The discussion around former President Joe Biden’s health became particularly intense during his inauguration, which prompted officials in his administration to respond to these concerns. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was notably vocal in defending Biden’s mental and physical capabilities.
Since 2022, she has consistently argued that he has not shown any signs of cognitive decline or major health issues. For instance, when Don Lemon asked her, during a June 2022 interview, if Biden possessed the stamina to serve a second term, her reaction suggested surprise. She stated, “That’s not a question we shouldn’t even ask,” suggesting that reports of cognitive decline were merely “hearsay.”
She continued, emphasizing Biden’s role: “Don, you’re asking me this question. Ah, he’s the president of the United States… look at the work he’s doing, and see how he’s delivering to the American people.”
During a press conference in August 2023, Jean-Pierre called for an update from the Biden administration, citing fatigue. When staff members implied that Biden might be coddled, she firmly rebutted, saying, “No one treats the US president, the commander, like a baby. That’s ridiculous.”
Jean-Pierre also pushed back against Robert Hur’s assessment, which characterized Biden as an “older man with a bad memory.” She described Hur’s views as disconnected from reality, asserting that “some of the reports are not living in reality.”
In a book titled *Original Sin*, by CNN anchor Jake Tapper and reporter Alex Thompson, there are claims that Cabinet officials had limited access to Biden and even speculated about his potential need for a wheelchair in a second term.
Additionally, she dismissed the notion that video footage depicting Biden was genuine, referring to it as “cheap fakes” and asserting that it stemmed from misinformation in a June 2024 interview with MSNBC’s Nicole Wallace. “It’s also very humiliating to the viewers who watch it,” she stated, calling for accountability in media reporting.
Even after Biden’s debate performance in June raised concerns among Democrats, Jean-Pierre remained steadfast in her defense, claiming he was “sharper than ever.” When questions arose about a possible cover-up regarding Biden’s health following his exit from the race last July, Jean-Pierre firmly asserted, “First of all, there was no cover-up. I want to be very clear about that.”
No further comments were provided by Jean-Pierre.
