Biden knows ‘exactly what he is doing’ and will likely win election, says German chancellor

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz indicated strong support and confidence in U.S. President Joe Biden’s leadership amid mounting concerns about Biden’s mental acuity and the specter of former President Donald Trump’s return to office.

In an interview with Axel Springer media outlets on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy on Saturday, Scholz made assurances that Biden “knows exactly what he is doing,” and can provide critical leadership as the group of global leaders faces a complex web of issues, including multiple conflagrations and hotly-contested elections that threaten to upend the international status quo. POLITICO is owned by Axel Springer.

“I think that Joe Biden is someone who is very clear, who knows exactly what he is doing and who is one of the most experienced politicians in the world, especially when it comes to international politics,” Scholz said, praising the president’s presence at the G7 conference. “In a difficult situation like this, where a war is taking place right here in Europe, after Russia invaded Ukraine, where many, many other conflicts are raging around the world, this is an asset, a good thing, and therefore I can only say that this is a man who knows exactly what he is doing.”

Scholz’s comments come at a time when the U.S. and its international allies are on heightened alert as global conflicts — including Russia’s war in Ukraine and Israel’s war in Gaza — continue to escalate, and complex problems like climate change become more urgent.

In the same interview, Scholz addressed concerns that Germany is blocking the EU’s latest round of sanctions against Russia, assuring that the package “is not blocked,” but rather under discussion.

Adding to the uncertainty of the moment, recent EU elections point to a swing to the far-right, leading to concerns about continued international support for Ukraine.

The looming U.S. presidential election also casts a shadow over the G7 meeting , as Biden faces an American electorate anxious about inflation and immigration and frustrated with his waffling foreign policy in Gaza and Ukraine.

Should Trump prevail over Biden in November, the former president has promised to all but toss the U.S.’ international commitments out the window, including threatening to withdraw from NATO if partners “don’t pay up.”

Trump’s NATO comments have drawn much discussion from leaders about the U.S.’ possible abdication of international responsibility, but Scholz appeared to brush off those concerns.

“I think it is very likely that the current president could win the election,” Scholz said, adding that he thinks the rampant speculation over the outcome of the U.S. election is “a bit strange.”

Underscoring his faith in Biden’s leadership, Scholz pointed to strides in both domestic and foreign policy during his presidency, which he believes strengthen Biden’s electoral odds.

“He has pursued a policy that has led to proper economic development in the country, that has helped to ensure that peace and security are in good hands and that the U.S. is actually playing its role in the world,” Scholz said. “And third, of course, because he is committed to togetherness and cohesion in his country.”