Democrats alarmed by Biden's health condition
Unveiled: Behind the Scenes of Joe Biden's Declining Health
In a revelatory account, U.S. journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson expose the inner workings of President Joe Biden's administration, detailing his mounting health concerns and the efforts to conceal his decline during his final years in office.
According to the authors, Biden's inner circle has been acutely aware of his health issues, which were further aggravated in the last two years of his presidency. These concerns range from forgetting the names of his closest advisors, fumbling with speech, and forgetting significant events, as depicted in the new book "Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again."
The White House has reportedly shielded Biden from the public to protect him from the extent of his decline, a claim substantiated by numerous doubts and concerns raised by Democratic lawmakers, White House staff, and cabinet members. The book delves into various scenes portraying these individuals' shock at the president's diminishing mental and physical capacities as they, along with Democratic donors, supported his doomed re-election campaign.
Former President Donald Trump, even in political opposition, offered his well-wishes to Biden following his recent prostate cancer diagnosis: "Melania and I are saddened to hear of Joe Biden's latest medical diagnosis. We send our warmest and best wishes to Jill and her family and wish Joe a speedy and successful recovery."
Despite the outpouring of sympathy, debates persist regarding Biden's decision to run for re-election. Vice President JD Vance expressed his concern: "We must honestly ask ourselves if the former President was able to do the job." Blaming Biden's advisors more than the president himself, Vance stated, "We can pray for his health, but we must also recognize: whoever is not healthy enough should not do the job."
Reports also emerged that Axios published an audio recording of Biden's interview with special advisor Robert Hur, which reveals insights into Biden's cognitive challenges. Hur characterized Biden in his report as "a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with poor memory."
The book draws attention to Biden's staff's concerns about his health as early as 2020, intensifying particularly in the two years preceding his disastrous debate with Donald Trump in June 2024. By December 2022, Biden was unable to recall the names of Jake Sullivan, his national security advisor, and Kate Bedingfield, his communications director. In the fall of 2023, he failed to recognize the head of the Democratic National Committee, Jamie Harrison, while in early 2024, he was unaware of George Clooney, a long-time acquaintance.
Several members of Biden's cabinet voiced concerns about the president's ability to handle a national emergency at 2 a.m., with one top advisor asserting that a potential disaster in 2023 would have been manageable in 2024. The inner circle was characterized as a "Politburo," prioritizing loyalty to Biden and shutting out negative information from cabinet members, campaign aides, and pollsters.
A campaign advisor recalled a conversation after the TV debate in the book: "'What are we doing here? The man can't form a coherent sentence,'" as concern grew within the inner circle about the president's mental fitness.
As more Democrats called for Biden to step down, he initially held firm with his family, but the weight of growing criticism tactfully nudged him towards withdrawing from the re-election race in July 2024. The future of the Democratic Party remains uncertain as questions around Biden's health and potential successor, Kamala Harris, linger.
- The book, "Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again," delves into the medical-conditions and cognitive challenges faced by President Joe Biden.
- Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson's account reveals how his campaign staff and advisors were alarmed by Biden's chronic-diseases, such as his forgetfulness and inability to recall the names of close advisors.
- In 2024, during the US presidential election, concerns about Biden's aging and declining health led to a heated debate with Donald Trump.
- Debates continue as to whether Biden's health-and-wellness would permit him to effectively handle high-stress situations, like a national emergency, due to his medical-conditions.
- As mental-health and the impact of chronic-diseases on Biden's performance were discussed in the general-news, questions regarding potential successor Kamala Harris began to surface in the midst of the 2024 US election.
