Former Defense Secretary: Biden looks weak on world stage ‘very, very serious’

Trump’s former defense secretary Mark Esper on Sunday expressed concern about how President Biden’s debate performance was perceived on the world stage, suggesting it could raise doubts among foreign allies and adversaries about his ability to serve.

“I mean, it’s very, very serious. I mean, if you’re a foreigner, an ally or a partner, you look at this and start to question… Does he have the stamina to last another four years? ” Esper said on CNN. “And look, you can’t help but respond and say no.”

Biden is facing increasing scrutiny following his poor debate performance against former President Trump last week. The performance sparked panic among some Democrats about his ability to be re-elected and lead the country for another four years.

Esper, who served in the Trump administration for nearly two years, said he will vote for his former boss in November. But he suggested Biden will get progressively worse over time.

“We know what he’s struggling with…unfortunately we see it in our parents or grandparents and every day, every week, it’s going to get a little bit worse,” he said.

“And the point is: at a time when the world needs US leadership, in an era of great power competition, where the autocracies of Russia, Iran and North Korea are aligned against Western democracy, American leadership is important… The commander in chief of the United States is also important,” he continued.

Esper argued that it is also important to ask whether US adversaries, such as Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, see “weakness” in Biden.

Some members of the Republican Party, including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), have suggested that Biden’s Cabinet should consider removing him under the 25th Amendment, citing U.S. adversaries who he said “seek the weakness in this White House.”

The 25th Amendment to the Constitution, which governs presidential succession, says the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet can vote to declare a president “unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office” and assign the vice president the duties of acting president.

Despite calls from a growing number of Democratic voters and pundits — and some anonymous lawmakers — to withdraw from the presidential race, Biden and the White House insist the president will not step aside.

Biden has already won the primaries and therefore cannot be ousted at the Democratic National Convention in August unless he agrees to withdraw.

This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story