(Ben Sellers, Headline USA) A bleary-eyed President Joe Biden emerged from his daytime nap on Wednesday only to make double headlines, both for his muddled words and his alarming appearance.
When asked whether Russian President Vladimir Putin had been weakened by recent events—namely a staged coup by one of his longtime confidants that helped shore up Russian military support, root out potential defectors and stealthily recenter his base of military power in Belarus—Biden appeared not to recall what country his geopolitical nemesis was the leader of.
“It’s hard to tell, but he’s clearly losing the war in Iraq, he’s losing the war at home and he’s become a bit of a pariah around the world,” Biden said.
The 80-year-old president—believed to have undergone Botox injections, a facelift and other cosmetic rejuvenation treatments in the past—also appeared extra wrinkly during the impromptu presser.
According to CNN, the extra lines in his face were indentations from the straps of a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine, which he recently began using to treat sleep apnea.
What the heck did Biden have strapped on his face that made these marks this morning? Does he use a nebulizer? pic.twitter.com/1kDMQSWxfg
— Kate Hyde (@KateHydeNY) June 28, 2023
Despite having just enjoyed a relaxing weekend at the presidential retreat, Camp David, with his son Hunter and a team of lawyers, Biden seems to have been struggling to maintain his normal sleeping routine, said White House spokesman Andrew Bates.
“Since 2008, the president has disclosed his history with sleep apnea in thorough medical reports,” Bates said. “He used a CPAP machine last night, which is common for people with that history.”
In fact, CNN noted that Biden began using the device several weeks ago, according to an unnamed official.
His condition notwithstanding, CNN insisted that “Biden’s physicals have all indicated he is fit to serve as president.”
Still, some social-media users questioned why the indentations remained on his face much later in the day than would have been expected for normal CPAP use.
CPAP changed my life. I can't stand this DoOoOsh bag Biden but he probably put it on for a nappy time. My CPAP lines can stay in place for a few hours unless I rub them out in the shower in the morning. If I use it for an afternoon nap I don't get lines that deep.
— Jimmi Pratt (@RedRising2020) June 29, 2023
As for biden's use of a CPAP, my folks have been using them for years, so to me this is a non-issue. That being said, it is something to poke fun at. you folks just take that humor as being serious. I think it is more of an issue that he had these marks in the afternoon
— Wretched (@despica90777390) June 29, 2023
At least one Twitter user couldn’t help but note the comparison with another well-known ruler who relied on a mask for assisted ventilation.
biden had the opportunity to give speeches looking like darth vader but we will never see that SMH🥱 https://t.co/KqILoq1uN1
— yusufied (@yusufied) June 28, 2023
According to the American Medical Association, some 30 million Americans may suffer from some form of sleep apnea, which may develop over time due to the partial or complete collapse of airways while sleeping, often as a result of age or weight gain.
However, only around 6 million people have been diagnosed with the condition, said the AMA.
It is unclear whether Biden’s public struggles with sleep apnea may help raise additional awareness about it and encourage more people to consult with their physicians about their own sleep struggles—or if the fear of contracting “Biden face” as a side effect might make the treatement worse than the disease.
Ben Sellers is the editor of Headline USA. Follow him at twitter.com/realbensellers.
