Democrats left in disbelief as Biden's health is called into question
President Biden's Health and Mental Fitness Under Scrutiny
A newly-released book claims that the inner circle of U.S. President Joe Biden has been hiding the Democratic leader's declining mental and physical abilities in his final years in office. In "Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again," authors Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson document these concerns, which they say have long been whispers among Democratic lawmakers, White House staff, and party donors.
Since his 2024 re-election bid, Biden has had numerous moments of apparent confusion, such as forgetting the names of key aides, speaking incoherently, and losing his train of thought, according to the book. These incidents began as early as 2020 but escalated significantly in the years leading up to the disastrous debate with Donald Trump in June 2024.
The book provides examples of such incidents, including when Biden could not remember the names of national security advisor Jake Sullivan and communications director Kate Bedingfield in December 2022 or recognize Democratic National Committee Chairman Jamie Harrison, even though Harrison claims to have refuted this. In early 2024, Biden reportedly did not recognize actor George Clooney, a longtime acquaintance.
According to the authors, Biden was shielded by a tight circle of loyal advisors who valued unwavering loyalty to the president. These advisors included his wife, son, and some long-time aides, who were dubbed the "Politburo" - a term referencing the leadership body of a communist party. This inner circle allegedly kept negative information from Biden and dictated his decision to run for re-election without input from the White House or campaign team.
The new book, based on more than 200 interviews with Democratic insiders, paints a picture of an elderly, confused president embarking on a doomed re-election campaign. Democratic lawmakers, White House staff, members of the cabinet, and Democratic donors were reportedly shocked by Biden's diminished mental and physical abilities.
Although Biden's cancer diagnosis has sparked sympathy and well wishes across party lines, the debate over his decision to run for re-election continues. Vice President JD Vance said on Monday that while he wished Biden well in his recovery, he questioned the former president's ability to perform the job due to his advanced age.
In the recording of Biden's interview with special advisor Robert Hur regarding the affair of secret documents, Hur described the president as "a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with poor memory." Concerns about Biden's health reportedly stretch back to the 2020 campaign, with some team members finding hours of footage from recorded videos unusable due to Biden's apparent mental decline.
As the book shed light on the inner workings of the Biden administration, the facts surrounding the president's mental and physical health are under scrutiny. While a Biden spokesperson has criticized the book, the varying accounts of the president's cognitive decline and the inner circle's efforts to keep it hidden have sparked a question about Biden's fitness to lead in his final years as president.
- Amidst the US presidential election of 2024, concerns about President Joe Biden's mental and physical fitness have risen to the fore, with a newly-released book claiming that his inner circle has been concealing these concerns.
- The book, titled "Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again," fueled discussions about Biden's ability to handle the rigors of his position, particularly in light of numerous instances of apparent confusion and memory lapses.
- As the health and mental wellness of political leaders becomes a topic of general news, the ongoing scrutiny of President Biden's fitness serves as a reminder of the critical role science plays in understanding and addressing these issues, especially in the context of aging politicians.
