Biden’s Rebuttal on "The View": Defending His Record and Addressing Cognitive Concerns
Former President Joe Biden and former First Lady Jill Biden appeared on "The View" Thursday, forcefully addressing persistent narratives about his alleged cognitive decline during his time in the White House and the circumstances surrounding his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race. The interview served as a platform for the Bidens to defend his legacy, challenge criticisms, and offer their perspective on the political dynamics that shaped his departure from the campaign trail.
Co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin directly questioned Biden about accounts from Democratic sources cited in recent books, alleging a "dramatic decline" in his cognitive abilities towards the end of his presidency. Biden dismissed these claims outright, pivoting to a critique of the preceding Trump administration.
"They are wrong," Biden stated. "There’s nothing to sustain that, number one. Number two, you know, think of what we left with. We left with a circumstance where we had an insurrection when I started, not since the Civil War. We had a circumstance where we were in a position that we — well, the pandemic, because of the incompetence of the last outfit, end up over a million people dying, a million people dying. And we’re also in a situation where we found ourselves unable to deal with a lot of just basic issues, which I won’t go into in the interest of time. And so we went to work, and we got it done and, you know, one of the things that — well, I’m—"
At this point, Jill Biden interjected, reinforcing her husband’s defense. "Alyssa, one of the things I think is that the people who wrote those books were not in the White House with us," she said. "And they didn’t see how hard Joe worked every single day. I mean, he’d get up. He’d put in a full day, and then at night he would — I’d be in bed, you know, reading my book, and he was still on the phone, reading his briefings. Working with staff. I mean, it was nonstop."
Jill Biden painted a picture of a dedicated and tireless leader, emphasizing his commitment to his responsibilities. She lauded his work ethic and concluded, "based on the state of things now under President Donald Trump, give me Joe Biden any time," a statement that drew enthusiastic applause from the audience.
Griffin further probed Biden about his decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, particularly in light of reported pressure from prominent Democrats such as Rep. Nancy Pelosi. Biden maintained that he prioritized the unity of the Democratic Party over his personal ambitions, reiterating his belief that he could have defeated Trump.
"I thought it was better to put the country ahead of my interests, my personal interests. I’m not being facetious. I’m being deadly earnest about that," Biden explained. "And I think that we still— let me put it this way. I had six more months. Did a pretty good job in six months."
He acknowledged the concerns surrounding his age – he would have been 86 years old at the end of a second term, already the oldest president in American history – but highlighted his accomplishments even amidst claims of cognitive decline.
Co-host Whoopi Goldberg, a known Biden supporter, addressed the impact of his performance at a debate last year, suggesting it fueled concerns about his fitness for office. "Why do you think people bought into it, especially the Democrats?" Goldberg asked.
Biden conceded that he had a "bad night," attributing it to feeling unwell. Jill Biden corroborated his account, stating that he had admitted to her afterward that he "screwed up." However, she emphasized that a single debate should not overshadow his entire presidency. "We all saw it, it was terrible," Jill Biden said of her husband’s debate performance.
The article also highlighted that concerns about Biden’s mental fitness had been circulating for years, particularly throughout 2024, citing the Robert Hur report’s mention of his failing memory, a Wall Street Journal story detailing behind-the-scenes worries, and viral videos that the White House dismissed as "cheap fakes." Nevertheless, the debate fallout proved to be a pivotal moment. Although Biden initially resisted, he ultimately bowed to party pressure and exited the race on July 21, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, who subsequently lost the general election to Trump.
Sara Haines questioned Jill Biden about her potential lack of objectivity in assessing her husband’s capacity to handle a second term. "I was with Joe day and night," she stated. "I saw him more than any other person… I did not create a cocoon around him. I mean, you saw him in the Oval Office. You saw him making speeches. He wasn’t hiding somewhere. I didn’t have him, you know, sequestered in some place."
When asked about the accusation that she was a "Lady MacBeth," a reference to the manipulative Shakespearean character, she expressed that such rhetoric was "very hurtful, especially from some of our so-called friends." Jill Biden also revealed her disappointment with Pelosi’s role in encouraging her husband’s withdrawal from the race. "We were friends for 50 years," she told the Washington Post. "It was disappointing."
The interview on "The View" allowed Joe and Jill Biden to directly address concerns about his cognitive abilities and offer their perspective on his departure from the 2024 presidential race. While the interview may not have completely dispelled lingering doubts, it provided a platform for the Bidens to defend his record, challenge criticisms, and highlight his dedication to public service.
