Joe Biden's fiery delivery of his State of the Union address on Thursday night sparked speculation that the 81-year-old had been given stimulant medications like Adderall to sustain him through the night. This speculation was fueled by a retweet on X Twitter by a senior White House official.
White House Deputy Communications Director Herbie Ziskind retweeted a comment made by New York Magazine reporter Olivia Nuzzi during Biden's speech: “I think there's no shortage of Adderall in the White House.”
I guess there's no shortage of Adderall in the White House
-Olivia Nuzzi (@olivianuzzi) March 8, 2024
Newsmax anchor Jane Pellegrino captured the State of the Union address:
Speaker Johnson is all of us now #Sold pic.twitter.com/6KmPRxfpl2
– Jenn Pellegrino 🇺🇸 (@JennPellegrino) March 8, 2024
Earlier Thursday, Politico's Laura Egan reported that the White House said Biden was eating carbs in the speech:
“It's a big night for President Joe Biden. In preparation for his speech, he loaded the carbo. Biden served chicken Parm at a lunch he hosted with TV anchors this afternoon at the White House, according to a White House aide. He has not yet mentioned what he had for dinner. But this official said that he usually goes to eat pasta on match days.
According to Drugs.com, Adderall's effects last four to six hours:
“When taken as prescribed, the effects of Adderall (amphetamine and dextroamphetamine) last for 4 to 6 hours. The effects of Adderall It is called a sustained release setting).
Biden was late leaving the White House for his 9 p.m. speech. Arrived 16 minutes late At the Capitol, she remained for a long time after that In the House of Representatives hall And in The hallways speak to everyone.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Los Angeles) adjourned the session while Biden remained on the floor for a long period afterward, as PBS correspondent Lisa Desjardins reported:
Speaker Johnson adjourned the session even while the President of the United States was still here. The lights are now going out while the US President remains in the middle lane.
This is very unusual/abnormal. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong.)
– Lisa Desjardins (@LisaDNews) March 8, 2024
Biden stayed up until 2 a.m. this morning to watch coverage of his speech on Fox News, he told a campaign rally in Philadelphia on Friday night.
Biden is taking his show on the road, opening his general election campaign with a rally repeating his greatest SOTU hits — and admitting to staying up until 2 a.m. catching reviews, including from Fox News. (Spoiler alert: Their opinion was not shared.) https://t.co/KrtAhxggbe
– Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) March 9, 2024
Biden had a slightly worse performance on Friday, short-circuiting when a reporter asked him about using the word “unlawful” to describe accused murderer Laken Riley.
“Do you regret using the word ‘illegal’ to describe immigrants last night?”
Biden (short circuit): “Well, maybe, uh, I don't re- uh, uh, technically I'm not supposed to be here…” pic.twitter.com/ubl5SEOAyc
– RNC Research (RNCResearch) March 8, 2024
Biden also stumbled Friday night when he told the crowd at the Philadelphia rally to “send me to Congress”:
Biden: Pennsylvania, I have a message for you: Send me to Congress! 😬 pic.twitter.com/5LHZ4hVTb2
– RNC Research (RNCResearch) March 9, 2024
The former White House physician, Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), commented Thursday during the speech, saying: “Amazing! They over-treated him! Angry, confused, and screaming. I think Hunter might be prescribing his meds now!
amazing! They over-treated him! Angry, confused, and screaming. I think Hunter might be prescribing his meds now!
– Ronny Jackson (@RonnyJacksonTX) March 8, 2024
Elon Musk posted about Biden's performance at the State of the Union address, saying: “In all seriousness, I doubt Adderall. It adds cohesion at the expense of anger.
In all seriousness, I doubt Adderall. It adds cohesion at the expense of anger.
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 8, 2024
Victor Davis Hanson also mentioned Adderall (excerpt):
In fact, Biden gave the angriest State of the Union address in recent memory, a surreal “Stay off the grass” rant from an old man. At times, he started shouting at the sitting opposition and even summoned the Supreme Court judges. Determined not to reveal his cognitive decline, Biden came late to the podium screaming non-stop, scowling in a reptilian manner for more than an hour.
If the Adderall-planned scream was meant to prove he was still alive, most would have preferred it not to be coherent due to drowsiness.
Angry Biden tells one lie after another
The enraged demagogue Biden gave another “Phantom of the Opera” speech in which he lambasted conservatives for all the damage his historic unpopularity had caused.
Fully aware that he was confused and incoherent,…
– Victor Davis Hanson (@VDHanson) March 8, 2024
The Washington Times reported on Friday that a doctor who works with seniors suspected Biden was powered by drugs (excerpts):
Speed and volume of speech could be a sign of use of Adderall or another type of amphetamine, said Dr. Carol Lieberman, a forensic psychiatrist based in Beverly Hills, California.
“If you look at how Joe Biden usually is — slow and stumbling — compared to how he was during the State of the Union address — fiery and angry — those are typical signs of someone taking Adderall or any amphetamine,” she said.
Dr. Lieberman, who has not personally examined the president, said signs of possible drug use extend beyond the way Mr. Biden spoke during the roughly 90-minute speech, but also in his mannerisms.
For example, Mr. Biden usually places his hands on the podium while giving a speech from a teleprompter. She said that during the State of the Union address, he would often gesture and move his hands at a rapid rate.
At various points, Mr. Biden appeared to take offense to some of his words. This is nothing new for the president, who sometimes stumbles over his words when excited, but Dr. Lieberman said the speed with which he stuttered suggested he was “helped by psychopharmacology.”
“It was a word salad about speed,” she said.
A still online Biden returned to the White House just before midnight Thursday to a hero's welcome from White House staff:
the @potos He returned to the White House after SOTU, and was greeted by a large cheering crowd. The pool wasn't close enough to recognize any of the people. pic.twitter.com/Vy6T946uK6
– Akayla Gardner (@gardnerakayla) March 8, 2024
After electricity #Sold, @potos Back to @flutes And a crowded house. It is an honor to be on this team! pic.twitter.com/WrRQzvVtu9
-Rodericka Applewhite (@Rodericka) March 8, 2024