Advisors to former Democratic President Joe Biden showed great concern for his health and don't believe he can run for election again
Despite these stumbles, the Biden administration insisted during his term that the president was in good health and mentally fit to hold office.
In February 2024, after a routine medical exam at Walter Reed Military Medical Center, O'Connor stated that Biden was "fit to serve." Even after Biden dropped his re-election campaign in July 2024, the doctor reiterated that the president's health was "excellent."
Nevertheless, the work argues that there was a deliberate effort by the White House and the president's family to minimize and conceal the extent of his decline.
A senior official even admitted that "we tried to protect him from his own staff so many wouldn't realize the level of decline since 2023." Within the Democratic Party, figures like former Commerce Secretary Bill Daley began exploring replacement options as early as 2023, amid growing concerns about Biden's re-election viability.
The concerns culminated after Biden's disastrous performance in the debate against Donald Trump in June 2024, where he appeared hesitant and disoriented. This led to an internal revolt within the Democratic Party that ultimately led Biden to drop his campaign on July 21 and endorse his vice president Kamala Harris as the presidential candidate.
Amid these revelations, it has also been learned that during a recent physical exam a small nodule was discovered in Biden's prostate. Although the severity of the finding has not yet been determined, the news reinforces doubts about his overall health.
The former president's team has categorically rejected the cover-up accusations. "Yes, there were physical changes due to age, but that is not evidence of mental incapacity," a spokesperson declared.
"So far, no one has proven that Biden was unable to make presidential decisions due to alleged cognitive decline. In fact, there is evidence to the contrary: he was a very effective president."
A new editorial work co-written by Axios journalist Alex Thompson and CNN host Jake Tapper reveals immense deep internal concerns within the former president's inner circle Joe Biden regarding his physical and cognitive decline during his term, especially in the years leading up to the 2024 election campaign.
The text, which will be published on May 20, 2025, claims that senior officials and advisors even discussed the possibility of Biden using a wheelchair in a potential second term due to his frail physical condition.
One of the most striking revelations is that the president's primary physician, Dr. Kevin O'Connor, privately warned that another fall could require the permanent use of a wheelchair.
This suggestion led to internal discussions on how to manage the former president's public image, avoiding visible signs of weakness until after the elections.
O'Connor also unsuccessfully asked advisors to reduce Biden's daily workload, noting that the Democrat only had an optimal functioning window of six hours a day, between 10 AM and 4 PM, outside of which he showed fatigue, verbal lapses, and difficulty concentrating.
These concerns did not arise out of nowhere. Throughout his presidency, Biden showed multiple signs of aging and mental confusion. The book documents incidents where the president forgot the names of his closest advisors, like Jake Sullivan and Kate Bedingfield, and even long-time political allies.
One of the most talked-about moments occurred when, during an official event, he asked about Congresswoman Jackie Walorski, a month after her death in a car accident.
Another significant episode was when Biden confused French President Emmanuel Macron with a deceased leader, and mixed up the names of the presidents of Mexico and Egypt.
This event occurred shortly after special counsel Robert Hur decided not to press charges against him for mishandling classified documents, partly because, according to the report, "a jury might see him as a well-intentioned elderly man with poor memory."
