Buttigieg spars with lawmaker suggesting invocation of twenty fifth Modification for Biden

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg sparred with a GOP lawmaker throughout a Home listening to after the Republican requested whether or not the Cupboard has thought-about eradicating President Joe Biden through the twenty fifth Modification as a consequence of questions on his cognitive well being.

The Home Transportation Committee met for hours on Tuesday to debate infrastructure, electrical automobiles, and rising power prices amid the conflict in Ukraine. Nevertheless, the listening to took a flip after Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) started to press Buttigieg with solutions that Biden is just not mentally match for workplace.

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“We now see the mainstream media questioning President Biden’s psychological state, and for good cause. Sadly, he shakes arms with ghosts and imaginary folks, and he falls off bicycles,” Nehls mentioned, referring to an incident final month when the president fell off his bike whereas greeting a crowd in Delaware.

Nehls additionally introduced the committee with pictures of Biden and captions mocking a speech the president gave final month through which he stuttered by components of his supply. Others standing across the Texas Republican introduced pictures of Biden standing with the White Home Easter Bunny.

“Have you ever spoken to Cupboard members about implementing the twenty fifth Modification on President Biden?” Nehls requested.

“Initially, I’m glad to have a president who can trip a bicycle, and I'll look past the insulting nature of that query and clarify to you that the president of the US — ” he mentioned earlier than being interrupted. “In fact not,” he muttered below his breath as Nehls repeated the query.

“ — is as vigorous a colleague or boss as I've ever had the pleasure of working with,” Buttigieg then added.

Biden, 79, has been subjected to questions on his cognitive capacity as a consequence of widespread slip-ups, stutters, and verbal gaffes. Whereas some argue the errors point out cognitive decline, the Democrat has typically made verbal blunders all through his profession as a senator and grew up with a stutter when he was a toddler.

The twenty fifth Modification would permit the president to be faraway from workplace if the vice chairman and a majority of Cupboard members or a gaggle established by Congress declare her or him unfit.

Republicans have thought-about invoking this energy, with Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) calling for its use in August 2021 after the fallout from the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan left 13 U.S. navy members lifeless and lots of of bystanders wounded. Democrats additionally referred to as for President Donald Trump to be eliminated through the twenty fifth Modification after the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol, with some Republicans additionally reportedly contemplating doing the identical behind closed doorways.