White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was confronted with intense scrutiny from reporters regarding President Biden’s cognitive health following his lackluster performance at CNN’s recent presidential debate. The 81-year-old president’s struggles during the debate have fueled speculation about his mental fitness, leading to a barrage of pointed questions during Tuesday’s press briefing.
Andrew Feinberg of The Independent directly addressed the issue, asking, “Does President Biden at 81 years old have Alzheimer’s, any form of dementia, or a degenerative illness that may cause these sorts of lapses?” Jean-Pierre, maintaining a firm stance, replied, “It’s a no, and I hope you’re asking the other guy the same exact question,” referring to former President Donald Trump, whom some have also suggested may have cognitive issues.
Reporters also pressed Jean-Pierre on whether the White House was concealing any information about Biden’s cognitive state. She unequivocally denied any cover-up, stating, “Absolutely not,” while fielding multiple questions about Biden’s debate performance and the increasing calls for him to step aside in the upcoming election.
This scrutiny arises as excerpts from Jean-Pierre’s 2020 book, which detailed her experiences with failing political campaigns, have resurfaced on social media. In her book, she described the demoralizing atmosphere of a dying campaign, drawing parallels to the current challenges facing Biden’s re-election efforts. “There’s nothing more dispiriting than working on a dying campaign,” she wrote, reflecting on her work during John Edwards’ 2008 presidential bid.
Jean-Pierre’s background with struggling campaigns may now be more relevant than ever, as Biden’s campaign appears to be in turmoil just months before the election. The press briefing highlighted the growing concerns within the political landscape and the pressure on the administration to address the president’s health openly.
