WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta told NewsNation’s “On Balance with Leland Vittert” that President Joe Biden’s recent verbal gaffes do not reflect his mental acuity or ability to hold office.
“The country needs to know that the president of the United States is able to deal with our national security issues and understands them,” said Panetta. “I know he’s had a tremendous amount of experience and knows these issues.
Panetta’s defense of the president comes on the heels of special counsel Robert Hur’s suggestion Biden would seem too feeble to prosecute in a case involving classified documents.
The report described the 81-year-old Democrat’s memory as “hazy,” “fuzzy,” “faulty,” “poor” and having “significant limitations.” It noted that Biden could not recall defining milestones in his own life such as when his son Beau died or when he served as vice president.
Eyebrows were further raised on Thursday when Biden, while attempting to take the issue head-on in an address to the nation, referred to the Egyptian leader as the president of Mexico.
But for Panetta, these gaffes don’t mean Biden is unfit for the Oval Office.
“The real question affecting national security is whether or not (Biden) is making the right decisions that will protect our country. That’s what counts,” Panetta said.
Read More: Biden’s gaffes don’t reveal inability to lead: Leon Panetta