Leslie Marshall caused a stir among her Fox News colleagues this week when she suggested that both Donald Trump and Joe Biden were showing signs of mental decline.
May 27, 2024, published at 1:00 PM ET
The discussion, which unfolded during Friday's episode of In minorityfocused on whether President Biden, 81, should consider stepping aside for a younger Democratic presidential candidate.
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The tense discussion about President Biden and ex-President Trump's alleged mental decline unfolded during Friday's episode of “Outnumbered.”
According to Marshall, experts pointed to signs of age-related decline and even dementia in both 2024 presidential candidates.
Marshall also emphasized that despite such concerns, voters did not appear upset by the issue.
“I've seen doctors on television and heard them on podcasts on both sides saying that there is an age decline for Biden and Trump, that there are signs of dementia for both Biden and Trump, depending on which doctor you hear from. Marshall argued on Friday.
“But that doesn't matter to voters,” she continued. “I say if you ask them about the age, it bothers them. But these are the two people they have to choose between.”
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According to Marshall, experts pointed to signs of age-related decline and even dementia in both 2024 presidential candidates.
Marshall then cited recent incidents involving both Trump and Biden that could indicate a mental decline in both candidates.
“You know, whether it's 35 seconds of silence with Donald Trump, or whether he stumbles over Venezuela, or thinks Obama is still president,” she noted, “or the things you saw with Joe Biden.”
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“While it makes people uncomfortable,” Marshall reiterated, “we see that in the polls it will not lead to a shift of any of them into or out of the White House.”
Meanwhile, fellow Fox News host Kayleigh McEnany expressed her unqualified disagreement with Marshall's argument. McEnany claimed that Trump did not exhibit the same mental acuity issues as Biden.
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Marshall also cited recent incidents involving both Trump and Biden that could indicate mental decline in both candidates.
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McEnany referenced a recent interview with their guest: Dr. Marc Siegel, shared with the ex-president. She also defended Trump's cognitive skills, insisting he was still mentally sharp.
“I just have to say that I completely disagree that Trump has the same mental acuity issues,” McEnany said charged. “He's as sharp as a whip.”
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Dr. Siegel, who joined the In minority panel on Friday supported McEnany's position and emphasized the importance of “cognitive reserve” in a presidential role.
“I thought he was as sharp as a whip,” said Dr. Siegel on his recent interview with Trump. “And by the way, it's about cognitive reserve. As we watch this, we think this is the President of the United States, not someone's grandfather.
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“With all due respect, I think there is absolutely no comparison between Joe Biden's existing state and Trump's, even in this conversation right now.”
Dr. Siegel raised further concerns about Biden's potential failures under pressure, and he specifically noted the need for a president to maintain the ability to perform at a high level during critical situations.
“But the president is always under enormous pressure and has to perform in an equal manner,” the doctor said. “Much higher than anyone's grandfather.”
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Fox News host Emily Compagno also joined the tense debate and firmly rejected any comparison between Biden's supposedly poor cognitive state and Trump's.
“With all due respect, I think there is absolutely no comparison between the existing state of Joe Biden and Trump, even in this conversation right now,” Compagno said.
