Biden’s resignation|President Sauli Niinistö was in close contact with US President Joe Biden from the end of 2021 to the spring of 2022. In the summer of 2023, Biden visited Finland.
President Sauli Niinistö tells Helsingin Sanomat that he has two thoughts about the sitting president of the United States Joe Biden giving up the presidential race.
“He has had a great career, which now ended in somewhat dramatic circumstances. That in itself is boring”, says Niinistö.
“The other side is related to the fact that he really had a great career and showed a lot of understanding towards Europe, Finland and Finns.”
The presidents met several times between the autumn 2021 and last summer 2023 meeting. They were also in contact a lot by phone.
Niinistö says that he was in close telephone contact with Biden, especially during the “critical phase” from the end of 2021 to the spring of 2022.
“At least in the early stages, the most important thing in our calls was Russia’s actions and its reflection. And purely this security of Finland, which he understood very well”, says Niinistö.
In public President Biden’s challenges, such as remembering things, have come to the fore. His fighting as part of his performances has also raised concerns about his health in the public debate.
Niinistö noticed a change in Biden’s health during 2023. However, the answer to whether he ever noticed any special challenges with Biden in carrying out his duties is simple: “I didn’t”.
“I noticed a change during 2023, especially compared to the 2021-2022 meetings. Nothing really stood out, but there were some mild signs of fatigue in 2023.”
“From what I’ve seen since then, for example on videos, the disease clearly progressed at an accelerated pace. The change to the 2022 meetings has been huge and sad,” Niinistö continues.
According to him, it seems that Biden has some “hidden illness”.
Biden has had regular health check-ups, and based on them, he is in good shape for his age. Harley Street they don’t however, have not tested his cognitive abilities.
Niinistö emphasizes that in the joint meetings between the presidents, Biden showed sympathy and understanding towards Finland and the Nordic countries. According to Niinistö, Biden also often quoted the former US president in meetings Barack Obama’s the idea that if the Nordic countries took care of things, there would be no worries in the world.
“His actions were valuable for us.”
Biden’s career was long, and it is not limited to the presidency, Niinistö reminds. At the same time, he commented on Biden’s way of doing politics.
“Biden kept Obama’s tradition alive, and certainly had a hand in creating Obama’s tradition,” Niinistö reflects, referring, among other things, to the fact that during his career, Biden also served as Obama’s vice president, for example.
“I’d say he’s reasonably careful. Clearly a man of peace.”
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