The Blubber

Per Axois:

The White House tends to avoid placing President Biden in unscripted situations or exposing him to adversarial questions from the press. As a result, it is challenging for those outside his close circle to assess the implications of Biden being the oldest president in U.S. history.

Insiders: Advisors close to Biden assert that he remains mentally sharp. However, some acknowledge that his age has affected his energy levels, leading to a more limited schedule.

White House officials often express admiration for Biden's endurance, though they frequently qualify their praise with the phrase "for his age." Scheduling public or private events with the president in the morning, evening, or on weekends can be challenging. The majority of Biden's public appearances occur on weekdays, typically between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Jen Psaki, Biden's first White House press secretary, acknowledged this pattern. She observed that the president's remarks on the Silicon Valley Bank crisis must have been of high importance, as he delivered them at 9:15 a.m. Speaking on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" last month, Psaki said, "President Biden does nothing at 9 a.m. He is a night owl."

Biden himself has mentioned that he takes a leisurely approach to mornings. In a November interview on the "Smartless" podcast, he said he wakes up around 7 or 7:15 a.m. and exercises from approximately 8 to 8:45 a.m.

Schedule analysis: An examination of Biden's 2023 schedule reveals how his staff seeks to optimize his performance:

• Only four public events have been scheduled before 10 a.m.
• A mere dozen public events have taken place after 6 p.m., primarily consisting of dinners, receptions with foreign dignitaries, and fundraisers.
• 12 full weekends have had no public events scheduled.

In response to this report, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Jen O'Malley Dillon provided a succinct rebuttal: "False."