In a surprising statement made during a keynote speech at the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) convention in San Diego last week, former President Joe Biden claimed that world leaders are still seeking his counsel — despite his controversial political decline and persistent concerns surrounding his mental fitness.
Biden, who appeared subdued and at times incoherent in the video shared by Democratic strategist Chris Jackson on X (formerly Twitter), told SHRM President Johnny Taylor that he continues to receive calls from European leaders asking him to remain involved in global affairs.
“I’m getting calls,” Biden said. “I’m not going to go into it — I can’t — from a number of European leaders asking me to get engaged. I’m not. But I’m giving advice. Because things are different.”
He went on to passionately declare:
“You know, I often ask the question rhetorically — if America doesn’t lead the world, who can? No, no, no, not a joke. Not because of power. Who can put it together?”
Despite no longer holding office, Biden also claimed that both Democrats and Republicans are still coming to him privately for guidance.
“You don’t see me out there publicly doing a lot of this,” he said. “But I’m dealing with a lot of Democrats and Republican colleagues — all of them — wanting to talk. Not because they think I have the answer, just to bounce things off me.”
He added, somewhat abruptly, “I’m also laying rubber with my ’67 Corvette on my driveway.”
Critics Slam Claims as Detached from Reality
While Biden presented himself as a behind-the-scenes statesman still shaping political discourse, critics — particularly from the right — say these statements reflect a troubling level of detachment from reality.
“The idea that world leaders are turning to Biden for wisdom — when his own party forced him into political exile — is absurd,” one conservative analyst told The Western Journal. “This is not mentorship. This is wishful thinking.”
Biden’s presidency was marred by a range of controversies and crises. Under his leadership, the U.S. faced record inflation, a border security collapse, soaring gas prices, and a foreign policy seen by many as indecisive and reactive. Ultimately, it was members of his own party who moved to sideline him amid internal chaos and plummeting approval ratings.
Legacy Tainted by Scandals and Failures
Critics also point to multiple scandals that dogged Biden’s administration — most notably those involving his son, Hunter Biden, who faced criminal investigations related to drug use, firearms violations, and shady foreign business dealings. The elder Biden drew scrutiny for issuing preemptive pardons covering his son and others, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, during a period under federal investigation.
Legal experts have raised concerns that some of these pardons may be invalid or fraudulent, due in part to the questionable use of autopen signatures.
Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was impeached by the House of Representatives, accused of overseeing one of the worst collapses of border enforcement in U.S. history — the first time in nearly 150 years a cabinet secretary faced such a fate.
A damning June report from ICE further revealed that during Biden’s term, migrant children were handed over to unvetted and sometimes criminal sponsors, some of whom committed horrific acts of abuse.
Public Behavior Raises More Doubts
In addition to policy and legal controversies, Biden’s public appearances have repeatedly raised red flags. His speeches have often been marked by slurred words, wandering sentences, and moments of confusion. He has frequently appeared medicated, disoriented, or disengaged, fueling concerns about his mental clarity and physical stamina.
Despite these issues, Biden insists he remains a sought-after voice behind the scenes — a notion many observers find implausible.
“Foreign leaders aren’t seeking Biden’s guidance. They’re watching the chaos he left behind,” one political commentator remarked. “To suggest otherwise is simply another chapter in the ‘Sleepy Joe’ fantasy.”
As Biden continues to claim relevance on the world stage, critics argue that the reality tells a different story — one of decline, scandal, and self-delusion, not enduring statesmanship.