Biden's cognitive decline becomes a focus as staffers speak out

As President Joe Biden prepares to exit the White House, his cognitive decline has become a topic of growing concern, with multiple staff members coming forward to share their observations. Biden, at 82 years old, became the oldest president in U.S. history, and his mental and physical health have increasingly come under scrutiny in recent months.

In June 2024, after a debate that showcased his frailty and raised doubts about his mental faculties, Biden made the decision to withdraw from his re-election bid. This moment marked the beginning of widespread speculation about his ability to continue in office.

As his presidency winds down, former colleagues and aides have begun to reflect on his diminishing control over key decisions. In an interview with The Free Press, Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the House under the incoming Trump administration, shared an unsettling encounter with the president. During a January 2024 meeting, Johnson asked Biden why he had paused liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to Europe, a move that had been made months earlier via an executive order. To Johnson’s surprise, Biden seemed completely unaware of the decision, claiming he had not signed such an order.

Johnson described his shock at the interaction, noting that Biden appeared unaware of critical policy decisions. “I walked out of that meeting with fear and loathing,” Johnson said, expressing concern over the state of leadership. “Who is running the country?”

In addition to these individual accounts, a New York Times report revealed that several of Biden's closest advisers had been actively managing his decline. According to the report, aides would adjust his schedule based on his mood and avoid presenting him with negative news. On public outings, such as his trips to the South Lawn to board the presidential helicopter, staff members were often present to help mitigate the visual effects of his frailty in front of cameras.

As Biden prepares to leave office, the revelations about his cognitive decline highlight the struggles he faced in his final months as president and the lengths his staff took to maintain control over the White House's daily operations.