White House confirms Biden does not have Parkinson’s disease

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre faced intense questioning from reporters on Monday regarding President Joe Biden’s health status. Jean-Pierre made it clear that Biden is not receiving treatment for Parkinson’s disease, despite a specialist in the condition making repeated visits to the White House.

The press conference was dominated by inquiries about Biden’s health after it was revealed that a neurologist with expertise in Parkinson’s disease had visited the White House eight times between the summer of 2023 and this spring. Jean-Pierre emphasized that the president’s medical exam in February showed no signs of the neurodegenerative disease.

However, tensions escalated between the press secretary and journalists when Jean-Pierre refused to confirm the visits by Dr. Kevin Cannard, the specialist in question. Reporters pressed for explanations on why Cannard had visited multiple times, leading to a heated exchange during the press conference.

CBS News correspondent Ed O’Keefe expressed frustration over the lack of transparency, stating, “We’re miffed around here about how information has been shared with the press corps.” Jean-Pierre stood firm in not revealing details, saying, “It doesn’t matter how hard you push me, I’m not going to confirm a name. The president has seen a neurologist for his physical three times.”

Following the reports on Cannard’s visits, the White House clarified that visits by doctors, including specialists from the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, are common at the White House complex. Andrew Bates, a White House spokesperson, emphasized that various specialists meet with military personnel on the grounds for medical treatment.

Speculation about Biden’s cognitive and physical health has been circulating since his challenging debate performance against Donald Trump, the presumed GOP nominee. During the debate, Biden appeared to struggle with his thoughts, stumble over words, and show signs of confusion at times.

Initially, the White House attributed Biden’s performance to a cold, with Jean-Pierre later mentioning his busy travel schedule as a contributing factor to his debate struggles. Despite criticism and concerns, Biden has dismissed calls from within his party to withdraw from the presidential race.

Parkinson’s disease, a central nervous system disorder, is characterized by symptoms such as tremors, rigidity, and difficulties with coordination. In later stages, it can lead to dementia, psychosis, and behavioral changes.

While Biden has acknowledged his debate performance shortcomings, he remains committed to staying in the race and addressing the challenges ahead.