- Original Sin reveals Bidenโs physical and cognitive decline, with aides privately discussing the possibility of using a wheelchair during his second term. At times, Biden forgot crucial details during meetings.
- George Clooney expressed concern over Bidenโs health after a fundraiser, noting his diminished appearance and failure to recognize him, as if Biden forgot who he was.
- Biden and his wife, Jill, defended his ability to serve, dismissing claims of cognitive decline and emphasizing his daily work ethic, even as critics speculated that Biden forgot important information occasionally.
New Book Highlights Bidenโs Physical Decline
A new book, Original Sin: President Bidenโs Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, reveals significant concerns about President Joe Bidenโs health. The authors, Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, discuss the physical and mental decline Biden experienced during the second half of his presidency. They draw from over 200 interviews, mostly with Democratic insiders, to show how Bidenโs condition worsened. The interviews took place after the 2024 election, allowing a clearer picture of Bidenโs health. One of the most striking moments from the book is when George Clooney, who had hosted a fundraiser for Biden, was shocked by how much the president seemed to have aged. Clooney, who had seen Biden just months earlier, was taken aback by how much more frail and diminished Biden appeared. Clooney even failed to recognize the president at the event, which raised serious concerns about Bidenโs condition and suggested moments where Biden forgot his surroundings.
Clooneyโs Discomfort and the Fundraiser Incident
The fundraiser with Clooney occurred in June 2024, just before Bidenโs disastrous debate against Donald Trump. Clooney had planned the event to support Bidenโs re-election campaign. However, when Biden arrived, his physical and mental state was immediately noticeable. He seemed disoriented and could not recognize Clooney at first, which made the encounter uncomfortable. Bidenโs aides had taken steps to manage his health during the campaign, but this moment exposed the reality of his declining health. Bidenโs lack of recognition was a major alarm for those close to him. It wasnโt just a fleeting moment; it was part of a larger pattern of issues Biden was facing. Biden had difficulty remembering names and often stared blankly at people, even those he knew for years. This episode made Clooney rethink his support for Biden, which led to his decision to write an op-ed calling for Biden to step down from the race.
Clooneyโs Op-Ed and His Conversation with Obama
After the fundraiser, Clooney became more concerned about Bidenโs health and the implications for his second term. He felt uncomfortable with how Bidenโs condition was affecting his ability to connect with people. Clooney knew the implications of having an impaired president run for another term. In the following weeks, Clooney shared his concerns with former President Barack Obama. Clooney felt Bidenโs health was too serious a matter to ignore, and he was deeply troubled by Bidenโs performance. Obama urged Clooney not to go public with his concerns, suggesting that Biden would likely ignore such a challenge. Clooney respected Obama but believed Bidenโs condition was too concerning to leave unaddressed. He decided to write an op-ed, calling on Biden to withdraw from the race. Clooney shared the draft with Jeffrey Katzenberg, another key Democratic donor, to get his thoughts.
Katzenbergโs Advice and Ricchettiโs Reaction
Katzenberg read the op-ed and disagreed with Clooneyโs assessment of Bidenโs health. Katzenberg thought Bidenโs performance at the fundraiser was influenced by jet lag and exhaustion. He believed Clooney was too harsh in his criticism. Still, Katzenberg agreed with the need to address Bidenโs health but suggested revising the op-ed before it was published. Clooney wasnโt willing to change his stance. He stood by his view that Bidenโs cognitive state had significantly deteriorated, and he felt it was important to share that with the public. Clooney also made sure the op-ed highlighted Bidenโs struggles at the fundraiser and his overall decline. However, Clooneyโs decision to write the op-ed wasnโt without consequence. Steve Ricchetti, one of Bidenโs closest aides, became furious after reading it. Ricchetti responded angrily, with some even describing his reaction as โmob boss-like.โ Ricchetti threatened to shut Clooney down and make sure the op-ed never saw the light of day. Clooney, though, was resolute in his position and continued to push for greater transparency about Bidenโs health.
Biden and Jill Biden Defend His Performance
In response to Clooneyโs op-ed and the growing public concerns about his health, both Joe Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, defended the presidentโs ability to perform his duties. In a joint interview on The View, Jill Biden pushed back against claims of cognitive decline. She argued that people who criticized her husbandโs health had no real understanding of how hard he worked each day. She shared personal stories of how, even in the most exhausting moments, Biden would continue working long hours. Jill explained that while she spent her evenings reading books, Biden would stay up, reading briefings, answering emails, and meeting with his staff. She emphasized that Biden was fully capable of handling the demands of the presidency, despite the physical challenges that came with aging.
