Karine Jean-Pierre directly answers whether Biden has dementia after debate.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre made it clear that President Biden does not have Alzheimer’s or any form of dementia in response to questions raised after last week’s debate.
A reporter asked Jean-Pierre directly if President Biden, at 81 years old, suffers from Alzheimer’s, dementia, or any degenerative illness, to which she confidently replied, “It’s a no. And I hope you’re asking the other guy the same exact question,” referring to former President Trump.
The press briefing on Tuesday was the first since Biden’s debate performance, which led to calls from Democrats and media organizations for the president to consider dropping out of the election due to concerns about his age and mental sharpness. Biden was criticized for stumbling over his words, losing his train of thought, and appearing slow and weak compared to Trump.
Concerns about Biden’s mental fitness have been circulating for some time, intensifying after a report by Special Counsel Robert Hur described Biden as an elderly man with a poor memory.
Last month, the White House dismissed recorded instances of Biden’s mistakes during public events as “cheap fakes,” including a viral video showing Biden standing motionless at a Juneteenth concert event at the White House.
Jean-Pierre reiterated during the briefing that the administration stands by the cheap fake narrative, despite the debate raising widespread concern about the president’s mental acuity, particularly among left-wing allies.
The term “cheap fakes” refers to real videos that are allegedly altered or edited in a misleading way. Jean-Pierre clarified that the phrase originated from the media and was adopted by the administration to address misinformation targeting President Biden.
The Trump campaign demanded an apology for the use of the phrase, arguing that Biden’s decline was evident to everyone after the debate.
Most questions during the press briefing focused on Biden’s mental and physical health. Jean-Pierre emphasized that Biden, along with allies like former President Obama, acknowledged that the debate did not go well but highlighted that he is still fighting for the American people.
When asked if the White House is concealing information about the president’s health or his ability to perform his duties, Jean-Pierre firmly denied any such claims.
Reports questioning whether Biden underwent a medical examination or neurological scan after the debate were also addressed by Jean-Pierre, who stated that it was simply a bad night for the president, acknowledging that Biden understood the shortcomings of his performance.
The administration has been transparent about Biden’s health history, releasing detailed medical reports for his annual checkups to maintain open communication about his well-being.
On the same day as the press briefing, Rep. Lloyd Doggett from Texas called on Biden to withdraw from the presidential race, becoming the first elected Democrat to make such a statement.
Legacy media outlets, including the New York Times and the Chicago Tribune, published opinion pieces urging Biden to step down following the debate. Former elected officials and traditional allies of the party have echoed similar sentiments.
Despite these calls, the Biden campaign continues to push forward, with the president addressing his performance and focusing on his commitment to serving the American people.
