Democratic Party Concerned Over Biden's Health Condition
President Joe Biden's waning health and cognitive abilities are the focus of a new book by US journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, sparking alarm among Democrats. Allegations of a cover-up by the president's inner circle to shield him from public scrutiny have emerged.
The book, titled "Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again," is based on over 200 interviews, largely with insiders from the Democratic Party. It details how Biden's staff expressed concerns about his health as early as 2020, with allegations of a decline becoming more apparent in the two years leading to the presidential debate against Donald Trump in June 2024.
According to the book, Biden struggled to remember the names of senior staff members, like national security advisor Jake Sullivan and communications chief Kate Bedingfield, during a December 2022 meeting. In the fall of 2023, he failed to recognize the head of the Democratic National Committee, Jamie Harrison, and in early 2024, he did not recognize long-time acquaintance George Clooney.
The book also suggests that Biden was shielded from the public eye to cloak the extent of his decline. Lawmakers, White House staff, cabinet members, and Democratic donors were reportedly shocked by the diminishing mental and physical abilities of the president.
In the last two years of his presidency, Biden's disoriented speech and memory lapses became increasingly apparent, according to the book. This was allegedly concealed from the public to sustain his credibility as a presidential contender.
The online portal Axios published an audio recording of Biden's interview with special counsel Robert Hur, which supports the depiction of Biden as having poor memory. Hur had described Biden as "a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory" in his report.
Biden's age and health have been the subject of growing concern in recent days. Last Sunday, his office announced that he had been diagnosed with an "aggressive form" of prostate cancer that had spread to his bones. Treatment options are currently under review with his doctors.
Public opinion increasingly viewed Biden as too old for another term, with multiple polls and media word clouds showing significant majorities—including Democrats—believing he was not fit for another four years. These perceptions became especially pronounced after Biden's poor performance in a major 2024 presidential debate.
Biden dropped out of the 2024 race, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee. However, Harris went on to lose the election to Donald Trump by a notable margin in both the popular vote and the Electoral College. The authors of the book discuss whether Democrats might have fared better with a different candidate or if Biden had stepped aside earlier.
As the 2024 election approaches, the debate over Biden's decision to run for re-election continues. Vice President J.D. Vance has called into question Biden's ability to do the job, while Biden's family and supporters maintain that he remains a capable leader.
According to the book, Biden's inner circle—including his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, and his sons Hunter and Beau—kept him in power, valuing their loyalty above all else. Those outside of the inner circle allegedly believed the advisors were hiding negative information from Biden.
Overall, the book portrays a struggling President Biden whose mental and physical decline was downplayed or concealed by his close circle, with potentially significant consequences for the Democratic Party's electoral prospects.
- The US presidential election of 2024 has sparked concerns about President Joe Biden's health, with a new book suggesting his decline has been covered up by his inner circle.
- The book, "Original Sin," details Biden's alleged struggles with memory lapses and recognition issues, including forgetting the names of senior staff members and acquaintances.
- The book also claims that Biden was shieldedfrom public scrutiny, with some lawmakers, White House staff, and Democratic donors reportedly shocked by the president's diminishing mental and physical abilities.
- The ongoing debate over Biden's decision to run for re-election is highlighted in the book, with concerns about his age and neurological disorders potentially impacting the Democratic Party's electoral prospects.
