Radio host Charlamagne reached out to California Rep. Eric Swalwell during a podcast episode on Thursday after Swalwell seemed unaware of concerns regarding former President Joe Biden’s decline in another interview earlier in the week.
Charlamagne pressed Swalwell about Biden’s condition during a June 3 discussion on “Breakfast Club.” However, Swalwell and other lawmakers downplayed their awareness of the situation and reduced their interactions with Biden. Charlamagne emphasized that for Democrats aspiring to lead, honesty about Biden’s decline is essential.
Charlamagne posed several straightforward questions, asking why Americans should continue to trust Democrats after feeling misled. He mentioned a recent book he read about “the original sin” and accused Democrats of being complicit in covering up Biden’s mental and physical issues, asserting they portrayed him as healthy while knowing otherwise.
Swalwell countered, suggesting that most Democrats lack “behind the scenes” access to Biden and admitted he hadn’t spent much time with him. Charlamagne responded that he wasn’t close to Biden either, yet had still noted Biden’s decline. Still, Swalwell refrained from acknowledging any personal knowledge about the former president’s deteriorating condition.
In another clip, Charlamagne challenged Swalwell on the trustworthiness of Democrats following alleged dishonesty regarding Biden. Instead of addressing Biden’s decline directly, Swalwell focused on advocating for the party’s healthcare policies.
Commenting on the clips, Andrew Schultz remarked that the public cannot trust Democrats who support lies. Charlamagne added that anyone aiming to shape the party’s future needs to take substantial responsibility for the issues at hand, criticizing Swalwell and his peers for pledging ignorance.
A book released in April, titled “Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House,” indicated Swalwell had concerns about Biden’s mental acuity as recently as 2023. He reportedly shared a moment with Biden during a White House picnic where the former president struggled to recognize him. It was noted that Swalwell had to jog Biden’s memory for specific details.
In March 2024, Swalwell expressed his thoughts in an MSNBC opinion piece, pointing out Biden’s “poor memories” while critiquing a report by special advisor Robert Huar. Despite his criticism, Swalwell defended Biden’s mental capacity in light of a recent speech he delivered to Congress. He wrote that Biden addressed worries about his recognition and familiarity during that address.
