In a recent appearance on “The View,” President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden addressed allegations from Democratic sources in new books suggesting a “dramatic decline” in the president’s mental sharpness during the latter part of his term. Biden firmly dismissed these claims, stating, “They are wrong. There’s nothing to sustain that.”
Jill Biden supported her husband’s assertion, emphasizing his tireless work ethic. “One of the things, I think, is that the people who wrote those books were not in the White House with us. And they didn’t see how hard Joe worked every single day. I mean, he’d get up.
He’d put in a full day, and then at night he would — I’d be in bed, you know, reading my book, and he was still on the phone, reading his briefings. Working with staff. I mean, it was nonstop,” she said. Their comments aimed to counter narratives questioning the president’s capacity to lead.
White House Insiders Report Differing Views
Axios reporter Alex Thompson, speaking on “CNN News Central” with host Boris Sanchez, offered a contrasting perspective based on his reporting.
When asked about Biden’s dismissal of the decline claims, Thompson stated, “Well, I‘d say, our reporting shows that many people inside the Biden White House disagree, and they do believe that there was a significant decline and a cover-up of that, especially in 2023 and 2024.”
His remarks suggest internal discord within the administration, with some staff reportedly perceiving efforts to downplay concerns about Biden’s mental acuity during his final years in office.
Thompson’s reporting has drawn attention for its detailed coverage of Biden’s challenging debate performance against President Donald Trump and the subsequent events culminating in Biden’s decision to withdraw from the presidential race.
His insights stem from extensive access to White House sources, providing a window into the administration’s inner dynamics.
Media Accountability and Public Trust
Recently honored with the White House Correspondents’ Association’s Aldo Beckman Award for Overall Excellence in White House Coverage, Thompson used his acceptance speech to reflect on the media’s role in covering Biden’s tenure.
He criticized the broader media landscape for initially overlooking signs of Biden’s struggles, noting, “President Biden’s decline and its cover-up by the people around him is a reminder that every White House, regardless of party, is capable of deception.”
Thompson acknowledged the impact of this oversight on public perception, stating, “Some people trust [the media] less because of it. We bear some responsibility for faith in the media being at such lows. I say this because acknowledging errors builds trust, and being defensive about them further erodes it.”
He concluded with a call for improvement, saying, “We should have done better.” His remarks highlight the challenges of balancing rigorous reporting with maintaining public confidence in journalism.
