A new book by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios reporter Alex Thompson offers a portrait of former President Joe Biden’s final years in office, alleging that his aides attempted to conceal signs of cognitive decline as he sought a second term. “Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again,” released Tuesday, May 20, argues that Biden’s decision to pursue reelection in 2024 set off a concerted effort to limit public insight into his health.
According to the authors, Biden’s inner circle restricted access to the president and structured his schedule to accommodate periods when he appeared more alert. The book cites anonymous Democratic insiders who reportedly compared Biden’s behavior to that of family members with Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.
How did Biden’s team respond to concerns about his health?
The authors report that staffers avoided placing Biden in unscripted or extended public settings, scheduling his workday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and carefully scripting his appearances. Aides allegedly discouraged him from taking a cognitive test, instead offering familiar explanations that attributed gaffes to Biden’s long-standing reputation for verbosity and verbal slip-ups.
Tapper and Thompson say they interviewed approximately 200 current and former officials, many of whom may not publicly acknowledge participating but helped shape what the authors call an unfiltered account of Biden’s presidency behind the scenes.
What incidents raised questions among allies?
The book reports that alarm grew among Democratic donors, campaign strategists and even Cabinet members in the lead-up to the 2024 election. Some reportedly viewed Biden as a symbolic figurehead, while others feared raising concerns might inadvertently aid President Donald Trump’s campaign.
Tapper and Thompson recount when Biden reportedly failed to recognize actor George Clooney at a fundraiser. In another episode, aides allegedly discussed using a wheelchair if Biden were to win a second term. A physician quoted in the book criticized the White House’s refusal to diagnose or disclose health concerns, saying: “If there’s no diagnosis, there’s nothing to disclose.”
What role did Biden’s family and senior staff play?
The book identifies two groups who supported Biden’s decision to run again: his family and a circle of senior aides internally referred to as “the Politburo.”
Tapper and Thompson argue that this inner circle enabled a misguided campaign fueled by loyalty, denial and political theater.
“He stole an election from the Democratic Party,” one unnamed strategist who publicly supported Biden reportedly told the authors. “He stole it from the American people.”
How have Democrats reacted to the book and Biden’s diagnosis?
The book’s release follows Biden’s recent announcement that he has an aggressive form of prostate cancer, further complicating the Democratic Party’s response. While some lawmakers defended his record in office, others, including Rep. Ro Khanna and former presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke, have now said he should not have run again.
Sen. Chris Murphy and others acknowledged the party’s mistake in not fielding a stronger alternative on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” Yet many lawmakers have since urged a pause in criticism to focus on Biden’s health.
“But right now, listen, when it comes to President Biden, I think we should all focus on his recovery and thinking about him,” Rep. Josh Gottheimer said Monday. “There’s plenty of time always to talk about what should have been. But I know right now we’re all thinking about his quick recovery, and that’s what I’m focused on.”
