Donald Trump included, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said on Sunday that a cognitive exam should be administered to all presidential hopefuls and all politicians in the presidential succession.
On CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Graham spoke with Robert Costa, a guest anchor, and said, “This is a wake-up call for the country.” “We have to guarantee that those slated to take over in the next line of command can effectively lead under extreme pressure.”
Concerns about President Joe Biden’s health have only increased after his poor debate performance against Trump in late June, and Graham brought out the national security ramifications of this. He expressed concern that the United States’ friends and foes could see a weaker Biden, particularly in light of the upcoming NATO summit in Washington this week.
The notion that he shouldn’t undergo a competency test, considering the abundance of evidence, offends me, Graham stated. “The American people are facing a perilous situation with a leader who appears to be compromised; he is not only in denial about it.”
The president fumbled for words and failed to adequately counter Trump’s assaults during the debate, which has put Biden’s present abilities in the spotlight.
House Democrats and key Democratic operatives expressed their displeasure with Biden’s stance shortly after his first television appearance since the debate, in which he attempted to assuage the growing party concern. The interview took place on Friday and was hosted by ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos. On Sunday morning, Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) expressed his belief that the interview from Friday night did not address all of the concerns voiced by residents of his state.
Biden blamed his lackluster performance during the debate on fatigue, a cold, and insufficient preparation while describing it as a “bad episode” during the interview. By claiming that managing a campaign and the country was his daily cognitive test, he avoided answering concerns about whether he would be willing to undergo a neurological testing and provide the results to the American people.
A Biden campaign spokesman referenced the president’s remarks to Stephanopoulos about the need for cognitive testing. Senators Bob Casey and John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, who welcomed Biden on Sunday while he was campaigning in Philadelphia, were among the Democrats cited by the spokesperson as having maintained their support for Biden.
Some Republicans and Democrats are fantasizing about someone else, especially Vice President Kamala Harris, taking over the ticket, even though Biden has consistently stated his intention to remain in the race. Graham stated that the picks for vice president by both parties will be pivotal to the election due to the possibility of a Harris candidacy as well as Trump’s continuing veepstakes.
“Harris will have to choose someone to assist her if Biden resigns,” Graham stated. The current contest would look very different if she were to become the nominee. I pray that our side is considering that.
Members of Biden’s Cabinet, as well as Biden, Trump, Harris, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and President Pro Tempore of the Senate Patty Murray (D-Wash.), would be needed to take an exam under Graham’s proposal to assess cognitive abilities for presidential contenders and leaders in the line of succession.
while an example of someone lower down the line of succession who needed “a neurological exam,” Graham mentioned his own immediate predecessor in the United States Senate, Strom Thurmond, who was president of the Senate while he was getting close to his 100th birthday.
