John Howard says US President Joe Biden should have been ‘tapped on the shoulder a few years ago’

The Liberal Party elder described the US President as a “decent man” but has shared his concerns over the ageing leader’s “cognitive capacity”.

Former prime minister John Howard says US President Joe Biden should have been “tapped on the shoulder a few years ago”, observing the “growing worry” about the leader’s capacity will make it difficult for him to hold onto another four years in power.

While he labelled Mr Biden as a “decent man” who’s had a “great deal of personal tragedy in his life”, Mr Howard questioned the 81-year-old’s ability to complete a second term as president.

“It’s not for me to be so presumptuous to tell my American friends what they should be doing but it doesn’t stop me observing that there’s growing worry about his capacity,” Mr Howard said in an interview with Sky News.

“I think it will work its way towards a situation where it will be very hard for him to carry on.”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Joe Biden, who is facing growing calls to step down. Picture: NewsWire/ POOL/ Kevin Lamarque/ AFP

The Liberal luminary was also critical of former US president Donald Trump, who he said would not have “gotten to the top” of the Republican Party under Australia’s political system.

He said Mr Trump’s ascension was proof that Australia’s processes were “indefinitely better” than what is done in America.

“I have no doubt that if the Americans had a parliamentary system Trump would not have gotten to the top of the Republican Party, no chance,” Mr Howard said.

“I think, if Biden had been the president having got there in a parliamentary pathway, he’d have been tapped on the shoulder a couple of years ago and told that if he didn’t resign, he’d be voted out.”

Former prime minister and Liberal Party elder John Howard questioned how Mr Biden would secure a second term as US president. Picture: NewsWire/ Monique Harmer

Mr Biden is facing pressure from all sides of politics to stand down before November’s US election following his disastrous debate performance against Mr Trump.

However, Mr Biden has indicated he will continue.

“I’m not letting one 90-minute debate wipe out 3½ years of work,” he said on X in a post shared on Saturday.

“I’m staying in the race, and I will beat Donald Trump.”

Mr Howard also shared his support for Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, saying his nuclear policy showed “great boldness”.

“I applaud him and I’ll do everything I can to help him,” he said.

His comments were significantly different to Mr Howard’s successor Malcolm Turnbull, who called the current leader “a thug” during an interview on The Project on Sunday.

“Peter’s got one tune that he plays and it’s been all his political life and that is division and animosity, generally targeted at immigrants,” Mr Turnbull said.

“I couldn’t think of anyone less suited to be prime minister of a multicultural society like Australia.

“There’s no point pulling my punches, it’s an important question and I’ve given you an honest answer.”

Originally published as John Howard says US President Joe Biden should have been ‘tapped on the shoulder a few years ago’