President Joe Biden, often referred to as “Sleepy Joe” by his critics, notably missed out on Tuesday night’s NATO dinner, retreating straight to his hotel room in Lithuania.
President Biden’s Absence at NATO Dinner Raises Questions
The reason given by the White House for Biden’s absence at the prestigious gathering was his packed itinerary and a forthcoming important speech.
“Biden is not attending tonight’s dinner with NATO leaders,” confirmed a US official. They justified the decision by citing Biden’s “four full days of official business and is preparing for a big speech tomorrow, in addition to another day at the summit.”
During a CNN appearance from Vilnius, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan addressed questions about President Biden’s absence, previously justified by an official as reported by DailyMail.com.
NEW: President Biden is not attending tonight’s dinner with NATO leaders. Asked why he is skipping it, a US official said the president has had four full days of official business and is preparing for a big speech tomorrow in addition to another day at the summit.
— Beth Rigby (@BethRigby) July 11, 2023
He added, “As such, he wasn’t the only leader who wasn’t there last night,” although he refrained from mentioning the other absent leader.
Sullivan further explained, “Last night, he (Biden) believed his presence wasn’t necessary, confident that he would have ample opportunities to converse extensively with his colleagues on all significant issues of our time.”
“Not merely to sit with them, but, in essence, to guide the discussions.”
White House Downplays Concerns Over Biden’s Health and Performance
Sullivan then smoothly transitioned into a discussion of how President Biden effectively spearheaded the ‘unity, purpose, and forcefulness of this alliance’ in the face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
At the age of 80, Biden’s critics suggest that he’s struggling to keep up with this week’s demanding schedule. Upon his arrival at Windsor Castle on Monday, Biden was observed limping alongside King Charles III.
It is wild that Prince Charles looks like a young man compared to Biden https://t.co/bNg2pKgmpr
— Twitt.Arhum (@arhuml92) July 10, 2023
Subsequently, Biden traveled to Lithuania to attend a NATO Summit where his disorientation has been remarked upon. The Lithuanian president found herself in the role of Biden’s caretaker before the president retreated to his hotel room for the night.
Yet, despite these incidents, the White House continues to downplay concerns, urging everyone to carry on as usual.