Recent reports have sparked controversy, alleging that senior Democrats and White House aides were aware of former President Joe Biden’s cognitive and physical decline but actively worked to hide it from the public. According to a new book, Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’ Alex Thompson, Biden’s inner circle took steps to mask signs of mental and physical deterioration during his 2024 reelection campaign. These claims, based on over 200 interviews with Democratic insiders, paint a troubling picture of a concerted effort to shield the former president’s condition from voters.
Sources describe Biden’s speeches as occasionally incoherent, marked by “minced word salad” and moments of verbal confusion. For instance, during a June 2024 fundraiser, Biden reportedly failed to recognize actor George Clooney, a long-time acquaintance, and struggled to recall the names of top aides. Aides also privately discussed the possibility of Biden needing a wheelchair in a second term due to spinal degeneration. These accounts contrast sharply with public defenses from figures like former DNC chair Jaime Harrison, who in August 2024 insisted Biden was “mentally sharp” and “fully engaged.”
Critics argue this alleged cover-up reveals a willingness among top Democrats to prioritize political power over transparency. “They knowingly covered up,” claimed a post on X, echoing sentiments from conservative commentators like Fox News’ Dana Perino, who suggested the concealment “ruined the Democratic Party.” The hypocrisy is stark: if President Donald Trump delivered a similarly incoherent speech, the backlash from the left would likely be relentless, with accusations of unfitness for office dominating headlines. Yet, Biden’s team reportedly dismissed concerns as age-related, not evidence of incapacity, with a spokesperson stating, “We are still waiting for evidence where Joe Biden was unable to do his job.”
The fallout has left Democrats grappling with their 2024 election loss, with some, like Senator Chris Murphy, admitting there was “no doubt” about Biden’s decline. As the party looks to 2028, these revelations raise critical questions about trust, leadership, and the lengths to which political operatives will go to maintain control
Sources:
- CNN Politics
- The Washington Post
- POLITICO
- Axios
- Posts on X
