New Book Alleges Biden Team Avoided Cognitive Test Amid Age Concerns, Details Internal Debate and Pre-Debate Worries
A forthcoming book is poised to reignite scrutiny surrounding President Joe Biden’s cognitive fitness, revealing that his team opted against administering a cognitive test in February 2024, fearing the test itself would amplify concerns about his age. The New York Times reported on the book, titled "2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America," co-authored by Tyler Pager of The New York Times, Josh Dawsey of the Wall Street Journal, and Isaac Arnsdorf of the Washington Post. The book, slated for release in July, promises a deep dive into the tumultuous 2024 presidential election.
The book alleges that Biden’s top aides engaged in extensive internal discussions regarding the potential benefits and drawbacks of having the president undergo a cognitive assessment to quell persistent questions surrounding his age and mental acuity. Despite confidence that Biden would successfully pass the test, the team ultimately decided against it, reportedly concluding that the mere act of taking the test would inadvertently raise further questions and fuel the narrative surrounding his age.
Adding another layer to the narrative, the book claims that President Biden’s long-time physician, Kevin O’Connor, assured aides that he would not allow political considerations to influence his medical treatment of the 81-year-old president. This assertion attempts to address potential concerns that the president’s health assessments might be subject to political manipulation or bias.
The debate surrounding the cognitive test occurred in February 2024, a period sandwiched between the release of Special Counsel Robert Hur’s report and the highly anticipated June debate against former President Donald Trump. Hur’s report, which investigated Biden’s handling of classified documents, famously described the president as "a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory." This characterization further intensified the focus on Biden’s cognitive abilities and provided ammunition for his political opponents.
The New York Times report also highlights a specific exchange detailed in the book between former Biden Chief of Staff Ron Klain and former Obama aide and frequent CNN commentator, David Axelrod. According to the report, Klain contacted Axelrod following a June 2022 New York Times article that quoted Axelrod expressing concerns about Biden’s age, stating, "The stark reality is the president would be closer to 90 than 80 at the end of a second term, and that would be a major issue."
This comment reportedly triggered an "angry call" from Klain, who questioned Axelrod’s decision to "fuel doubts" about a Democratic president who was on the cusp of launching a re-election campaign. The book suggests that Klain viewed Axelrod’s comments as undermining Biden’s chances and potentially jeopardizing the Democratic Party’s prospects in the upcoming election.
Klain’s alleged frustration is further illustrated by his comment to Axelrod, "There’s no Obama out there, Axe. Who’s going to do it if he doesn’t do it?" This statement seems to indicate Klain’s belief that Biden was the only viable Democratic candidate capable of defeating Trump and that questioning his fitness for office could have dire consequences for the party.
Adding to the narrative of concern surrounding Biden’s cognitive state, another recently released book about the 2024 campaign alleges that Klain described Biden as "fatigued, befuddled and disengaged" in the lead-up to his debate with Trump in June. This claim, made in Chris Whipple’s book, "Uncharted: How Trump Beat Biden, Harris, and the Odds in the Wildest Campaign in History," paints a picture of a president struggling with the demands of the presidency and potentially unprepared for the crucial debate.
Whipple recounts Klain’s alleged shock upon witnessing Biden’s condition during a pre-debate preparation session at Aspen Lodge, the president’s cabin. "He’d never seen him so exhausted and out of it," Whipple writes, attributing the quote to Klain. The book further claims that Biden was "unaware of what was happening in his own campaign" and that he even excused himself mid-session to "sit by the pool," further fueling speculation about his engagement and focus.
The allegations presented in these books are likely to amplify existing concerns about President Biden’s age and cognitive abilities, particularly as he continues to campaign for re-election. The decision not to administer a cognitive test, the alleged internal debates among his aides, and the reported observations of his condition leading up to the debate with Trump all contribute to a narrative of a president potentially struggling with the rigors of the office.
These claims also raise questions about the transparency and accountability of the White House regarding the president’s health. Critics may argue that the decision to avoid a cognitive test was a calculated political move designed to protect Biden’s image, rather than a genuine assessment of his cognitive fitness.
It remains to be seen how these allegations will impact the 2024 presidential election. However, they are certain to provide further fodder for political debate and scrutiny, potentially influencing voters’ perceptions of President Biden’s ability to lead the country for another four years.
