Democrats are once again discussing former President Joe Biden’s health after Dr. Jill Biden revealed on Wednesday that she feared Joe was having a stroke during the 2024 presidential debate.
Dr. Jill expressed her “terrified” feelings to CBS News after witnessing Joe’s blunder on national television, which led to his removal from the Democratic nomination. Despite her distress, she cleverly maneuvered the situation, even bringing up the sitting president during a post-debate breakfast at Waffle House in Atlanta.
When asked about his performance at the famous Southern gathering known for its lively atmosphere, Joe remarked that he felt he did well because of seeing Dr. Jill accept a cup from him. A reporter later inquired if he had concerns about his performance, to which Joe firmly replied, “No, it’s hard to argue with a liar.”
However, many Democrats are upset over the lack of transparency regarding Joe’s health and find Dr. Jill’s late admission particularly frustrating. Michael LaRosa, a former communications director for Dr. Jill, stated, “When you wait this long to tell your story, it becomes very difficult to put the toothpaste back in the tube. She owed it to herself to be candid and transparent.”
In a recent interview, Dr. Jill stated, “As I watched it, I thought, ‘Oh my God, he’s having a stroke,’ and it scared me to death,” as she recounted her fear about Joe’s debate performance.
LaRosa commented that simply writing a book doesn’t suffice anymore, mentioning that she had already missed opportunities to influence public perception about her and their lives. Dr. Jill’s memoir, “View from the East Wing,” is set to premiere on Sunday, with a teaser coming out on Tuesday.
Tommy Vietor, a former Obama staffer, remarked that the book seems aimed at dispelling cover-up allegations. He pointed out that Dr. Jill’s comments regarding Joe possibly being drugged or having an electrical issue were offensive, especially considering the criticism from their family and campaign towards others who shared similar concerns.
Jon Favreau, another co-host of Pod Save America, echoed the sentiment, indicating that while he agreed with Dr. Jill’s assessment, the Biden campaign had insisted that those questioning the president’s performance were overreacting.
Furthermore, after the debate, Joe’s press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, dismissed inquiries about whether Joe had consulted a doctor or undergone a neurological exam. She reflected, “It was a bad night. I understand it was a bad night. The president has talked about this, and he understands it.”
