61% See Biden’s Mental Decline as ‘Threat’ to National Security

President Joe Biden has quit his campaign for reelection, but most voters believe the decline in his mental ability poses a danger for America.

A new telephone and online survey by Rasmussen Reports and the Heartland Institute – taken before Sunday’s announcement in which Biden ended his campaign – finds that 61% of voters agree with the statement, “Joe Biden’s recent mental decline poses a threat to the safety and security of the United States,” including 46% who Strongly Agree. Thirty-six percent disagree, including 22% who Strongly Disagree. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Since Biden announced he was ending his bid for another four years in the White House, leading Republicans have demanded that Biden should resign as president. Among likely voters, 81% of Republicans, 39% of Democrats and 62% of those not affiliated with either major party at least somewhat agree that “Biden’s recent mental decline poses a threat” to American security.

“Clearly, most Americans believe that President Biden’s mental decline, which was on full display in late June during the debate, has become so acute that it poses a serious national security threat to the United States,” said Chris Talgo, editorial director of The Heartland Institute. “I find it almost inconceivable that more than six in 10 Americans think the current commander-in-chief and leader of the free world is unable to perform his most fundamental duty: keeping Americans safe from threats at home and abroad.

In addition to the national result, a survey of six “battleground” states – Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin – found that nearly two-thirds (65%) of Likely Voters in those states agree that Biden’s mental decline is a threat to American security, including 50% who Strongly Agree.

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The survey of 2,466 U.S. Likely Voters, and 5,605 Likely Voters in six battleground states – Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin – was conducted on July 5-12, 2024 by Rasmussen Reports and the Heartland Institute. The margin of sampling error is +/- 2 percentage points for the national results, and +/-1 percentage points for battleground states, with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Almost half (49%) of national Likely Voters agree with the statement, “Joe Biden is one of the worst presidents in American history,” including 38% who Strongly Agree, while 47% disagree, including 36% who Strongly Disagree. Among battleground-state voters, 52% agree that Biden is one of America’s worst presidents.

Among other findings of the Rasmussen Reports/Heartland Institute survey:

– Forty percent (40%) of Likely Voters, including 47% in battleground states, believe Biden’s policies are “a lot” to blame for increases in prices for gasoline, groceries, cars, and homes since he became president. Another 16% of national voters said Biden’s policies deserve “some” of the blame for price increases, while 20% said Biden’s policies are “not much” to blame and 17% said the president’s policies deserve “none” of the blame for inflation.

– Asked about Biden’s claim that the U.S. economy is “strong” and that his policies are responsible for historic job growth and better living conditions for most families, 51% believe Biden has been honest with the American people about the state of the economy, including 33% who think Biden has been Very Honest. Forty-eight percent (48%) say Biden has been dishonest about the economy, including 37% who believe he has been Very Dishonest. Seventy-nine percent (79%) of Democrats believe Biden has been honest about the state of the economy, but only 27% of Republicans and 39% of unaffiliated voters share that belief.

– While 46% agree with the statement that “Biden’s policies are responsible for creating 15 million jobs since he took office, and Biden deserves most of the credit for the added jobs,” including 27% who Strongly Agree, nearly half (49%) disagree, including 36% who Strongly Disagree. Eighty-seven percent (87%) of Democrats agree that Biden’s policies deserve credit for creating jobs, but majorities of both Republicans (77%) and unaffiliated voters (57%) disagree.

– Nearly half of voters want to reduce U.S. aid to Ukraine. Asked about Biden’s recent signing of a 10-year security agreement with Ukraine, and the $175 billion Congress has appropriated for Ukraine since the Russian invasion, 49% said they would support legislation to reduce aid and military support for Ukraine, including 25% who would Strongly Support such legislation. Forty percent (40%) would oppose reducing aid to Ukraine, including 25% who Strongly Oppose a reduction in Ukraine aid. Another 10% are not sure.

– Majorities of both men (64%) and women voters (57%)  at least somewhat agree that “Biden’s recent mental decline poses a threat” to American security, as do 61% of whites, 47% of black voters, 63% of Hispanics and 68% of other minorities.

“As the debate in Washington continues over whether Joe Biden should remain in the presidency now that he has dropped out of the race, the American people have spoken loudly,” said Jim Lakely, vice president of the Heartland Institute. “If Biden is not mentally and physically up to the task of running for re-election, he is definitionally not fit to carry out the duties of the office. … The Democrats’ attempt to keep their hold on the White House would still appear to be in peril because Kamala Harris will have to run on the Biden-Harris record."

Nearly half of American voters would support laws to protect U.S. business from a European Union (EU) policy that imposes strict environmental, climate, and social justice rules on companies. 

Despite concerns about climate change, increased domestic oil and gas production is favored by a majority of voters in key “battleground” states in this year’s presidential election. 

Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to the public as well as to Platinum Members.

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