Stephen Colbert mocks Biden's mental fitness after gaffe during Easter egg hunt
WASHINGTON (TND) — Comedian and late-night talk show hostStephen Colbert joked about President Joe Biden's mental fitness after Biden yet again gaffed during a public appearance, this time during an Easter egg hunt.
Biden, 80, stumbled while answering questions from famous NBC weatherman and journalist Al Roker about if he was going to run again for president in 2024. Roker was interviewing the president during the White House's annual "Easter Egg Roll", an American tradition that dates back to 1878.
I was just wondering, Mr. President, will you be taking part in the Easter Egg Rolls, planning on after 2024?" Roker, who also co-hosts NBC's "Today" show, asked Biden.
I plan on at least three or four more Easter Egg Rolls," the president answered. "Maybe five Maybe six, what the hell? I don’t know."
Roker then presses the president on whether his plans to continue taking part in the annual Easter Egg Rolls mean he plans to run for re-election in 2024.
I’ll either be rolling an egg or end up being the guy who’s pushing ’em out," Biden stumbled to say in reply.
The apparent gaffe earned attention during Colbert's Monday night episode of CBS's "The Late Show" where the comedian joked that he had "big Easter news: Joe Biden can lay eggs."
That’s right, Jack! I got big Easter news: Joe Biden can lay eggs," Colbert joked while wearing a pair of aviator sunglasses, mimicking the president. "Easy as pie. No, I push ’em right out the cloaca. Serve ’em up scrambled, or sit on ’em for a while, raise a beautiful flock of little baby Joes, ‘peep, peep, peep.'"
Point is, I am mentally fit to once again run for president of the United States," Colbert adds, still acting as if he was Biden while his audience laughs. "What’s goin’ on? Where’s Jill? Marco! Jill-o!"
Biden's mental fitness has been a topic of political controversy for quite a while now, extending to before he was even elected president. Republicans and Democrats have sparred over the topic numerous times, once even at aHouse Transportation Committee hearing.
In an interview with ABC’s David Muir in February, Biden himself said that concerns about his age are "totally legitimate" but also invited people to "watch" him as proof he can still do his job as president.Biden’s physical check-up in 2021 summarized him as “a healthy, vigorous, 78-year-old male, who is fit to successfully execute the duties of the presidency.” Again, in February 2023, Biden's official "current health summer" stated that he "remains fit for duty" as president.
However, Biden has repeatedly been targeted for apparent gaffes made in the public sphere. In September 2022, the president apparently forgot that his colleague, GOPRep. Jackie Walorski, had passed away the month before and asked where she was during a speech at a conference.
Then, about a month later, the president took a long "awkward" pause during an interview where he was asked if he intended to run again in 2024 for president, which again raised concerns over his mental abilities. This all happened after a video of President Biden struggling to put on a coat went viral, leading many to mock and question his mental fitness.
Colbert has also not been shy about questioning the current White House administration on his show.
When Vice President Kamala Harris made her second appearance on the late-night show in March, Colbert asked her what her "actual role" as VP was.
When she didn't directly answer, Colbertlightheartedly called her out and repeated his question, leading to Harris laughing and attempting to answer again.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert airs weeknights on CBS at 11:35 p.m. EST.