dana Perino said, “they didn’t even release a White House still photograph. I hope he’s fine, but you can forgive people for wondering if we are really living Weekend at Bernie’s. Proof of life, please.”
It’s not only conservatives who are concerned. Rapper Meek Mill wrote on Monday afternoon, “Where tf is Joe Biden at?”
For a president to deliver such significant news on social media, without a press conference, a pre-recorded video, or even a photo, is unusual. Further, his public schedule for the week is completely empty. These moves have fuelled Right-wing interest in Biden’s whereabouts, who has not been seen by the public since Wednesday, when he flew to his home in Delaware following a Covid diagnosis.
Biden’s sudden change of heart was also a source of suspicion for some. Up until Sunday, the President had been publicly defiant, insisting he would not drop out, and his campaign was still whipping delegates for him early Sunday afternoon. Most White House staff found out he was exiting the race at the same time as the rest of the country, and even his own cabinet heard from the White House chief of staff rather than Biden himself.
“Just yesterday, President Biden was ‘deeply frustrated’ with the ‘misguided revolt against his candidacy.’ A day later, the revolt has been memory-holed”, venture capitalist David Sacks wrote, alongside several posts suggesting foul play from Democrats.
There are, however, more straightforward explanations for these unusual developments. The President, who is 81 years old and has Covid, may be avoiding public appearances because he’s recovering from his illness. He’s also been known to keep a light schedule throughout most of his presidency.
His decision to announce on social media instead of a press conference may have been an act of revenge against the media, who have been covering him negatively for weeks and in some cases explicitly calling for him to step down. His announcement blindsided the legacy media, which was left scrambling to cover the news. The New York Times, for example, did not send a breaking news email until nearly an hour after Biden’s announcement.
The President’s absence may also be aimed at helping Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party. Biden is unpopular and was widely projected to lose to Trump even before his disastrous debate in late June. By staying out of the spotlight, Biden could allow attention to shift to Harris as she begins her campaign, though growing concern about Biden may undermine that effort.
“Is this the last time Joe Biden will ever be seen in public as president, or even alive?” conservative commentator Matt Walsh asked. “Not a crazy thing to wonder at the moment.”
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SubscribeThe comparisons between modern America and the late stage Soviet Union are getting a bit unnerving.
“Dance of the Little Swans” would be the cherry on the cake
The Lizard People have abducted him. When they’ve removed his atrophied brain they’ll vaporize Ursula von der Lying and install Joe Abiding as head of the EU while Queen Kamala rules America. Then they’ll declare insect protein is the environmentally-friendly diet of the Western world which, as you might expect, is the preferred diet of Lizard People.
And is that any weirder than the current politics of the US and EU?
Yes this makes complete sense, I’m annoyed I didn’t think of it myself. Where is the body held?
A reminder that Joe Biden is still the President, and should be doing his job.
Has Kamala spoken to him? She is the Vice President.
Breaking news. Biden has resurfaced.
Or has he? Kamala said ‘Joe , I know you’re still on the reco… call’
Why did she start to say ‘recording’?
Why does everything have to be some machiavellian plot with these guys? Their primary process is always riddled with intrigue and back room deals, their election strategy is basically a hyperbolic nudge campaign to scare people, no one is ever on the record with anything. It’s always anonymous sources and whisper campaigns. It was less than a month ago when they were talking about Cheap Fakes.
I don’t buy into any of the conspiracy theories. The most obvious answer is almost always the correct answer. I also understand that Republicans and all political parties spin the truth, but geez can’t these guys ever be straight up about anything? WTF is going on here?
Because these guys gain most of their power by lying. It started with the “birther” rubbish, and hasn’t stopped.
I listened to the Biden call.
This COVID is fantastic! It makes you 20 years younger.
How can I catch it?
It was an amazing phone call. Kamala couldn’t be bothered to ask the President how he was recovering from COVID.
Oh, good. UnHerd is now trafficking in conspiracy theories.
(Yes, I know the writer goes on to say that they might not be true, but the whole point of conspiracy theories is to get people talking about them. It’s Disinformation 101.)
You need to listen to the recor…. , sorry, call that Biden made to the Harris campaign.
It’s on You Tube – CNN
Most of the call is about how great Biden’s campaign is going, how many people are working to get him reelected, how he isn’t going anywhere, how he’s sticking around….
And listen to the different voice which speaks later in the video, saying ‘It’s mutual’ and ‘I’m looking after you , kid.’
I think those are two different voices. You can make up your own mind.
Do you think The Evil Democratic Conspiracy is so incompetent that it makes basic mistakes which can be picked up by no-account commenters (note my use of the plural) on UnHerd? And that in the era of AI, when “Silicon Valley Elites” (other than Musk, who isn’t numbered among those for some reason) are key players in The Conspiracy?
I’ve dealt with the absence of a mask in my reply to Andrew R.
