Democrat Ro Khanna admits Biden was unfit to run as new book reveals White House efforts to conceal the president’s declining health that included discussions about wheelchair use and cognitive lapses.
At a Glance
- Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) acknowledged it is “obvious now” that President Biden “was not in a condition to run for reelection”
- CNN’s Jake Tapper’s forthcoming book “Original Sin” details Biden’s health decline and alleged efforts to cover it up
- The book reveals Biden’s staff discussed using a wheelchair and documents instances of cognitive lapses
- Top Democrats including Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries have dodged questions about Biden’s fitness
- Tapper criticizes Democrats for conducting a “smear campaign” against journalists who reported on Biden’s decline
Democratic Congressman Breaks Ranks on Biden’s Health
Representative Ro Khanna has become one of the first prominent Democrats to publicly acknowledge what many Americans suspected during the 2024 election cycle – President Biden was not fit to run for reelection. The California congressman’s candid admission comes as CNN anchor Jake Tapper prepares to release a book documenting Biden’s health struggles and the efforts within Democratic circles to conceal them from voters. Khanna has called for the Democratic party to be honest about its mistake in allowing Biden to pursue a second term.
“In my limited public interactions with the President, he appeared coherent. It is obvious now to me, based on @jaketapper and others reporting, that he was not in a condition to run for reelection, and he should have made the decision not to. We must be honest with people about our party’s mistake.” – Rep. Ro Khanna.
Khanna has gone further than most in his party, calling for Democrats to rebuild trust through transparency and advocating for open primaries to allow voters greater influence in selecting nominees. His statements represent a stark departure from the unified front Democrats maintained throughout much of Biden’s term when questions about the president’s mental acuity were frequently dismissed as partisan attacks.
New Book Reveals Alarming Details of Biden’s Decline
Jake Tapper’s forthcoming book, “Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again,” is set for release on May 20 and has already generated significant controversy. Co-authored with Alex Thompson and based on more than 200 interviews, the book portrays Biden as increasingly frail and cognitively compromised while being protected by inner circle advisers and Democratic party elites.
Among the most troubling revelations are discussions among White House staff about potentially using a wheelchair for the president and an incident where Biden failed to recognize actor George Clooney. The book also details how Biden’s disastrous performance during the June 27 presidential debate against Donald Trump was not an isolated incident but rather consistent with a pattern of decline that insiders had observed.
Democratic Leadership Avoids Questions
While Khanna has been forthcoming, other Democratic leaders have been notably evasive when questioned about Biden’s health and fitness. When asked directly about the revelations in Tapper’s book, both Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries deflected, focusing instead on future policy priorities rather than addressing the serious concerns raised about the president’s condition during his term.
“We’re not looking backward. We’re looking forward at this particular moment in time.” – Hakeem Jeffries.
Schumer similarly pivoted when pressed on the matter, saying “Kasie, we’re looking forward. We have the largest Medicaid cut in front of us–” before shifting to discuss current legislative matters. This reluctance to address the substance of the allegations has further fueled criticism that Democratic leadership prioritized party interests over transparency regarding the president’s capacity to serve.
Media Suppression Allegations
Perhaps most concerning for those who value press freedom are Tapper’s allegations that Democrats engaged in what he characterizes as a “smear campaign” against Wall Street Journal reporters who had documented Biden’s decline. The book suggests this was part of a broader pattern of efforts to suppress journalistic reporting that highlighted concerns about the president’s health and cognitive capabilities.
“Toni Morrison once said ‘If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.’ That’s what inspired this book: we wanted to know more about what we all just lived through. More than 200 interviews later, Alex and I have a much better idea. And soon you all will too.” – Jake Tapper.
Published by Penguin Press, the book description bluntly characterizes Biden’s decision to seek reelection as “narcissistic, self-delusional, and reckless.” Biden ultimately withdrew from the race in July following months of mounting pressure and concerns about his electability, leading to a scramble within the Democratic party to find a replacement candidate with less than four months before the election.
