Saturday, March 29, 2025
Biden aides deny deterioration claims in response to explosive allegations made in an upcoming book. The book, Original Sin, accuses the president’s inner circle of hiding his physical decline during the 2024 campaign.
The book, authored by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’s Alex Thompson, claims President Biden’s health became a growing concern. Allegedly, aides even considered using a wheelchair due to his worsening condition.
However, a White House spokesperson rejected these claims. “Evidence of aging is not evidence of mental incapacity,” the statement said. The spokesperson emphasized Biden was still a “very effective president.”
According to Original Sin, Biden’s walking had become so impaired that aides shortened his walking routes. He also relied more on handrails and switched to wearing sneakers frequently.
The authors say Biden’s physician warned privately that a serious fall could require a wheelchair for recovery. But aides said such planning was precautionary, not proof of incapacity.
The book also recounts a moment when Biden allegedly failed to recognize actor George Clooney at a campaign fundraiser in California. When an aide pointed out the Hollywood star, Biden reportedly still looked confused.
Days later, Clooney published an op-ed urging Biden to exit the race—one of the first major donors to do so publicly.
Biden dropped out of the 2024 race in July after a poor debate performance against Donald Trump. Many Democrats criticized him for stepping down too late. That delay gave Kamala Harris only 107 days to face Trump, who went on to win.
Former Obama campaign chief David Plouffe, quoted in the book, said: “We got so screwed by Biden as a party.”
Despite harsh criticism, Biden told the BBC last week: “I don’t think it would have mattered” if he had exited sooner.
Most sources in Original Sin are anonymous, though the authors say they interviewed more than 200 people. Still, Biden aides dismiss the book’s credibility. One insider told Axios, “We are still waiting for someone to prove Biden failed any core duty due to mental decline.”
The spokesperson added, “In fact, the evidence shows the opposite. He was an effective and decisive leader.”
