According to Jake Tapper’s new book, Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, Biden aides considered putting Joe in a wheelchair if he were elected to a second term.
From Axios:
Joe Biden’s physical deterioration was so severe in 2023 and 2024 that advisers privately discussed the possibility he’d need to use a wheelchair if he won re-election, CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’ Alex Thompson write in their new book, “Original Sin,” out May 20.
Why it matters: The discussions reflected the extent of the president’s declining health — particularly the significant degeneration of his spine — and his aides’ alarm over it as Biden sought a second term at age 81.
The conversations also reveal the White House’s determination to conceal the reality of Biden’s condition, at the risk of his own health, while he faced a tough re-election bid against Donald Trump.
The book is based on interviews with more than 200 people, mostly Democratic insiders, with knowledge of the events that unfolded during the final two years of Biden’s presidency. Almost all of the interviews took place after the 2024 election.
Driving the news: “Biden’s physical deterioration — most apparent in his halting walk — had become so severe that there were internal discussions about putting the president in a wheelchair, but they couldn’t do so until after the election,” the authors write.
Biden aides believed it was politically untenable to have Biden use a wheelchair during his re-election campaign.
“Given Biden’s age, [his physician Kevin O’Connor] also privately said that if he had another bad fall, a wheelchair might be necessary for what could be a difficult recovery,” the authors report.
Former Trump aide Jason Miller shared the story, blasting the media and Democrats.
“The media ignored it. Dr. Kevin O’Connor covered it up. Biden’s WH staff outright lied about it,” Miller posted on X.
The media ignored it.
Dr. Kevin O’Connor covered it up.
Biden’s WH staff outright lied about it. ⏬
“1 big thing: Exclusive — Biden aides discussed wheelchair” https://t.co/axene8nsEf #axiosam
— Jason Miller (@JasonMiller) May 13, 2025
Read the full report over at Axios:
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Joe Biden's physical deterioration was so severe that advisers privately discussed the possibility he'd need to use a wheelchair if he won re-election, @jaketapper and @AlexThomp write in their new book. https://t.co/Vsgrjoz2JW
— Axios (@axios) May 13, 2025
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