Biden says 'I kinda wish sometimes I was cognitively impaired' in response to Democrat Jerry Nadler saying no one will have concerns about his fitness for office after State of Union speech

President Joe Biden joked 'I kinda wish sometimes I was cognitively impaired' after Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler suggested nobody would question the 81-year-old's fitness after Thursday's State of the Union speech.

Biden delivered an hour and seven minute address to a joint session of Congress that contained some gaffes - like accidentally telling Americans he'd fly them to Moscow for cheap prescription drugs.

But Biden also impressed Democrats by boldly going after Republicans - swatting at them over Ukraine funding and derailing the border bill - and taking on former President Donald Trump, though referring to him as 'my predecessor,' throughout the speech.

'Nobody is going to talk about cognitive impairment now,' Nadler told the president, as Biden worked the House chamber after the speech.

At the compliment, Biden smiled and cracked his joke. 

President Joe Biden joked 'I kinda wish sometimes I was cognitively impaired' after Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler suggested nobody would question the 81-year-old's fitness after Thursday's State of the Union speech

President Joe Biden worked the room after he delivered his State of the Union address Thursday. Democrats were delighted that Bident went after Republicans so forcefully, knocking them for stalling Ukraine funding and derailing a bipartisan border bill

Nadler, a New York Democrat who's the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, didn't appear to be paying attention to Biden the whole time. 

An image of Nadler scrolling on his phone during the speech quickly went viral

'For those who are asking: I was endlessly scrolling through all of President Biden's accomplishments,' Nadler posted to X, as a reply.

Last week, Biden received his annual physical, with the chief White House doctor saying the president showed 'no new concerns' called him 'active and robust' and said he was 'fit to serve.'

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that Biden's team of doctors did not believe the 81-year-old needed a cognitive test prompting former President Donald Trump to demand that Biden take one. 

Biden's age and fitness for office, as the country's oldest president, will be one of the main themes as the 2024 general election approaches. 

During the speech, Biden addressed the issue head-one.

He suggested that while he may be old, Trump's ideas are 'ancient.' 

'My fellow Americans, the issue facing our nation isn't how old we are, it's how old are our ideas,' the president said. 'Hate, anger, revenge, retribution are the oldest of ideas, but you can't lead America with ancient ideas and only take us back.'

He told the crowd that 'when you get to be my age, certain things become clearer than ever.' 

Biden also joked, 'I know I may not look like it, but I've been around awhile.'  

'I know the American story,' the 81-year-old said. 'Again and again I've seen the contest between competing forces in the battle for the soul of our nation.' 

'Between those who want to pull America back to the past and those that want to move America to the future,' Biden continued. 

'My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy, a future based on core values that have defined America - honesty, decency, dignity, equality. To respect everyone. To give everyone a fair shot. To give hate no safe harbor,' the president added. 

He then turned to Trump, though never said his likely 2024 rival's name.

'Other people my age see it differently,' Biden said of the 77-year-old GOP candidate. 'The American story of resentment, revenge and retribution.' 

'That's not me,' he said.