Exclusive: Biden aides discussed wheelchair use if he were re-elected, new book says
In the book 'Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again,' authors Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson reveal discussions among Biden's aides about potentially using a wheelchair due to his severe physical deterioration in 2023 and 2024. The aides were particularly concerned about Biden's spine degeneration and the risk of falls, especially after a tripping incident at the Air Force Academy. Despite these health concerns, Biden, his family, and senior officials decided to continue his re-election campaign against Donald Trump. The White House attempted to downplay Biden's health issues by attributing his halting walk to an old foot fracture and his refusal to wear a walking boot consistently. A Biden spokesperson stated that his medical exam indicated a stiffened gait due to spinal wear and tear but did not necessitate special treatment or indicate worsening conditions.
Context:
In the book 'Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again,' authors Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson reveal discussions among Biden's aides about potentially using a wheelchair due to his severe physical deterioration in 2023 and 2024. The aides were particularly concerned about Biden's spine degeneration and the risk of falls, especially after a tripping incident at the Air Force Academy. Despite these health concerns, Biden, his family, and senior officials decided to continue his re-election campaign against Donald Trump. The White House attempted to downplay Biden's health issues by attributing his halting walk to an old foot fracture and his refusal to wear a walking boot consistently. A Biden spokesperson stated that his medical exam indicated a stiffened gait due to spinal wear and tear but did not necessitate special treatment or indicate worsening conditions.
Dive Deeper:
In 2023 and 2024, Biden's physical health deteriorated significantly, leading his aides to privately discuss the possibility of wheelchair use if he won re-election, reflecting the severity of his spinal degeneration.
Concerns about Biden's risk of falling increased after he tripped over a sandbag at the Air Force Academy in June 2023, prompting aides to take additional precautions before the November 2024 election.
White House officials attempted to conceal the true extent of Biden's health issues, risking his well-being during a challenging re-election campaign against Donald Trump.
Biden's aides attributed his halting walk to a foot fracture from 2020 and his refusal to wear a walking boot, suggesting his vigor was to blame for his condition.
Despite visible signs of physical and mental decline, Biden and his team decided to proceed with his re-election campaign, demonstrating determination to maintain his presidency.
A Biden spokesperson mentioned that his medical examination showed a stiffened gait partly due to spinal wear and tear but did not require special treatment and had not worsened.
The book 'Original Sin' sheds light on the internal concerns and strategies of Biden's aides regarding his health as he prepared for a second term at the age of 81.