Biden’s exercise routine a mystery amid age concerns

When President Biden moved into the White House in early 2021, debate ensued over whether he could take his Peloton bike with him due to the security risks it could pose.

Biden had grown attached to cycling, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the New York Times reported that he and Jill Biden would “engage in regular morning negotiations” over who would climb into the saddle first.

Cycling became part of Biden’s morning routine, along with weights and a treadmill workout, the newspaper reported at the time, nearly four years ago.

A February note about his annual physical indicated that Biden exercised at least five days a week and was “fit for duty.” But little is known about the president’s workout routine and how he stays active.

Last summer, there were a handful of photo ops of Biden riding the bike paths of Rehoboth Beach, Del., where he owns a beach house. Biden has also participated in a handful of golf outings. And last summer, while the first family was visiting Lake Tahoe, a White House report said the Bidens were taking part in a Pilates class followed by a spinning class.

Biden’s age — 81 — has been a focus of his second White House bid, with conversation about it reaching a fever pitch and even some Democrats expressing some concern over the issue. He has what his doctor calls a “stiff” gait as well as “significant spinal arthritis.” And cameras sometimes caught him stumbling, sparking speculation among Republicans that he was unprepared for the rigors of four more years in office.

President Biden and first lady Jill Biden ride bikes at Gordons Pond in Rehoboth Beach, Del., July 31, 2023. (Manuel Balce Ceneta, Associated Press file)

The lack of transparency about his physical condition has raised concerns. And Democrats fear the White House isn’t doing enough to counter that rhetoric.

“Fundamentally, the narrative of this race focuses on how crazy Trump is compared to how old Biden is,” said Democratic strategist Brad Bannon. “His health and age are of serious concern to voters, and they should do everything in their power to allay those concerns.” »

“That’s one of the things that bothers me,” Bannon continued. “You sometimes see pictures of him riding his bike and he looks great, especially in contrast to Trump sitting in his golf cart with his belly exposed. But despite this, voters have concerns about Biden, and the White House should oppose him with all its might.”

Another Democratic strategist agrees: “If you have a president who is portrayed as old and frail, why don’t you fight back and make him active?”

“It’s a story that will haunt him every day of his campaign. Don’t just show a pumped-up Biden during the State of the Union. Show how active he is every day of the week,” added the strategist.

The White House did not provide The Hill with details about Biden’s workout routine.

Certainly, Biden will oppose former President Trump, 77, who doesn’t go to the gym and is known for liking fast food and other high-calorie foods. As he spends his free time on the golf course, even Republicans acknowledge that their candidate is not the type to pump iron or hit a treadmill.

In recent months, after Republicans increased their age-related attacks, Biden’s campaign and its allies have sought to go on the offensive, showing that the president recently completed an eight-state swing tour in 18 days.

“I will tell you this: There is a difference between the two candidates in this election,” Biden wrote on social media late last month, putting aside his swing state while comparing him to Trump on the ground golf.

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But even though the two rivals are close in age, Biden is the one who has stood out, along with his suitability for the job and his mental acuity.

Some of this chatter began during the pandemic, when Trump’s campaign and its allies accused Biden’s advisers of keeping him out of the public eye, saying it was so as not to draw attention to his fitness physical and mental, something his campaign has regularly denied.

This time, as Biden seeks another term, he is under a bigger microscope, with Trump’s allies eager to highlight any failures.

Some experts say he could benefit from being more open about what he does regularly to stay in shape, especially when there’s a long history of interest among voters who want to make sure they support a physically able candidate.

“In some ways, it would be helpful if Biden revealed more about his workout routine, because voters are clearly interested in his health and we know that exercise is correlated with greater physical vigor and general well-being,” said Natalia Mehlman Petrzela. , author of “Fit Nation: The Gains and Pains of America’s Exercise Obsession.”

“It’s curious that he didn’t share more about his exercise regimen, because for decades, sharing presidents’ personal fitness routines has been a compelling way to convey their strength, discipline and self-reliance “Petrzela said. “Presidents train too.”

Indeed, other presidents have been outspoken about their efforts. Former President Obama – who was filmed working out in a hotel gym in 2014 doing lunges, step-ups and using an elliptical machine – not only gave details about his morning workout routine, but also what he had on TV when he exercised: ESPN’s “SportsCenter.”

In a 2002 interview with Runner’s World, former President George W. Bush also explained how running “breaks up my day and allows me to recharge my batteries.”

“Running also allows me to set goals and push myself towards those goals. Essentially, it keeps me young,” Bush said. “A good run adds a little bounce to my step. I get some self-esteem from it. Plus, I look and feel better. Bush told the magazine back when his “times got faster just after the war started”, referring to the war in Afghanistan.

The exaggerated version of current politics, compared to the Obama and Bush eras, allows for scrutiny of the smallest things. However, with this added pressure, Biden also has the opportunity to be more transparent, unlike his predecessors. He can cut clips of his routine on widely watched social media platforms such as TikTok, where his campaign has recently established a presence, and show off his moves.

“The campaign should do everything they can to show him lifting weights on a treadmill,” Bannon said. “I don’t understand why they don’t emphasize this a lot more with photos and videos.”

Despite his poor food choices and apparent lack of a consistent exercise plan, Trump still manages to appear energetic for hours on end, holding rallies and speaking out of the blue. Democrats could use the obvious differences to show Biden’s strengths over Trump on the campaign trail, some experts said.

“I guess the best they can and should do is talk about how much time he spends on a stationary bike, or whatever he does, and then maybe note the age, height and diet notoriously bad food from his opponent,” Michael said. Messner, a sociology professor at the University of Southern California who studies gender and sports in politics. “And then maybe move on to the problems?”

Still, experts say there are some risks in trying to appear openly fit as an older politician on the world stage. Biden could make a misstep that could be used to fuel more negativity toward the opposition that has shown a willingness to engage in personal attacks.

“It occurs to me that while the Biden team is doing its best to put forward the image of a dynamic and active President Biden, they must be careful not to produce an image like (Michael) Dukakis people would make fun of,” Messner said, referring to the former Massachusetts governor, who was mocked for a photo of himself next to a tank.

Petrzela, who has studied fitness in a social justice context, agrees. “It’s possible that Biden is concerned that revealing details about his workout regimen will only provide more fodder for scrutiny and criticism of his physical condition. I think this is a reasonable fear, given the cruelty of the Internet, and particularly on this issue. »

Beyond Trump, Biden can also be compared to his third-party rival, independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is the most publicly active of the three main contenders and has centered part of his campaign on calling him out. let the public know.

Last month, he demonstrated the importance of fitness by extending that reference to the rest of his ticket, saying he specifically wanted an “athlete” when exploring options for his running mate before choosing Nicole Shanahan, who plays volleyball.

Earlier this year, Kennedy, 70, challenged Biden and Trump to a fitness competition, aiming to distinguish himself as more physically capable than either man. He posted a workout video on social media, writing, “Getting in shape for my debates with President Biden! »

A website created by his super PAC, American Values, even created a contest for a $25,000 giveaway for a now-closed home gym. On the home page is a photo of Kennedy saying, “No matter where you’re from, everyone can get up and move!” It doesn’t need to be complicated; it just has to be consistent.

“When RFK Jr. posted this video of him doing push-ups at Gold’s Gym, which I found objectively impressive for a 70-year-old, many tore him apart for his form,” Petrzela said. “I can’t even imagine that if Biden revealed the details of balance and flexibility work, which are absolutely important parts of a workout program, especially as we get older, the naysayers would present it as a sign of his weakness rather than as a commitment to intelligent training.”