A co-host on “The View” faced some tough moments on Tuesday with the emergence of new concerns regarding former President Joe Biden’s physical and mental health.
The book “Original Sin,” authored by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’s Alex Thompson, presents insights from former White House aides, Democrats, and various sources. The visibly frustrated co-host questioned the relevance of this information, suggesting the focus should be on President Donald Trump’s issues instead.
“Why is this something we need to know right now?” asked Whoopi Goldberg. “It just feels like there are so many urgent matters to address.”
“Look at Trump’s wrongdoings. I could list them,” Joy Behar interjected. “We’re talking about cuts to Medicaid, funding reductions for cancer research, rising prices driven by tariffs, and dismantling USAID, which helps vulnerable children globally. Not to mention fears of a recession and threats to due process and birthrights.”
Trump, for his part, promised that Republicans wouldn’t touch Medicaid but aimed to end birthright citizenship for children born to undocumented immigrants. Even amid imposing tariffs, inflation has eased beyond many economists’ predictions.
Alyssa Farah Griffin criticized the political left for seemingly backing the free press when targeting their opponents. “But whenever the critique is aimed at Democrats, they dismiss it as lies,” Griffin commented. “What are we doing? This isn’t how democracy should work.”
“I mean, I saw [Tapper] on CNN the other day promoting his book. When did that network turn into a book-selling platform? Do we see Wolf Blitzer promoting cookbooks next?” Behar added, feeling a little exasperated.
Goldberg attempted to defend Biden, considering he’s older and suggesting that age alone shouldn’t be equated with cognitive decline. She expressed surprise about why so many, who allegedly recognized Biden’s challenges, chose to remain silent throughout his presidency.
“If so many people knew he was struggling, where were they?” Goldberg questioned.
Reports indicate that several Congressional Democrats and past White House aides stated they were taken aback by Biden’s deteriorating condition, making many hesitant to openly discuss it or call for him to step down. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakim Jeffries even mentioned they didn’t feel the need to address his decline and were instead “looking forward to” his reelection.
Biden’s close aides reportedly shielded him from discussions with his own cabinet members to make sure he would run for reelection without interruptions. However, after a tough performance in a June 2024 debate, Congressional Democrats started urging him to withdraw from the race.
Dr. Kevin O’Connor, Biden’s personal physician, warned aides following a fall in June 2023 that Biden might soon require a wheelchair. This concern prompted his team to take extra precautions to prevent any public mishaps.
At a campaign fundraiser in June 2024, Biden allegedly overlooked even George Clooney, a longtime friend. Clooney was reportedly taken aback by Biden’s condition that evening.
Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has already spread to his bones. Medical professionals assert that he likely had cancer during his presidency, as it typically takes time to reach the advanced stage he’s in now.
Before the election, Tapper had expressed skepticism towards anyone suggesting that Biden was experiencing mental decline.
