Background on Joe Biden and His Relevance
Joe Biden, the 46th President of the United States, has been a significant figure in American politics for decades. Serving as Vice President under Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017, Biden eventually ran for president in 2020, defeating Donald Trump to become the oldest person ever inaugurated as President at age 78.
The Controversy Surrounding Biden’s Cognitive Abilities
A recently leaked audio recording from 2023 and an upcoming investigative book have reignited debates about Biden’s cognitive abilities during his presidency. The recording, released by Axios, captures Biden struggling with key dates from his life, including the death of his son and Donald Trump’s first election.
The Audio Recording and Its Implications
In the interview with a special prosecutor regarding confidential documents, Biden displays long pauses, stammered speech, and notable memory lapses. He fails to recall crucial dates such as his son’s death and Trump’s initial election, raising concerns about his cognitive decline.
Special prosecutor Robert Hur previously described Biden, who is now 82 years old, as an “elderly man with poor memory.” The White House deemed these comments inappropriate.
The Upcoming Book and Its Allegations
Written by journalists Alex Thompson (Axios) and Jake Tapper (CNN), the book “Original Sin” details how Biden’s inner circle attempted to shield him from various gaffes, missteps, and stumbles as his cognitive abilities declined.
The book claims that Biden’s insistence on running for re-election in spring 2023, despite his deteriorating cognitive state, directly led to the Democratic Party’s defeat.
“As a party, Biden left us looking foolish,” former Obama advisor David Plouffe told the authors. The book portrays Biden as a president who struggled to recognize familiar faces, like actor George Clooney, and often lost his bearings on the podium.
Biden’s Response and Denial
Biden, who left the White House four months ago, denies experiencing any cognitive decline during his presidency. In an interview with ABC in early May, he stated, “Nothing suggests that… After I withdrew from the presidential race, I remained president for six months and did a good job. But what scared everyone was that debate.”
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the controversy about? The debate centers around a leaked audio recording from 2023 and an upcoming book that suggest Joe Biden’s cognitive abilities declined during his presidency.
- What does the audio recording reveal? The recording shows Biden struggling with key dates from his life, including the death of his son and Donald Trump’s first election.
- What does the book claim? The investigative book “Original Sin” alleges that Biden’s insistence on running for re-election, despite his declining cognitive state, led directly to the Democratic Party’s defeat.
- How has Biden responded? Biden denies any cognitive decline during his presidency, stating that he performed well after withdrawing from the presidential race.
