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In American politics, details often spark more public controversy than policies. Recently, a newly exposed detail has once again placed former President Biden at the center of an embarrassing storm. At 82 years old, he needed to rely on a stack of "notes" to recognize high-profile political figures and cultural celebrities, including Hillary Clinton, even during his term and just before leaving office.
These notes were not ordinary reminders but cue cards with color photos, names, and brief personal descriptions. The content was so detailed that it reminded Biden that Hillary was not only a Democratic presidential candidate in 2016 but also served as Secretary of State under the Obama-Biden administration. A long-time colleague and a political star who had fought alongside him needed to be recognized through these small notes. This scene raised doubts about whether the president's judgment and memory had significantly declined during his time in office.
Even more surprisingly, the list of notes included more than just Hillary. J.B. Pritzker, the governor of Illinois, was prominently listed. This prominent Democratic figure frequently appeared in party circles. Chuck Schumer, the then Senate majority leader, also appeared on the cue cards, with the note specifying his title as "Senate Democratic Leader." Even billionaire philanthropist David Rubenstein, a longtime friend of the Biden family, required a note to remind Biden of his identity. Biden even visited Rubenstein's mansion in Nantucket in November 2024, yet still needed a note to identify him.
Not only did the notes include political figures, but they also involved cultural stars. For example, Denzel Washington, an actor who has won ten Oscars, was noted on the card as "one of the greatest actors of the 21st century." Even the name of chef Jose Andres was written down to help Biden accurately introduce him when presenting the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The purpose of these cards was not only for identification but also for "answering questions." For instance, during a joint press conference between Biden and the South Korean president, the notes contained a pre-written question from a journalist: "You recently launched your re-election campaign. You said the age-related concerns are 'reasonable,' and your answer is always: 'Watch what I do.' But surveys show that 70% of Americans, including most Democrats, believe you shouldn't run. What would you say to them?" This text almost exactly matched the journalist's actual question.
In other words, Biden not only relied on notes to recognize people but also needed them to "memorize answers."
Politicians using cue materials is not uncommon, especially during campaigns, where they need to quickly remember hundreds of supporters and local leaders. However, the issue with Biden is that these notes were not for unfamiliar faces, but rather for his longtime "comrades." Moreover, they were not one-time preparations, but were revealed to have been used in the last few months of his term, and even in January this year when he left office, Biden still carried them with him.
Former White House staff attempted to defend this, stating that preparing briefing materials for the president in major events is a "standard procedure," especially listing the attendees. However, the problem is that Biden's notes did not just list names, but also reminded him of common knowledge, which further reinforced the public's suspicion of his memory decline.
Indeed, Biden's health and memory issues have long been a focus of public debate. He has repeatedly made mistakes in public, calling French President Macron "Mitterrand," referring to Egyptian President Sisi as "the Mexican president," and even pausing mid-speech as if forgetting the next line. Falls while boarding, and answering off-topic during press conferences have also become popular memes on social media.
The exposure of the "note scandal" almost confirmed people's suspicions: he is no longer the leader who can easily handle global crises, but an elderly man relying on aides and notes.
The media specifically pointed out that the timeline of the notes was extensive. There were traces of notes at the South Korea-US joint press conference in April 2023, the ceremony for awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2024, and the judicial nomination celebration in January 2025 before his resignation. This means it was not an occasional preparation, but a normal part of governance.
The Republicans certainly did not miss this opportunity to attack. Trump's campaign team immediately seized the issue, claiming that Biden needed notes to recognize Hillary, showing "incompetence and aging," and comparing it to Trump himself, asserting that Trump dares to face the media and answer any question on the spot, unlike Biden who relies on scripted lines from his aides.
The Democratic Party also felt pressure. Biden withdrew from the 2024 election due to health concerns last year, allowing Vice President Harris to take over, which was already a painful decision within the party. Now, the renewed exposure of the "note scandal" has further fueled public suspicion that the Democrats may have concealed Biden's true condition at the time.
Public opinion has therefore split. Some believe this is the inevitable result of natural aging and should not be overly criticized. A commentator said, "If you're in your eighties, you might forget your grandson's name, let alone meet so many people every day." However, others angrily point out that the leader of the world's largest economy and strongest military must maintain the sharpest mind, not rely on a stack of notes to maintain conversation.
Biden's notes actually reveal a deeper embarrassment in American politics. The problem of "old-age politics" is severe in the U.S. politics. Biden is 82, Trump is 79, Schumer is 73, McConnell is 82, and Pelosi is 84. Almost all key positions are held by the elderly. Experience is one thing, but when aging leads to memory loss and slow reactions, will political decisions be affected? This is a problem that society cannot avoid.
The serious issue of "old-age politics" in the United States
More worrying is that the exposure of Biden's notes is not an isolated incident, but a symbol. It symbolizes the slowness of power transition in the American system, the inability of the Democrats to find successors, and the continuous erosion of public trust in leadership. Biden may be remembered in history for his infrastructure bill and green energy transition, but more Americans will remember the elderly man who needed notes to recognize Hillary.
This small cue card not only put a former president in an embarrassing situation, but also exposed the fragility of the entire American political system.
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7556872060765520436/
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