OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
A camera has caught what many consider to be yet another embarrassing moment for President Joe Biden that will not inspire confidence that he can or would serve another complete four-year term.
Biden met in the Oval Office Monday with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’a Al-Sudani, and a camera caught another so-called “cheat sheet” instructing him on what to say and do, the New York Post reported.
“Biden was caught once again wielding a crib sheet bearing scripted remarks to the press during an Oval Office sitdown with Iraq’s prime minister Monday,” The Post said.
Biden, who is 81 years old, referred to a written script during his first public statement since Iran carried out an unprecedented direct missile and drone attack on Israel over the weekend. The script included stage directions in all caps, indicating when he should pause to allow for an interpreter to translate, The Post said, adding that Biden kept looking down at the script during his meeting.
The outlet noted that “Al-Sudani did not rely on note cards of any kind when he made brief remarks following Biden.”
Instead of Biden issuing an on-camera statement while Saturday’s attack was ongoing, the White House called a lid just after 5 p.m. and released photos depicting the president and his national security team monitoring the situation in the Situation Room.
Biden cheat sheet for Iraq PM meeting caught on camera — including instructions to ‘pause’ https://t.co/6VKjCemMEM
— LeoTerrell (@TheLeoTerrell) April 16, 2024
On Saturday, Biden engaged in a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to express US backing for the Jewish state. The subsequent day, the president assembled leaders from the Group of Seven nations to deliberate on a diplomatic course of action, The Post said.
“The United States is committed to Israel’s security. We are committed to a cease-fire [between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip] that will bring the hostages home and prevent the conflict from spreading beyond what it already has,” Biden said during his brief remarks Monday.
Biden has a history of using scripts and note cards throughout his presidency, raising questions about his declining mental capacity.
In March 2022, Biden was taken to task after a speech in which he appeared to use note cards to stick to his script and answer tough questions.
The card, which was photographed, was titled “Tough Putin Q & A Talking Points,” and explained how the man many have called a “puppet” was to answer them.
“If you weren’t advocating for regime change, what did you mean? Can you clarify?” it said as a possible question he would be asked.
“I was expressing the moral outrage I felt towards the actions of this man,” one of the answers read.
“I was not articulating a change in policy,” another said.
Fox News reporter Peter Doocy asked a similar question during the press conference, but Biden appeared to go off-script.
“Are you worried that other leaders in the world are going to start to doubt that America is back if some of these big things that you say on the world stage keep getting walked back?” the reporter said.
“What’s getting walked back?” the president responded.
“It — made it sound like, just in the last couple of days — it sounded like you told U.S. troops they were going to Ukraine. It sounded like you said it was possible the U.S. would use a chemical weapon. And it sounded like you were calling for regime change in Russia,” Doocy said.
“None of the three occurred,” Biden said.
“None of the three occurred?” Doocy said quizzically.
“None of the three,” Biden said again though there was video and documentation showing that all three of those things happened.
In April 2023, a cheat sheet appeared to have a ready response to a Los Angeles Times reporter’s question, suggesting the press event was scripted. The cheat sheet contained the question from the reporter, her photograph, how to pronounce her name, and Biden’s pre-determined response.
