Biden insults elderly senator: ‘Poor son of a…’

Past comments by President Joe Biden about the health of Sen. Claiborne Pell have resurfaced amid growing concerns about his own fitness for office. In the mid-1990s, Biden, then a Delaware senator, reportedly expressed sympathy for Pell, who was showing early signs of Parkinson’s disease. Biden described Pell, then in his late 70s, as “a poor bastard” who was no longer fit for the job, suggesting that Pell’s diminished abilities made him unfit for the role.

The comments were echoed by former White House reporter Tom Galvin in an op-ed for Politico. Galvin was reportedly surprised by Biden’s remark, which came after a 1994 State of the Union address. Pell ultimately lost his position as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee when Republicans took control in 1994 and retired in 1997 due to health problems. Pell died in January 2009, shortly after turning 90.

Biden’s empathy for Pell’s plight has drawn attention as he faces increasing scrutiny over his own health and fitness for a second term. Recent concerns about Biden’s cognitive fitness have been fueled by his June debate performance and a recent COVID-19 diagnosis. There have been calls for Biden to reconsider his 2024 reelection bid, with some experts noting signs of neurodegeneration.

Despite these concerns, Biden has so far resisted calls to withdraw from the race, and the White House continues to insist he does not need new medical testing.