A bombshell report reveals extensive efforts by White House officials to conceal President Joe Biden's cognitive decline throughout his presidency.
According to Daily Mail, the administration employed various strategies, including hiring a voice coach and rescheduling meetings to mask Biden's diminishing mental capabilities since the beginning of his term.
The Wall Street Journal investigation exposed a years-long cover-up involving senior staff who would cancel national security meetings on Biden's "bad days" and limit his interactions with Cabinet members. White House spokesperson Andrew Bates has refuted these claims, highlighting Biden's accomplishments as commander-in-chief and his focus on policy details affecting millions of lives.
A small group of close advisors known as the "Biden whisperers" - Bruce Reed, Steve Ricchetti, and Mike Donilon - maintained tight control over the president's schedule and interactions. Their influence grew as Biden's condition worsened, with lower-level staff complaining about the secretive triumvirate's outsized power. The protective circle intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, using health protocols as additional justification for limiting Biden's exposure.
Senior officials, including Steve Ricchetti, Jake Sullivan, and Lael Brainard, were tasked with assuming roles typically handled by the president. Staff members who witnessed the situation described intense "hand holding" and constant physical proximity to Biden by his closest aides. Press teams were instructed to exclude negative coverage from news briefings.
Democratic Congressman Adam Smith's experience highlighted the administration's tight control. When Smith, then chair of the House Armed Services Committee, tried reaching Biden before the Afghanistan withdrawal to share concerns, his attempts were blocked. After publicly criticizing Biden following the deaths of 13 U.S. service members, Smith received only one personal call from the president during his entire term.
The eight-year age gap between President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden created additional challenges for the administration. Staff worried that Dr. Biden's packed schedule and energy level would highlight the president's slower pace. During the 2020 campaign, aides deliberately downplayed the number of events Jill Biden was holding.
The administration also sought Hollywood connections to address Biden's deteriorating speaking ability. Studio executive Jeffrey Katzenberg was asked to help find a voice coach as Biden's voice became increasingly wavering and faint. When vocal issues arose, staff would find ways to avoid phone calls and public appearances.
The president relied heavily on detailed instruction cards for basic tasks like walking, sitting, and where to look during events. Staff often had to repeat cues multiple times, demonstrating what one source called an unprecedented level of "hand holding" for a sitting president.
The extent of Biden's decline became undeniable during his June 2024 debate with Donald Trump. His performance was marked by gaffes, fumbles, and blank stares that proved catastrophic for his re-election campaign. The televised event lasted 90 minutes and led both the public and senior Democrats to call for Biden to end his bid for a second term.
Just one month after the debate, Biden withdrew from the presidential race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump would go on to defeat Harris in the November 5 election. The revelation of this extensive cover-up has left many Democrats angry, viewing Biden as selfish for remaining in the race despite his condition.
His final acts as president, including pardoning his son Hunter Biden for lying on a federal gun form, have further damaged his legacy. As Biden prepares to leave office, polls show his approval rating has reached an all-time low.
The White House orchestrated an elaborate years-long effort to conceal President Biden's deteriorating mental condition, employing strategies from voice coaching to strict scheduling control. These measures were overseen by a small group of trusted advisors who maintained unprecedented influence over presidential access and communications. The revelations have sparked criticism from fellow Democrats and contributed to Biden's historically low approval ratings as he prepares to leave office.
