A forthcoming book by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’ Alex Thompson sheds new light on how President Joe Biden’s closest aides increasingly controlled access to him during his final two years in office, leaving many Cabinet members sidelined. Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, based on over 200 interviews with Democratic insiders, reveals growing concerns about Biden’s cognitive and physical condition in 2023 and 2024.
According to the book, key Cabinet secretaries reported a significant drop in their interactions with the president. One official described being required to brief senior White House aides rather than Biden directly, raising suspicions about whether information was being filtered to guide presidential decision-making. Another secretary said that Biden “could give four to six good hours a day,” but grew noticeably less sharp when tired.
The authors detail internal discussions among Biden’s aides about whether he would need a wheelchair in a second term. They also recount instances of disorientation, such as Biden reportedly failing to recognize actor George Clooney at a fundraiser.
Despite these signs, Biden’s team continued to push for reelection, with his inner circle allegedly shielding him from negative news, including concerns about his own health. One Cabinet member lamented, “The staff did him wrong. If you knew this was a problem, why didn’t you go to him and say something?”
A Biden spokesperson dismissed the book’s claims, asserting the president remained effective throughout his term. However, Tapper and Thompson suggest a troubling disconnect between Biden and his administration as his presidency drew to a close.
