In a recent interview, former President Bill Clinton reportedly addressed the ongoing discussions surrounding former President Joe Biden’s health, asserting he has not witnessed any signs of cognitive or physical decline in his fellow Democrat.
Clinton’s comments come in the wake of a new book by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios reporter Alex Thompson, which raises concerns about Biden’s fitness for office.
During his appearance on “CBS Sunday Morning,” Clinton was questioned by correspondent Tracy Smith about the book titled “Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again.”
The book details perceptions within Biden’s inner circle regarding his waning mental and physical capabilities, prompting inquiries about whether Clinton ever doubted Biden’s ability to serve as president.
“No,” responded Clinton, who is 78 years old. “I thought he was a good president.” He acknowledged that his only concern related to Biden’s age and whether anyone could effectively handle the responsibilities of the presidency well into their 80s.
Clinton recalled having multiple in-depth discussions with Biden and stated, “I had never seen him and walked away thinking he can’t do this anymore. He was always on top of his briefs.”
Despite Clinton’s assurance, Biden’s re-election campaign faced pressures related to concerns about his mental acuity and overall electability.
Following a challenging debate performance against Donald Trump, Biden ultimately withdrew from the race, leading to Trump’s re-election and chaos within the Democratic party.
When pressed further about the allegations of decline, Clinton reiterated, “I didn’t know anything about any of this,” expressing that he had not read the book and did not perceive Biden in a negative light during their recent interactions.
He emphasized, “I thought he was in good shape.”
Clinton declined to delve into the book’s claims, stating that his focus remains on the challenges the nation faces today.
He expressed concern that some individuals might use Biden’s situation as a means to deflect blame for Trump’s return to power.
In light of the controversy, congressional Republicans have initiated inquiries into whether there was an effort to conceal Biden’s health status during his presidency.
House Oversight Chairman James Comer has demanded testimonies from Biden’s physician and former aides, especially after revelations that Biden is battling an aggressive form of prostate cancer.
Biden himself has responded defiantly to the scrutiny regarding his mental and physical capabilities. In a recent statement, he stated, “You can see that I’m mentally incompetent and I can’t walk, and I can beat the hell out of both of them,” seemingly directed at Tapper and Thompson.
As conversations surrounding Biden’s health continue to evolve, the political implications remain significant, with both parties navigating the complexities of leadership and public perception in an increasingly polarized environment.
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