Part 2/8:
Biden’s first public comments since his diagnosis indicated a surprisingly upbeat attitude. Speaking directly to critics who have questioned his mental and physical faculties, he wielded humor as a weapon. “You can see that I'm mentally incompetent and I can't walk,” he quipped, “and I can beat the hell out of both of them,” referencing media figures while displaying a defiant spirit. This kind of banter seems to be Biden’s way of rebutting skepticism about his capacity to lead.