Your comment is a non sequitur, maybe you know why Biden has gone to ground and is unavailable? Speculation would be a better description.
The explanation provided is Covid. That’s plausible, but I accept that (given the sequence of events) it’s also convenient. And Yes, I know he was photographed not wearing a mask, but if it really is a conspiracy, perhaps The Evil Democratic Machine would have thought of that?
My own inclination is not to theorise too heavily on the basis of limited data, and to remember the adage about conspiracies and stuff-ups. And I think that UnHerd should do the same.
Bro, you are too nervous about our brains.
My point was more that I’m nervous about the brains of the people writing for and running UnHerd.
Just as I am about the “Democracy is in peril ” conspiracy theorists who think that the electorate are a greater threat to democracy than unelected supranational bodies, NGOs and the billionaire class.
I could rehearse some things Trump has said which might support the “democracy in peril” stuff (e.g. that he’ll act as a dictator for one day), but it’s probably more pertinent to point out that such predictions will be tested by reality by what Trump actually does if he wins. But claims about how Biden was forced to withdraw, or how a secret cabal is running an international paedophile ring on behalf of George Soros, can’t really be tested in the same way, because they’re just claims, and denying them still leaves space for the conspiracists to say that the denials are lies.
Clickbait from Unherd. Give oxygen to some conspiracy twaddle and you attract/retain some subscribers.
Psychology experts regularly flag the connection between narcissists and conspiratorial twaddle – it’s the ‘I’m so unique I have this secret info that you don’t’ ego trip.
JW you’re simply a mirror image of this. Psychology experts regularly flag the connection between narcissists and projection “I’m so unique I have this magical insight into peoples thoughts and beliefs with zero evidence. Everyone must have same beliefs as mine”.
Yes you’re right the Democrats would never engage in a conspiracy to cover up the state of their President. Only crazy people would try something like that.
Conspiracy theory without doubt, he’s alive and kicking for sure, but removing him from the candicacy was only sensible, putting up Kamala is a joke.
Generally if you want to stop “conspiracy theories” a good place to start would be, to stop controlling the narrative. Have reasoned debate through logic and argument but with a 24/7 news environment, partisan op-eds and algorithmic social media platforms that is almost impossible.
Theorising without data being a capital mistake according to Sherlock Holmes.
Biden is out of the picture for a few days. There can’t be a straightforward explanation for his absence because: nothing happens by accident; nothing is as it seems; and everything is connected.
What amazes me is that the Democrats are so out of touch that they can’t see or don’t care how bad this looks to the average person.
It does not matter. The “average person” will have forgotten in a couple of weeks.
“The influence of the vice president in these roles depends almost entirely on the characteristics of the particular administration…
…Joe Biden asked President Barack Obama to let him always be the “last person in the room” when a big decision was made; later, as president himself, Biden adopted this model with his own vice president, Kamala Harris”.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vice_President_of_the_United_States#:~:text=Altogether%2C%20nine%20vice%20presidents%20have,.%20Johnson%2C%20and%20Gerald%20Ford.
So maybe it was Harris who told Biden – Joe, your time’s up.
Since his failing bid for the Democratic nomination in 2020 was miraculously revived in South Carolina (Jim Clyborne fronting for him) Biden has been a shill for powerful interests. His administration was filled with ex Obama staff up to the highest level. His VP – Harris – was picked as a successor shill with no political power base and low popularity. Biden was supposed to serve one term, bow out, and leave the succession to a fight between the main Democrat factions.
Two problems arose. Biden and his family became sticky. Meanwhile Joe’s health declined to the point his unfitness could no longer be hid (last month).
And so a desperate fight broke out for the succession between three camps. The Obama crowd who have no ready successor (not Michelle, not Blinken). The Clintons, but again no real candidate (Hilary over the hill). The Californians headed by Nancy Pelosi with their long term dauphin, her nephew Gavin Newsome.
The battle has been fast and, it seems, decisive. A story (narrative for the credulous) has been rammed down the eager throats of the media. ‘Nancy made Joe an offer he couldn’t refuse. We can do this the easy way or the hard way. You have three weeks to decide before it gets ugly. And the Bidens duly caved in’.
Thus the Pelosi faction is for now the winner. Obama is silent and has yet to join (too late) the Harris bandwagon. The Clintons are seen to be connected to George Soros. Alex Soros, his son, has married Huma Abedin Hilary’s aide, It has ‘slipped’ out that Alex is a frequent visitor to the White House.
The Vatican in the days of the Borgias was hardly more treacherous.
The conspiracy here was to keep the state of Mr. Bidens’ health a secret. Now, the BBC reports his poor health has been widely known “for months.” Is he still able to perform the functions of “President”. His doctor urgently needs to make a public statement.
White House covered up Biden decline, BBC presenter claims https://www.yahoo.com/news/white-house-covered-biden-decline-105341771.html