In a recent report, a psychiatrist with extensive experience in working with elderly and dementia patients made a claim about President Joe Biden’s behavior during his State of the Union Address. Dr. Carole Lieberman, a forensic psychiatrist based in Beverly Hills, suggested that Biden may have been under the influence of medication during his speech.
According to the Washington Times, Lieberman stated that Biden displayed signs of stimulant use, which she believes were intended to conceal cognitive decline. The article further mentioned that Biden’s fast-paced delivery and raised voice, despite having a microphone, could be indicative of the use of substances like Adderall or other amphetamines, as per Lieberman’s perspective.
“If you look at how Joe Biden usually is — slow and stumbling — compared to how he was during the State of the Union — fiery and angry — these are signs that are typical for someone taking Adderall or any amphetamine,” she said.
The Times noted further:
“Dr. Lieberman, who has not personally examined the president, said the signs of potential pharmaceutical use go beyond how Mr. Biden spoke during the nearly 90-minute speech, but also in his mannerisms. For example, Mr. Biden typically rests his hands on the podium while delivering a speech from the teleprompter. During the State of the Union, he frequently gestured and moved with his hands at a rapid rate, she said.”
At times, Biden’s speech was slurred, a common occurrence for him, she clarified. However, he spoke at a quicker, more lively speed, indicating that he may have been aided by psychopharmacology.
“It was a word salad on speed,” she said.
The Times reported that Biden’s particularly energetic speech delivery also drew the interest of numerous experienced political analysts.
“No one is going to remember a single thing Biden says tonight. Everyone is going to remember how weirdly amped up he is and how bizarrely fast he’s speaking,” former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer wrote on X.
Famed pollster Frank Luntz noted “the loudest State of the Union speech I can remember.”
“Let’s see whether undecided voters like being yelled out,” he said.
Biden made another error when he mistakenly mentioned Laken Riley, a young nursing student from Georgia whose murder has been linked to an undocumented immigrant.
“Lanken — Lanken Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed,” Biden said, according to the White House’s transcript. though many observers thought he said “Lincoln Riley.”
“He couldn’t correct his mistakes. He mentioned Moscow in a sentence where it made no sense. You could see him try to fix it, but he didn’t know how to correct himself. He couldn’t say the correct word,” Lieberman explained to the Times. “Anyone could trip over Laken Riley’s name, but he didn’t know how to correct it. If he knew enough about her to talk about her, he would know enough to call her by the right name.”
She further observed that the outbursts of anger and yelling observed on Thursday evening could possibly signal dementia, as certain individuals may exhibit irritability prior to major occurrences and respond in a hostile manner.
“The emotional volatility is a sign of dementia and was amped up because of the Adderall or amphetamine they gave him,” she said. “He wasn’t just talking loudly. He was shouting in a room where everyone could hear him, and he had a microphone.”
