Biden Missed Meeting With German Chancellor to Go to Bed: Report - Business Insider
By: Hannah Abraham (Business Insider)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Hannah Abraham 2024-07-09T13:24:14Z Share icon An curved arrow pointing right. Share Facebook Icon The letter F. Facebook Email icon An envelope. It indicates the ability to send an email. Email Twitter icon A stylized bird with an open mouth, tweeting. Twitter LinkedIn icon LinkedIn Link icon An image of a chain link. It symobilizes a website link url. Copy Link lighning bolt icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. Impact Link Save Article Icon A bookmark Save Read in app Angle down icon An icon in the shape of an angle pointing down. Biden had to cancel a meeting with the German chancellor to make his bedtime Samuel Corum/Getty Images This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? Log in.
- Biden canceled a meeting with Olaf Scholz, saying he had to go to bed, according to a report.
- The meeting was an informal gathering during the G7 summit to discuss Ukraine.
- The White House has faced scrutiny over Biden's mental acuity and ability to run for a second term.
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President Joe Biden canceled an early evening meeting with the German chancellor Olaf Scholz at the last minute because he had to go to bed, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
The newspaper reported that the event was an informal gathering in Germany amid the G7 summit in June 2022, and was meant to be a low-key meeting to discuss Ukraine.
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Two unnamed people who were there told the Journal that Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that Biden would not make an appearance because he had to rest.
According to the report, the chancellor and his aides were surprised by Biden's absence and Blinken's appearance.
In a statement to the Journal, a spokesperson for the State Department denied the report, while another official stated that the White House had informed the participants early on that Biden would be unable to attend.
Business Insider could not verify the details or the specific reason for needing to rest, and the White House did not reply to a request for comment.
Axios, citing people close to the president, has previously said that Biden worked best between the 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. window and struggled to function outside that timeframe.
The Journal report said that the White House has consistently reduced Biden's daily schedule and shielded him from impromptu meetings.
Both CNN and The New York Times have reported that Biden told governors he needed to get more sleep and stop holding events after 8 p.m. The White House has not responded to these claims.
It follows a disastrous debate against Donald Trump, which was marked by verbal gaffes and confusing statements.
Biden dismissed queries about his competence as a presidential candidate in a taped interview with ABC's George Stephanopolous on Friday, saying he would step aside only if the "Lord Almighty" asked him to.
High-profile Democratic Party donors have voiced their concerns about Biden's mental acuity.
Abigail Disney, Walt Disney's grandniece and a longtime Democratic donor, announced she would halt donations to the party until he makes way for a replacement at the top of the ticket.
Biden now faces intense scrutiny as he heads into NATO's summit this week, which was meant to draw a line under the strategy for the Ukraine crisis and discuss the shifting China-Russia dynamic.
A summit of this stature would normally not be an issue for Biden, who formerly served as the Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Now, it will serve as a public test of his mental sharpness and ability to run against Trump in the elections.
Alliance leaders will be hosted by Biden in Washington for three days of discussions and public activities, which will end with a solo press conference on the afternoon of July 11th.
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But what about that all important call at 3:00 AM?
And we should want this for another four years? Better look inside and ask yourself "WHY?"
I see a trump didn't start until noon and a golf deflection in your future.
Because that's what "world leaders" do. How pathetic can Sleepy Joe get? (NO IT'S NOT A CHALLENGE!!!)
When Winston Churchill became prime minister, he was already 65 and not all that healthy and fit. But he persevered and kept at his job until the job was done and war was won. Ronald Reagan was a few days short of 70 when first elected, and it is well documented how fit he was during most of his presidency. Both of these men were respected and effective leaders.
Biden is a national embarrassment and abomination and an ongoing disgrace to the office of the POTUS. But I hope he keeps defying common sense and his advisors and hangs in there to the bitter end.
he will, until the end, with the full backing of his party.
Can’t even attend an early evening meeting with a foreign leader because his brain doesn’t work at night.
this is indefensible
Give it a few minutes. A Bidenista will attempt to do it.
Joe Biden will defend democracy if the fight ain't too late on a weeknight.
We all know that Biden is only hosting this bogeyman brunch to get the attention of the political press. Biden is only there for grip 'n grin photo ops. Antony Blinken, the Middle East nation builder, is actually running foreign affairs (God help us).
If Olaf Scholz had invited the press then, betcha Biden bucks, the meeting would have happened. Nothing gets Biden fired up like public attention and donor money. Guess Hunter really is a chip off the old block.