In a fiery rebuttal to claims made in the upcoming book "Original Sin," aides to President Joe Biden have dismissed allegations of a cover-up regarding his health during the tumultuous 2024 re-election campaign. The book, authored by CNN's Jake Tapper and Axios' Alex Thompson, is set to hit the shelves on May 20 and describes an alarming scenario where aides reportedly considered using a wheelchair for the 82-year-old president due to his deteriorating condition.
The authors assert that Biden's physical challenges were significant enough to warrant discussions about the necessity of a wheelchair following an unfortunate debate against Donald Trump, which led to his abrupt withdrawal from the race last July. In his first interview since leaving office, Biden remarked, “I don’t think it would have mattered” had he exited earlier.
Despite much of the book resting on anonymous testimonies from over 200 interviews, one notable quote comes from David Plouffe, a strategist for Vice-President Kamala Harris, who expressed frustration at Biden's timing in leaving the race, stating, "We got so screwed by Biden as a party."
The portrayal of Biden's health issues indicates that aides attempted to manage public perception by ensuring he walked shorter distances and used handrails. Interestingly, previously recorded statements from Biden's aides attributed changes in his gait to a past foot fracture instead of age.
In a statement shared with Axios, an anonymous Biden aide defended the president, insisting that acknowledging physical changes due to age should not be construed as evidence of cognitive decline. The spokesperson asserted, “We are still waiting for anyone to show where Joe Biden had to make a presidential decision or give a crucial address that indicated mental decline.”
As the narrative unfolds, the book also contains anecdotal moments where Biden allegedly struggled to recognize celebrities like George Clooney at high-profile events—an incident that reportedly led to Clooney withdrawing his support for the campaign.
The backdrop of these allegations raises further questions about the implications of age on leadership, especially as Biden navigates a politically charged environment post-White House.
The authors assert that Biden's physical challenges were significant enough to warrant discussions about the necessity of a wheelchair following an unfortunate debate against Donald Trump, which led to his abrupt withdrawal from the race last July. In his first interview since leaving office, Biden remarked, “I don’t think it would have mattered” had he exited earlier.
Despite much of the book resting on anonymous testimonies from over 200 interviews, one notable quote comes from David Plouffe, a strategist for Vice-President Kamala Harris, who expressed frustration at Biden's timing in leaving the race, stating, "We got so screwed by Biden as a party."
The portrayal of Biden's health issues indicates that aides attempted to manage public perception by ensuring he walked shorter distances and used handrails. Interestingly, previously recorded statements from Biden's aides attributed changes in his gait to a past foot fracture instead of age.
In a statement shared with Axios, an anonymous Biden aide defended the president, insisting that acknowledging physical changes due to age should not be construed as evidence of cognitive decline. The spokesperson asserted, “We are still waiting for anyone to show where Joe Biden had to make a presidential decision or give a crucial address that indicated mental decline.”
As the narrative unfolds, the book also contains anecdotal moments where Biden allegedly struggled to recognize celebrities like George Clooney at high-profile events—an incident that reportedly led to Clooney withdrawing his support for the campaign.
The backdrop of these allegations raises further questions about the implications of age on leadership, especially as Biden navigates a politically charged environment post-White House.
