California Gov. Gavin Newsom claimed Sunday that he “never had” any doubt about former President Joe Biden’s mental capacity to run the country — except after that one little infamous California fundraiser.
At the June 2024 fundraiser in Los Angeles, the then-prez didn’t recognize megawatt celeb, co-host and longtime pal George Clooney — leaving the actor “shaken to the core,’’ a book co-authored by CNN’s Jake Tapper has said.
Newsom, asked on NBC’s “Meet the Press” whether he ever had concerns about Biden’s decline in the Oval Office, insisted, I never had that.
“The one exception, as it relates to the interaction I had with him, that gave me pause, one, was the fundraiser in Southern California,” the gov then added. “And all of us were a little taken aback. But we also were mindful that [Biden] had been in Europe twice in about a week.”
Fewer than two weeks after the fundraiser, Biden engaged in a televised debate with Donald Trump — a disastrous showing that paved the way for the Dem to drop out of the race less than a month later.
Newsom on Sunday at times appeared to ignore what nearly the entire nation — including many of Biden’s closest allies — saw at the time.
The term-limited California governor instead stubbornly ticked off Biden’s top achievements, such as the CHIPS and Science Act and the COVID-19 pandemic recovery, as examples of the former president’s abilities in office.
“I just talked to the president a few hours ago. I’ve been privileged to have a relationship with the president,” Newsom said.
Still, Newsom — who recently declared that Biden “was one of the most successful presidents in the last century” and insisted, “I will defend that to my grave” — admitted that “with grace and humility,” he privately raised the alarms about the 46th president’s debate debacle.
Asked why he didn’t go public with those concerns, Newsom replied, “For me, it wasn’t my job to go out there.
“My job was to let [Biden], give him the space,” he said. “I just have a different approach.”
Newsom also dodged a question about whether he believed Biden was fit for another four years in the White House before he dropped out.
“I think my focus was, frankly, situational,” he said, sidestepping the question. “It was making sure Donald Trump didn’t get back into office, to experience everything that we’re experiencing today. And there was no interaction I had that suggested otherwise.”
During his wide-ranging interview, the Golden State Democrat also addressed his recent admission that he’s considering a run for president in 2028.
Asked why he wants to be president, Newsom shot back, “I’m not suggesting I am” running.
“[There’s] nothing I dislike more than a politician that sits there and lies to you. And we all just sit there rolling our eyes, going ‘Give me a break.’
“We’ll see what happens.”
Ironically, Newsom had once drawn speculation that he could mount a 2024 primary challenge against Biden but repeatedly rejected that at the time and worked to put on a united front with the 46th president.
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