Key Takeaways:
- The White House and Democrats reportedly concealed President Joe Biden’s health issues until after the 2024 election.
- Advisers considered using a wheelchair for Biden due to his deteriorating health.
- Biden’s doctor warned that another fall might necessitate wheelchair use.
- Biden’s June 2024 debate performance sparked public concern, with aides attributing issues to a cold.
- His walking difficulties were linked to a 2020 foot fracture, though his doctor said it had healed.
CNN’s Jake Tapper Reveals Alleged Cover-Up of President Biden’s Health Issues
CNN’s Jake Tapper has dropped a bombshell, alleging that the White House and Democratic leaders hid President Joe Biden’s health struggles until after the 2024 election. Tapper, along with Axios reporter Alex Thompson, co-authored the book Original Sin, which provides an inside look at Biden’s second term and the concerns surrounding his well-being.
Biden’s Health Concerns and the White House’s Response
Fears Over Biden’s Health Before the 2024 Election
As the 2024 election approached, there were growing worries about President Biden’s health. His physical condition reportedly worsened, and aides even discussed the possibility of using a wheelchair. According to Tapper, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, Biden’s physician, warned that if the President suffered another fall in 2023 or 2024, a wheelchair might become necessary. Despite these concerns, Biden’s team believed that making him use a wheelchair could hurt his campaign.
Biden’s struggles were evident. He had a slow and unsteady walk, spoke in a raspy voice, and appeared confused during the June 27 presidential debate against Donald Trump. These issues led some Democrats to publicly call for him to step down.
After Biden tripped over a sandbag in June 2023, his aides took extra precautions to prevent another fall. They shortened his walking routes, ensured he used handrails on stairs, and made him wear sneakers. They also claimed that his halting walk was due to a foot fracture from 2020, even though his doctor had said the injury had fully healed.
The White House Downplays Health Concerns
When concerns about Biden’s health grew, the White House tried to downplay them. After the June debate, aides quickly told the media that Biden simply had a “bad night” and was dealing with a cold. They insisted that they had been transparent about his health. However, Tapper claims that this was not the case. He says that the White House was lying to everyone—including the press, the public, and even Democratic leaders—about how serious Biden’s condition had become.
Tapper and Thompson’s Investigation
Tapper and Thompson started working on their book after the 2024 election. They interviewed over 200 people, mostly Democrats, who were not willing to talk openly about Biden’s health until after the election. Tapper says that many of these sources only shared the truth after the campaign was over.
One of the most shocking revelations in the book is that even some of Biden’s own aides were kept in the dark about his condition. O’Connor reportedly pushed for Biden to get more rest, but the White House was focused on winning the election.
Jake Tapper Defends Biden, Then Changes His Tune
Interestingly, Tapper had previously defended Biden against critics who raised concerns about his health. For example, he argued with Lara Trump, Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law, after she pointed out Biden’s decline during the June debate. He also pushed back against Democratic candidate Dean Phillips, who had similar concerns.
However, Tapper now claims that the White House’s secrecy about Biden’s health was wrong. He and Thompson argue that voters had a right to know the truth about their leader’s condition before the election.
Alex Thompson Criticizes the Media and Biden Administration
Thompson, Tapper’s co-author, has also been vocal about the media’s role in covering up Biden’s decline. At the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in April, Thompson accused the Biden administration of hiding the President’s mental and physical struggles. He also criticized the media for not asking tougher questions about Biden’s health.
Conclusion: A Crossroads for Transparency in Politics
The revelations in Tapper and Thompson’s book raise questions about transparency in politics. While it’s not uncommon for politicians to downplay health issues, the extent of the alleged cover-up in this case has sparked outrage. Many are asking whether the public was misled and whether Biden’s health affected his ability to lead.
As the 2024 election results are now history, the focus has shifted to what this means for the future of politics. The debate over Biden’s health and the White House’s handling of it may influence how future campaigns address similar issues. One thing is clear: voters deserve honesty from their leaders, especially when it comes to something as important as the President’s health.