CNN
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Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer mentioned Wednesday “it wouldn’t damage” for President Joe Biden to take a cognitive take a look at, a transfer that might quell mounting issues over his psychological health following a poor debate efficiency in June.
“I don’t assume that it might damage,” the Democrat mentioned after being pressed by CNN’s Abby Phillip on whether or not Biden ought to take a take a look at and demand that former President Donald Trump do the identical.
Whereas Whitmer acknowledged on “NewsNight” that the talk was “not an excellent success” for Biden, she pushed again on requires the president to step aside from his 2024 campaign.
“He reveals up day by day and fights for the American public. He cares about different folks greater than he cares about himself, and that’s exactly why I feel this second the place we have now Donald Trump, who’s been convicted of 34 felonies, who cares solely about Donald Trump, we are able to’t lose sight of how excessive these stakes are,” the governor mentioned. “Now we have a discipline, and except one particular person, Joe Biden, makes an alternate determination, that is the sphere, and we’ve obtained to go.”
In a excessive stakes interview with ABC Information’ George Stephanopoulos final Friday, Biden mentioned that his poor debate performance was not evidence of a severe situation. Being president, he mentioned, means “I get a full neurological take a look at day by day.”
When requested on Friday whether or not he’s had cognitive exams and an examination by a neurologist, Biden mentioned no.
“Nobody mentioned I needed to. … They mentioned I’m good,” the president mentioned.
Biden gave no indication he could be keen to have such exams performed within the aftermath of his debate efficiency.
Whitmer’s feedback come as Democrats wrestle with the potential for Biden’s reelection bid to harm the social gathering in down-ballot races this fall. Nine House Democrats have referred to as for the president to step apart, and Vermont’s Peter Welch on Wednesday evening grew to become the primary Senate Democrat to induce him to withdraw.
Whitmer, who has been floated as a attainable candidate to enter the race ought to Biden step apart, was present at a meeting Biden held last week with Democratic governors however didn’t handle members of the press instantly after. On Wednesday, she backed the president and mentioned she was involved that “we’re spending plenty of power not on Donald Trump and the existential risk earlier than us, and that offers me an excessive amount of concern.”
“I perceive that some are taking part in fantasy soccer and wish to simply decide a few random leaders that they like throughout the nation and design a ticket. That’s simply not how this works,” she mentioned Wednesday. “Now we have a president who’s gotten a nomination, who’s earned it.”
When requested if she was apprehensive that she could be focused for retribution ought to Trump win, Whitmer mentioned that she has been instructed that he retains an inventory with each Republicans and “most likely plenty of Democrats on it too.”
“I feel that that ought to inform you every thing you might want to find out about this man,” she mentioned.
Whitmer pointed in the direction of the Supreme Court docket’s current ruling that granted presidents typically a definitive “absolute immunity” from prosecution for core official acts.
“I feel everybody who’s crucial or has a thoughts of their very own ought to be involved about somebody who’s keen to abuse energy and misuse it, particularly with this new Supreme Court docket ruling on immunity, this may very well be a really scary time if Donald Trump is again within the White Home,” she mentioned.
CNN’s Jen Christensen, Jack Forrest and Annie Grayer contributed to this report.