Jen Psaki, the MSNBC host and former White House press secretary, recently expressed in an interview that she never noticed any signs of decline in former President Joe Biden during her time working with him.
“I was in the Oval Office every day, especially around the debate phase, and I never saw anything concerning,” Psaki mentioned on a podcast called “Mixed Signal,” discussing Biden’s performance in the June 2024 debate. Notably, he withdrew from the race the following month and backed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate.
She acknowledged, “I’m not a doctor, and aging can happen really fast.” The podcast episode was released on Friday.
The former aide, who departed the White House in May 2022, shared that she had not seen Biden in-person in the two and a half years leading up to the November election.
Psaki reflected on Biden’s situation during a difficult summer before his exit in 2024, revealing her concern: “Is he okay?”
She did, however, caution against using the word “concealment” when discussing how the White House handled inquiries about the president’s age. “It’s a loaded term,” she explained, linking it to discussions about crime and scandals, pointing out that it can be a misleading way to frame the issue.
When pressed about the media’s coverage of Biden’s health, she hesitated to suggest that reporters should be more aggressive, despite acknowledging the significance of the topic.
Psaki also commented on the media’s approach, saying it might seem that many stories about Biden’s decline were missed, yet it’s easy to critique in hindsight. “There were important moments that went ignored,” she said.
On a related note, Axios reporter Alex Thompson pointed out during a correspondent dinner that the media should have been more diligent in addressing Biden’s health concerns.
Psaki hinted that one reason for caution from the press might be the aggressive narratives being presented by right-wing factions regarding Biden’s age. “Those efforts have been quite effective,” she remarked.
Moreover, she expressed regret over how the unfolding events of the 2024 race have tarnished Biden’s legacy and amplified doubts about his capabilities. Her successor, Karine Jean-Pierre, has frequently dismissed inquiries about Biden’s age, criticizing misleading videos circulating online.
Psaki is set to play a more prominent role at MSNBC, taking over the 9 PM time slot next Friday with a program titled “The Briefing.” This comes as Rachel Maddow, a leading MSNBC host, returns on Monday nights after having previously anchored five nights a week during the early days of Trump’s presidency.
Additionally, Psaki’s remarks coincide with the release of several revealing books about the presidential race in 2024, including “Uncharted” by Chris Whipple, which suggests Biden’s inner circle had confidence in his capacity to serve multiple terms despite various challenges.
