A shocking new report from The Wall Street Journal has shed light on President Joe Biden’s mental fitness during one of the most pivotal crises of his presidency—the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in August 2021. The findings paint a troubling picture of a president shielded from key decisions due to mental fatigue, with devastating consequences that continue to haunt the nation.
The report reveals that Biden’s cognitive state and the efforts of White House aides to protect him from strenuous engagements directly contributed to the mishandling of the withdrawal. Among the most alarming details: Biden skipped an important phone call with Representative Adam Smith, the Democratic Chair of the House Armed Services Committee, just days before the crisis reached its peak.
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Rep. Smith, who had repeatedly attempted to contact Biden, aimed to share grave concerns about the administration’s overly optimistic withdrawal strategy. As someone with deep knowledge of military operations, Smith believed the plan underestimated the complexity and danger of the situation. But Biden never returned his calls. According to the report, White House aides deliberately shielded the president, citing his mental fatigue and inability to engage effectively in critical discussions.
The consequences of Biden’s inaccessibility were catastrophic. The rushed withdrawal claimed the lives of 13 U.S. service members and 170 Afghan civilians in a suicide bombing at Kabul’s airport. It also left billions of dollars’ worth of military equipment—including weapons, vehicles, and aircraft—in Taliban hands, transforming the group into one of the world’s most well-armed insurgencies.
Critics argue that the withdrawal exposed a leadership vacuum in the Biden administration. Former Justice Department official John Yoo labeled it a “national security nightmare,” citing the lack of planning and the president’s disengagement as glaring failures. “The abandonment of military assets and personnel safety was not just a logistical oversight but a leadership failure,” Yoo stated.
The families of the 13 fallen service members have also voiced their outrage, calling for accountability and transparency. Many believe their loved ones’ deaths could have been prevented with more competent leadership.
The Wall Street Journal report highlights the lengths to which Biden’s aides went to limit his direct interactions with lawmakers, the media, and even his own advisors. This level of protection, critics argue, reflects a troubling lack of transparency and raises questions about the president’s ability to lead during moments of national crisis.
“It’s incredibly concerning that a sitting president was so difficult to reach during such a pivotal moment,” said Rep. Smith in a recent interview. “The American people deserved better, and the men and women who serve our country certainly deserved better.”
Biden’s mental and physical state has been a topic of debate since his campaign, but the report has reignited calls for greater transparency about his health. Critics, including several Republican lawmakers, are demanding investigations into the president’s decision-making capacity during the withdrawal.
The chaotic withdrawal marked one of the most criticized moments of Biden’s presidency, leaving a lasting impact on U.S. foreign policy and national security. The Taliban’s seizure of military equipment has bolstered their power and destabilized the region, raising concerns about future threats to global security.
Beyond the material losses, the human toll of the withdrawal remains its most painful legacy. Families of those killed during the operation have expressed anger and frustration over the administration’s handling of the crisis, calling it a betrayal of those who served.
“This report confirms what we’ve all suspected. Biden’s mental decline cost American lives. We need accountability, and we need it now,” tweeted Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a vocal critic of the administration.
The revelations have amplified calls for congressional hearings and independent investigations into the administration’s handling of the withdrawal. Lawmakers from both parties are urging the Biden administration to address the concerns raised by the report and provide answers about what went wrong.
Elon Musk, among other public figures, has also weighed in, questioning the administration’s competence. “Leadership matters,” Musk wrote on social media. “The Afghanistan withdrawal is a glaring example of what happens when it’s absent.”
For many Americans, the report serves as a sobering reminder of the demands of the presidency and the dire consequences of inadequate leadership. The fallout from the Afghanistan withdrawal underscores the need for clarity, competence, and accountability at the highest levels of government—qualities that critics argue were lacking during one of the most consequential foreign policy decisions in recent history.
As the nation continues to grapple with the aftermath, the pressure on the Biden administration to confront these issues head-on is only growing. Whether through congressional action or public accountability, Americans are demanding transparency and answers about a crisis that left a scar on the nation’s conscience.
