Joe Biden awkwardly fumbled with notes in his suit jacket pocket to answer a reporter's question on something he was briefed on just m...
Joe Biden awkwardly fumbled with notes in his suit jacket pocket to answer a reporter's question on something he was briefed on just moments before – as the former White House physician to Donald Trump insists the president take a cognitive test.
'With the most recent hack by the Russians, would you say that this means –' a reporter began asking Biden as he checked out from King Orchards farm store in Central Lake, Michigan on Saturday.
The 78-year-old president, however, cut off the reporter, saying U.S. intelligence is not sure if the hack came from the Kremlin.
'We're not sure it's the Russians,' he said. 'I got a brief when I was on the plane. That's why I was late getting off the plane.'
'I'll be in better shape to talk to you about it –' Biden started, then cut himself off.
He then proceeded to awkwardly fumble with the notes in his pocket as he attempted to answer the reporter's question while checking out with the cashier, who asked him to no answer, 'Would you like a receipt?'
'I'll tell you what they sent me,' Biden said, while looking at the paper he pulled from his pocket, not answering the cashier's question.
'The idea – first of all we're not sure who it is for certain, number one. And what I did, I directed the full resources of the government to assist in a response if we determine – what else you need?' Biden said, redirecting his attention to the cashier.
'Oh nothing, you're all set,' she responded.
President Joe Biden had an uncomfortable moment on Saturday when he pulled out notes to answer a reporter's question at a pie shop in Michigan about the latest hack – thought to be from Russians
Biden, appearing confused and caught off guard for the whole exchange, attempted to check out and interact withe the cashier while answering a question on the latest hack
'I directed the intelligence community to give me a deep dive on what's happened. I'll know better tomorrow,' he said in continuing his response before putting the paper back in his pocket.
The ordeal was clipped by the Republican National Committee Twitter account and reposted by Trump's former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany.
This is just one in a series of gaffes, mix ups and awkward exchanges from Biden as questions continue to mount over his mental fitness.
The awkward exchange came as former White House physician Ronny Jackson said Democrats should demand that Biden take the same cognitive test that was passed by Trump, 75.
The freshman representative, a Republican from Texas who was elected to Congress after serving as Trump's top White House doctor, thinks that Biden should be administered the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) to test for memory impairment, dementia, and other possible maladies.
Biden warned that the U.S. will retaliate if it finds out Russia was behind the mass cyberattack that hit at least 1,000 firms. Biden speaking at a cherry farm store in Central Lake, Michigan
Rep. Ronny Jackson, who was elected to Congress after serving as Trump's top White House doctor, thinks Biden should take the Montreal Cognitive Assessment to test for memory impairment and dementia
'I think he's demonstrating every single day that there is something going on,' Jackson told Fox News on Saturday.
'You don't need to be a physician to look at this behavior and see there's something concerning happening.
'He's just not aging gracefully at this point.'
Biden, who is known for misspeaking and making verbal gaffes, has had his cognitive fitness questioned after mixing up the names of aides and colleagues while seeming to forget job titles and other details.
During a news conference at last month's G7 summit meeting in the United Kingdom, Biden appeared to mix up Syria and Libya three times.
He has also mistakenly referred to his vice president, Kamala Harris, as 'President Harris.'
DailyMail.com has reached out to the White House seeking comment.
Biden, who is known for misspeaking and making verbal gaffes, has had his cognitive fitness questioned after mixing up the names of aides and colleagues while seeming to forget job titles and other details
The Texas representative's comments came after former President Trump took a trip to survey his southern border wall on Wednesday where he said Biden should take the test.
'And there's my doctor right over there, my doctor,' Trump said. 'He said, 'You know sir, if you want, you're really smart, you ought to take the cognitive test,'' Trump recalled. 'But he did a test. Did I ace it? I aced it,' the ex-president continued, adding 'I'd like to see Biden' take it.
Trump detailed that the first few questions are identifying animals.
'He's gonna have a little hard time,' Trump said of Biden. 'I think he's going to have a hard time with the first few, actually.'
He also accused Biden of being 'incompetent' and having a 'screw loose' as he spoke during a press briefing alongside Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
Jackson said Trump set a precedent when he agreed to undergo the testing. The 45th president was known to give rambling, run-on statements in press interviews that prompted observers to question his cognitive fitness.
'The far left and the mainstream media were demanding that be the new standard for anybody who's going to lead our country and be our Commander-in-Chief and our head of state,' Jackson told Fox News on Saturday.
'I'm just saying I agree with them at this point - we need to get it done.'
Jackson added: 'You can go back – there's forty years of tape of this man – he's always made gaffes and stuff but these are different, he's confused, he's disoriented,' the congressman said.
'We all know people who are 100-years old, who basically are as sharp as a tack, and we know people who are in their mid-60s that having some cognitive difficulties…and I think he's on that end of the spectrum.'
Last month, the White House said Biden plans to take his annual physical 'later this year.'
The White House has committed to releasing the results of a medical check-up before the end of they year, but officials are generally reluctant to discuss the president's health.
'I'm just asking them, when you do the physical exam include the cognitive assessment,' Jackson said.
'As far as I'm concerned the standard precedent has been set and they need to follow and do the same.'
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