Editorial: The New York Times

• Due to his age and his determination to run for a second term, President Biden is taking the American public into uncharted waters.
• Increasing doubts are voiced about his ability to serve for another five years on account of his age.
• The release of the special counsel Robert K. Hur’s report, depicting the president as a “well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory,” will inevitably test the trust the American people have in their president.
• Biden’s performance at his Thursday night press conference was meant to assure the public his memory is fine, however it raised more questions about his cognitive sharpness and temperament.
• He has had less substantive, unscripted interaction with the public and the press than any other president in recent memory.
• The strategy to reach Americans through online influencers or tightly produced videos rather than public encounters that might challenge him has been eroding the public's confidence.

Conclusion: This is a dark moment for Biden’s presidency, with many voters depending on him to provide the country with a compelling alternative to the unique danger that Mr. Trump represents. Biden has been a wise and steady presence, he needs to do more to assure the public that he is fully capable of holding office until age 86.

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