Dean Phillips and RFK Jr say Biden's 'heartbreaking' address to nation proves it's time for 'new generation' of candidates
Rep. Dean Phillips and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. slammed President Joe Biden after his 'heartbreaking' address to the nation, questioning his competency to serve the country and calling on a 'new generation' of candidates to take the reins.
The two reacted to Biden's live address on Thursday, which followed a Department of Justice report questioning his memory on NewsNation’s CUOMO.
Kennedy, 70, emphasized the need to legitimately question Biden's competency, especially in making nuanced and complex decisions.
Phillips echoed his sentiment, claiming it's no longer character assassination to raise concerns about competency, and highlighted the emergence of next-generation candidates with fresh visions.
'There's so many decisions that require nuance that require complex levels of thinking and that those kind of issues are coming at you many times a day,' Kennedy said. 'The American people have a right to understand whether their president is capable of making their those decisions.'
'I think we've reached a time where it's no longer character assassination to ask legitimate questions about his competency,' Phillips said on NewsNation.
'We've got next generation candidates just waiting waiting to apply a new vision for our country for our world and it's time for change. It was heartbreaking, to see him today at that lecture, talking about his son,' he added.
'It was heartbreaking to see our president - a man who should be strong and vigorous and resolute be reduced to that tonight because of a report that calls him incapable, losing memory, and frankly committing a crime.'
Phillips, President Joe Biden's sole Democratic primary challenger, also said Thursday's Department of Justice report 'all but handed' the 2024 election to former President Donald Trump.
The 388-page eye-popping report from Special Counsel Robert Hur confirmed that Biden would not be charged for keeping classified documents in his garage.
But it also mentioned that even if they had pressed charges, a jury would probably conclude Biden had 'diminished faculties' and was a 'well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.'
Phillips, a Minnesota Democrat , launched his presidential campaign in October after spending months sounding the alarm that Biden was too old to win a second term.
'The report simply affirms what most Americans already know, that the president cannot continue to serve as our Commander-in-Chief beyond his term ending January 20, 2025,' Phillips said in a statement to DailyMail.com Thursday.
Presidential candidates @RobertKennedyJr and @RepDeanPhillips react to President Joe Biden's live address and DOJ report questioning his memory.
MORE: t.co #CUOMO pic.twitter.com/Xbdo7kBCP6
— NewsNation (@NewsNation) February 9, 2024
President Biden angrily addressed the nation on Thursday night telling Americans 'I know what the hell I am doing!' and insisting that 'my memory is fine.'
However, moments later he committed another startling gaffe, referring to the Egyptian leader as the President of Mexico.
Biden's furious tirade from the White House came after a report into his handling of classified documents was released by the Justice Department.
Biden also called Israel's military actions in Gaza 'over the top' in his harshest criticism since the bombings and invasion began.
The US president rebuked his ally, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at the press conference at the White House on Thursday.
Biden said he was trying to broker a longer ceasefire to get humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza, and push for the release of Hamas hostages. |
