Doubts Surround Biden’s Fitness: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at His Declining State
A forthcoming book is casting a harsh light on former President Joe Biden’s condition leading up to his decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, detailing a concerning incident at a Los Angeles fundraiser hosted by actor George Clooney. The book, titled "Original Sin" and penned by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’ Alex Thompson, alleges that Biden failed to recognize Clooney during the event, raising serious questions about his cognitive state and overall health.
The incident, described in an excerpt published by The New Yorker, reportedly occurred backstage at the fundraiser, which was co-hosted by actress Julia Roberts. As Clooney and Roberts posed for pictures with attendees, Biden entered the room, accompanied by an aide. The book paints a disturbing picture of the former president, describing him as "severely diminished, as if he’d aged a decade since Clooney last saw him, in December, 2022." Biden reportedly took "tiny steps" as the aide guided his arm.
According to the excerpt, the aide attempted to jog Biden’s memory, saying, "You know George." Biden responded with a vague, "Yeah, yeah. Thank you for being here." The aide then clarified, "George Clooney." Only then did Biden respond with recognition, saying, "Oh, yeah! Hi, George!"
The Hollywood fundraiser, which raked in over $30 million, is depicted as a pivotal moment that foreshadowed Biden’s eventual decision to withdraw from the election just a month later. The book suggests that Biden’s performance at the fundraiser served as a harbinger of the disastrous June 27 debate against Donald Trump, where he struggled to complete sentences and articulate coherent thoughts.
Beyond the Clooney incident, "Original Sin" reveals further details about the anxieties surrounding Biden’s condition at the fundraiser. The book describes an "alarmed crowd" observing Biden’s "apparent diminishment, frail presentation and meandering answers" to softball questions posed by talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, who was also on stage with Biden and former President Barack Obama.
The account goes on to describe a moment at the end of the 30-minute discussion when Biden reportedly gave a "blank stare" to the crowd as he began to walk off stage. Obama, noticing Biden’s disorientation, turned back and guided him backstage.
Among the attendees who witnessed Biden’s struggles were New Hampshire Democratic U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster and California U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley. Kuster reportedly observed the difficulty Biden had engaging with people in the photo line and described the experience as reminiscent of being with an aging grandparent, prompting concerns about what might happen next.
The book further reveals that Clooney, once an ardent supporter of Biden, was deeply troubled by what he witnessed at the fundraiser. Less than a month later, Clooney stunned the political world by calling for Biden to drop out of the race in a New York Times op-ed. In the op-ed, Clooney wrote, "The one battle he cannot win is the fight against time. None of us can."
Initially, Clooney attributed Biden’s condition to jet lag from his recent travels to Europe for the Group of Seven nations summit and the 80th anniversary of D-Day commemorations. However, "Original Sin" claims that "the debate confirmed all the fears that he’d shoved aside."
After Biden’s disastrous debate performance and his refusal to step aside, Clooney reportedly told Obama that he was considering writing an op-ed calling for Biden to withdraw from the race. Obama, according to the book, advised against it, arguing that such a move would only further entrench Biden’s position.
Despite Obama’s advice, Clooney ultimately decided to publish the New York Times op-ed, sending copies to film producer Jeffrey Katzenberg, a major Biden fundraiser, and senior Biden aide Steve Ricchetti, prior to its publication.
In response to the growing concerns about his cognitive abilities and the upcoming release of "Original Sin" and other books about his presidency, Biden had sat down for several interviews in an apparent attempt to rehabilitate his public image.
During an appearance on ABC’s "The View," Biden dismissed the concerns about his cognitive abilities, stating, "They are wrong. There’s nothing to sustain that." Biden also asserted that he believed he would have defeated Trump had he not withdrawn from the race, paving the way for his vice president, Kamala Harris, to become the party’s nominee.
A Biden spokesperson issued a statement in response to the claims made in "Original Sin," stating, "We have not reviewed the book, and the authors did not fact-check the book with us, despite it being a common practice to do so. So we are not going to respond to every bit of this book they choose to release via select leaks in the reporters efforts to make a profit. We continue to await anything that shows where Joe Biden had to make a presidential decision or where national security was threatened or where he was unable to do his job. In fact, the evidence points to the opposite – he was a very effective president."
The allegations detailed in "Original Sin" have reignited the debate surrounding Biden’s fitness for office and his decision to seek reelection. The book’s claims, particularly the account of the incident with George Clooney and the observations of other prominent figures at the fundraiser, paint a troubling picture of the former president’s declining state and raise serious questions about his ability to effectively lead the country. While the Biden camp has dismissed these concerns as politically motivated attacks, the book’s detailed accounts and the reputations of its authors lend credence to the claims, adding fuel to the ongoing controversy surrounding Biden’s cognitive abilities and physical health. The coming weeks and months will likely see further scrutiny of these issues as the release of "Original Sin" and other books about Biden’s presidency intensifies the public discourse.
