As promised, Joe Biden did deliver remarks this afternoon after finally returning to the White House last night. Did he discuss the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan? Did he indicate what the next step of the supposedly existent plan is to get Americans out? Did he offer reassurances for our allies who are publicly questioning his ability to lead?

Nope, instead, a zombie-esque Biden ranted about COVID mask mandates, took more shots at Ron DeSantis, and then left without taking questions. In one of the most surreal “pressers” I’ve ever seen, the president literally ignored the disaster at hand to say the same old stuff about a topic that’s been talked to death and then didn’t answer a single inquiry.

It’s insane, but it’s what we’ve got right now at the helm.

Humiliation, panic, chaos in Afghanistan and the President of the United States is a complete zombie. Biden is unable or unwilling – both – to make any statement on Americans trying to get out of Afghanistan and unable, unwilling to take questions. #ZombieBiden pic.twitter.com/Tq6sUcPEl1

— Heather Champion (@winningatmylife) August 18, 2021

Our foreign policy is on fire and Biden is spending his time threatening to take action against governors for not enforcing pointless, evidence-free mask mandates in schools. You know, because there’s nothing else going on in the world right now. It’s not like there are thousands of Americans stranded behind enemy lines or anything.

BREAKING: Biden threatens legal action against Governors who ban mask mandates in schools

"I'm gonna say a lot more about children in schools next week." pic.twitter.com/QkQga6IaYH

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) August 18, 2021

All the usual critiques apply here. He doesn’t look well. He speaks as if he’s medicated and out of it, likely because he is. Nothing about this performance will give anyone confidence about Biden’s physical and mental health. The fact that he’s reportedly going to return to Delaware as soon as tonight or tomorrow is also another big red flag. What is up with his inability to stay at the White House, especially during the biggest crisis of his presidency?

Biden’s performance was bad enough to leave even normally friendly press members dumbfounded. I think they really thought he’d take questions.

I said HOW REFRESHING. pic.twitter.com/ZXfdw2PzKE

— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) August 18, 2021

President Biden seems to be getting better at leaving the room without taking reporters' questions at precisely the moment he has many many questions to answer.

— David Chalian (@DavidChalian) August 18, 2021

Biden walked out of the East Room just now. He never mentioned Afghanistan. He didn't take a single question.

— Philip Melanchthon Wegmann (@PhilipWegmann) August 18, 2021

A barrage of shouted questions from @WhiteHouse reporters ignored by @POTUS as he departs the room. pic.twitter.com/aQgz2FIuuV

— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) August 18, 2021

Biden walks away again from the podium – not taking questions pic.twitter.com/S5Kirkmm0c

— Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) August 18, 2021

I won’t belabor the point as the pace of this news cycle will likely have me writing several more articles today surrounding Biden and the events in Afghanistan, but I will repeat the primary one — this man is not well. We are a rudderless ship of a nation, devoid of a leader. To not even mention the Americans in danger right now and to not take questions about it (after not taking questions the entire last week) is disqualifying at this point. Not only that, it’s morally reprehensible.