Neuroscientist Sam Harris admits he was deceived about President Biden’s cognitive health but still maintains a committee of “normal people” would be better than Trump in the White House.
At a Glance
- Sam Harris, a prominent neuroscientist and author, recently acknowledged he was misled about President Biden’s cognitive capabilities
- Harris previously defended Biden’s mental acuity, separating public communication issues from decision-making abilities
- Despite his new doubts, Harris maintained that preventing Trump’s return to power remains more important than Biden’s cognitive fitness
- Harris stated he would prefer “a president in a coma” with duties executed by a committee rather than having Trump in office
- Democrats are facing increased scrutiny over their handling of Biden’s cognitive health during the 2024 election cycle
Harris’s Changing Position on Biden’s Cognitive Health
Sam Harris, a well-known neuroscientist and author, has publicly revised his position regarding President Biden’s mental capacity. After previously defending the president’s cognitive abilities, Harris now acknowledges he was misled about Biden’s true mental state. This reversal comes amid growing scrutiny of the Democratic Party’s handling of concerns about the president’s fitness for office. For months, Harris had maintained that Biden was mentally sharp in private settings despite his public communication struggles, drawing a distinction between communication issues and decision-making capabilities.
In recent statements, Harris expressed doubts about what he now suspects was an effective cover-up of Biden’s cognitive decline. “It’s at least intelligible to say, ‘Okay, he’s not a good communicator. He was never a good communicator, he’s only getting worse,'” Harris stated, reflecting on his previous defense of the president. His evolving position aligns with broader questions facing Democratic leaders who supported Biden’s reelection bid despite mounting evidence of potential cognitive issues.
Democrats Face Reckoning Over Biden’s Candidacy
Several prominent Democrats have begun publicly addressing whether the party made the right decision in backing Biden for reelection. Senator Chris Murphy criticized the Democratic Party for allowing President Biden to remain on the 2024 ballot, suggesting it was a mistake not to listen to voters who wanted a new nominee. Murphy, who is considered a potential 2028 presidential contender, acknowledged that while Biden appeared in control during their legislative work in 2023, public sentiment clearly favored change by 2024.
“To rebuild trust, Democrats must be honest. In light of the facts that have come out, Joe Biden should not have run for reelection, and we should have had an open primary.” – Rep. Ro Khanna.
Not all Democrats share this view. Representative James Clyburn, a longtime Biden ally, has defended the president’s leadership abilities. “I never saw anything that allowed me to think that Joe Biden was not able to do the job,” Clyburn stated. The divergent perspectives highlight the complicated position Democrats find themselves in as they attempt to address questions about Biden’s condition while focusing on future challenges rather than past decisions.
Harris’s Trump Opposition Transcends Biden Concerns
Despite his shifting position on Biden’s cognitive health, Harris maintains that his primary concern has always been preventing former President Trump from returning to office. In stark terms, Harris expressed that his opposition to Trump supersedes any concerns about Biden’s mental fitness. “Even that is preferable to me and to, I think, many Democrats, than having someone who we consider to be genuinely evil—genuinely 100% purposed to serving himself in the office of the presidency,” Harris stated.
“I would rather have a president in a coma, where the duties of the presidency are executed by a committee of just normal people” – Sam Harris.
Harris’s comments reveal what critics describe as the underlying strategy of many Biden supporters: a willingness to overlook potential cognitive decline in service of the greater goal of keeping Trump out of the White House. Harris’s statement that he would prefer “a president in a coma” with duties executed by a committee rather than Trump has drawn criticism from conservative commentators who argue this perspective undermines democratic principles and the public’s right to accurate information about their elected officials.
The Aftermath and Looking Forward
The conversation around Biden’s cognitive health has intensified following his decision to drop out of the 2024 race after a poor debate performance. Reports that Biden was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer, which reportedly contributed to his decision to withdraw, have added another layer to the ongoing discussion. A new book titled “Original Sin” claims there was a White House cover-up of Biden’s cognitive decline, while leaked audio of Biden’s 2023 interview with special counsel Robert Hur has further fueled the controversy.
As potential 2028 Democratic contenders like Murphy, Buttigieg, and others position themselves for the future, their handling of questions about Biden’s cognitive abilities reveals differing approaches to addressing this sensitive topic. While some call for candid acknowledgment of past mistakes, others prefer to focus on future challenges. The National Republican Congressional Committee has accused House Democrats of covering up Biden’s condition, signaling this issue will likely remain a point of political contention in upcoming election cycles.
