The Biden family, White House, and media allies went to great lengths to hide Joe Biden‘s cognitive decline ahead of last month’s disastrous presidential debate. According to a new report in New York Magazine, these efforts date as far back as the 2020 presidential election—appearing to confirm a “conspiracy of silence” within the Democratic Party to keep these issues from the public.
Olivia Nuzzi, the author of the report, claims that in January, she began hearing from Democratic officials, activists, and donors who questioned whether Biden could endure another term or even make it to Election Day. These concerns emerged after their personal interactions with the 81-year-old.
Multiple sources, including longtime friends of the Biden family, said that he struggles to remember names. Nuzzi shared an anecdote from a spring event where Biden did not recognize her despite their prior interactions. She described him as having a “waxy” face and an unresponsive gaze, noting his slow speech and a cool handshake in a warm room.
JILL IN CHARGE?
First Lady Jill Biden appears to play a crucial role in managing the president’s day-to-day interactions. In one incident reported by New York Magazine, Mrs. Biden had to prompt her husband to thank a donor by name when he could only manage a blank stare and a nod. During the same event, she was described as having a confused and panicked expression before speaking with Nuzzi, as if dealing with a family emergency.
The report highlights Biden’s good and bad days, recalling his 2020 campaign, during which he was sometimes energetic and personable but other times disconnected and inarticulate, especially during adverse news cycles.
As to who actually runs the executive branch, the report is less clear—speculating that the U.S. government is likely being managed by a core group of Biden advisers.
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