Democrats, alarmed by Biden's health condition.
President Joe Biden's declining health has become a subject of concern among Democratic officials, according to a newly released book. "Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again," authored by US journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, provides a detailed account of the President's health deterioration during his final years in office.
The book alleges that Biden, in his late 70s, experienced moments of memory loss, confusion, and difficulty maintaining his train of thought. In his last two years in office, the President was said to struggle with recalling the names of his closest staff and speaking coherently. These reports were initially kept hidden from the public to maintain the image of a fit and capable leader.
Democratic lawmakers, White House staff, cabinet members, and donors were reportedly taken aback by Biden's deteriorating mental and physical abilities. These concerns escalated particularly during the lead-up to Biden's reelection campaign, which was marred by several setbacks and doubts about the President's fitness for office.
Delegates of the G7 summit became briefly perplexed during Biden's participation, suspecting his confusion during the meetings. The authors of the book argue that what the world witnessed in the President's only televised debate in 2024 was not a mere slip-up or inadequate preparation. Rather, it was an 81-year-old man with waning strength for years, as they suggest.
Biden's inner circle, including family members and longtime advisors, has been cited as prioritizing loyalty over reality, shielding the President from both the public and negative information. Some individuals outside the inner circle believed these advisors had withheld negative information from Biden, leading to a contentious environment within the administration.
The public has recently focused increased attention on Biden's age and health following the announcement of his aggressive prostate cancer diagnosis last Sunday. While the statement indicated that the President and his family were reviewing treatment options with doctors, it sparked sympathy and debate about the appropriateness of his decision to run for reelection.
Vice President JD Vance stated, "We must honestly ask ourselves if the former President was able to do the job." hinting at concerns about Biden's health. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump, a political rival of Biden, expressed well wishes for the President's swift and successful recovery.
The book also highlights the significance of the stressors affecting Biden, particularly the legal troubles of his son Hunter. According to the authors, moments of intense pressure, particularly concerning Hunter's legal issues, contributed to Biden's mental and physical decline.
In March 2024, Biden delivered a widely acclaimed State of the Union address. However, White House staff who rarely interacted with the President afterward shared concerns about his condition. Later that evening, Biden delivered a rambling speech, prompting questions about his mental fitness from those present.
After the disappointing debate performance against Donald Trump in June 2024, top advisors reportedly tried to downplay the event, with some even questioning the loyalty of those suggesting concerns about the President's health. As more Democrats called for Biden to step down, he initially rejected these appeals, only withdrawing from the race in July 2024 after endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris.
The publication of the book has sparked debate and added fuel to ongoing discussions about Biden's health, fitness, and presidential legacy. While the White House has dismissed the book's claims, critics argue that Biden's insistence on running for a second term, despite concerns about his health, played a significant role in the Democratic Party's electoral loss in 2024.
- The US presidential election of 2024 is now a topic of discussion in politics, with concerns about President Joe Biden's health following the release of a book detailing his medical-conditions and memory-loss issues during his final years in office.
- The book, titled "Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again," discloses examples of Biden's struggles with recalling the names of his staff and speaking coherently during his presidency.
- The question of mental-health and aging in politics has taken center stage in the general-news, with Vice President JD Vance and former President Donald Trump expressing concerns about Biden's fitness for office following his prostate cancer diagnosis.
- The debilitating effects of neurological-disorders and the pressure from issues like Hunter Biden's legal troubles are argued in the book to have contributed to President Biden's declining health and performance during key events, such as the 2024 presidential debate against Donald Trump.
