Biden's Team Responds to Claims of Health Issues Amid Campaign Challenges

Biden's aides have denied allegations from an upcoming book suggesting they covered up the President's health issues during his re-election campaign. They assert that age-related changes do not equate to mental incapacity, while the book reveals serious concerns about Biden's physical condition and its impact on his political career.

Former President Joe Biden's aides have vigorously defended him against allegations made in an upcoming book that accuses his administration of obscuring his physical health issues during his unsuccessful 2024 re-election bid. The book, "Original Sin," authored by CNN's Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson from Axios, asserts that Biden's health had deteriorated significantly, to the extent that discussions arose among aides about possibly accommodating him with a wheelchair.

As a rebuttal, a spokesperson for the 82-year-old President emphasized, "evidence of aging is not evidence of mental incapacity," and insisted that Biden has been "a very effective president." The book is set to be released on May 20, highlighting controversies surrounding Biden's decision to end his re-election campaign shortly after a widely criticized debate against Republican candidate Donald Trump.

Party insiders have expressed frustration over Biden's timing, suggesting he exited the race too late, leaving Vice-President Kamala Harris with only 107 days to mount a campaign against Trump, who ultimately won the election. In a recently aired interview with the BBC, Biden remarked on speculation about withdrawing earlier, stating, "I don't think it would have mattered."

The authors of "Original Sin" relied largely on anonymous sources in their interviews, which included over 200 individuals observing Biden's campaign. Among the notable comments was that of David Plouffe, who managed Harris's campaign, lamenting, "We got so screwed by Biden as a party."

The book also claims that Biden's physical deterioration was conspicuous, characterized by his unsteady walk, prompting aides to consider wheelchair options contingent on the election's outcome. They reportedly sought to manage Biden’s movements by encouraging shorter walking paths, using handrails, and opting for supportive footwear.

Biden's aides have attributed alterations in his gait to a foot fracture incurred in November 2020 and his subsequent avoidance of a surgical boot. In response to unfolding health concerns, an anonymous aide maintained that changes due to aging should not be conflated with cognitive decline, demanding concrete evidence of any incapacity impacting presidential duties.

In an anecdote recounted by the book, Biden reportedly failed to recognize actor George Clooney at a fundraising event hosted by the star last June, leading to speculation about his grasp of familiar faces. This incident followed Clooney's withdrawal of support, as he called for Biden to resign from the race. The book also claims Biden struggled to recall names of senior aides, including National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and communications director Kate Bedingfield.

These accusations, alongside Biden's contentious political past, have ignited a renewed discussion around age, health, and the competence of political leaders, emphasizing the complexities inherent in assessing leadership effectiveness and public image in volatile political climates.