In brief
Amidst accusations of a cover-up on President Biden's health, aides defend the commander-in-chief as effective and capable.
In a strong rebuttal to allegations presented in the upcoming book "Original Sin," aides of President Joe Biden have responded vigorously to claims suggesting that his inner circle concealed information regarding his physical health during his re-election bid. The book, authored by CNN's Jake Tapper and Axios's Alex Thompson, asserts that Biden's condition was so severe that aides had considered the option of placing him in a wheelchair during his unsuccessful 2024 campaign.Biden, who is currently 82, faces criticism in the book that highlights a perceived decline in his physical abilities. The president's spokesperson stated, "evidence of aging is not evidence of mental incapacity," defending Biden's performance as president. The book is slated for release on May 20, detailing what it describes as the president’s deteriorating health and its impact on his re-election efforts.Insider accounts depicted a chaotic atmosphere within the Democratic Party, blaming Biden for his delayed exit from the race last July. The book cites comments from David Plouffe, a campaign strategist for Vice-President Kamala Harris, who expressed discontent with Biden's timing—an exit that left Harris with limited time to challenge the eventual Republican nominee, Donald Trump.Biden dismissed the notion that an earlier withdrawal from the race would have made a difference, stating in a recent BBC interview, “I don't think it would have mattered.” The book claims internal discussions about Biden's physical state were rampant, indicating aides made efforts to manage the president's movements by encouraging shorter walks and the use of handrails. Citing sources within Biden’s circle, they claimed his deteriorating walk raised questions about his capacity to fulfill the role effectively.Additionally, the authors mention incidents where Biden reportedly struggled to recall prominent figures, including actor George Clooney at a star-studded fundraiser. Biden's misidentification led Clooney to publicly withdraw his support, urging the president to step down from the race.A Biden aide robustly defended the president, emphasizing, “No one can point out a moment where he failed to make a presidential decision or conduct his duties due to escalating mental decline." The aide affirmed Biden's effectiveness, calling it "the opposite of decline."
