New Book Reveals Instances of President Biden Forgetting Names and Showing Decline

New Book "Original Sin" Details Biden's Decline

• 📖 Authors Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson's new book, "Original Sin," details instances where President Biden struggled to recognize or remember the names of longtime aides.
• 🤫 The book suggests that Biden's top aides attempted to hide signs of his decline from the public.

Specific Instances of Memory Lapses

• 🚌 During an eight-day bus tour in Iowa in December 2019, Biden struggled to recall the name of longtime aide McDonnell.
• 🏛️ In 2022, while in the Outer Oval with national security adviser Jake Sullivan and communications director Kate Bedingfield, Biden could not recall either of their names, according to one witness.
• 🤝 Biden reportedly did not recognize Jamie Harrison, whom he had supported for DNC chair, at an event in 2023, shaking his hand without speaking.

Reporting and Sources

• 🗣️ Tapper and Thompson spoke to over 200 people, many of whom were Democratic insiders, wanting to share their concerns after the election.
• 📉 One significant moment highlighted was Senator Bennet's observation after an immigration event in June 2024, where Biden appeared to be having a rough time, leading Bennet to question his ability to manage the portfolio.
• ✂️ The authors had to cut approximately 25% of their material due to repetition, indicating the sheer volume of accounts detailing Biden's struggles.

Family's Role and Transparency

• ❓ The book explores the question of whether Jill Biden was aware of her husband's decline, with one person from Biden's orbit expressing anger that she didn't recognize it.
• 🩺 The authors note a pattern of denial and avoidance of transparency regarding health issues within the Biden family, citing the handling of Beau Biden's cancer treatment.
• 🤐 A family motto is described as "Don't acknowledge ugly," suggesting a tendency to avoid confronting difficult truths about health and personal issues.

Public Reaction and Authors' Defense

• 📢 Critics, including Biden's granddaughter Naomi, have accused the book of relying on anonymous sources and pushing a false narrative to absolve individuals of responsibility.
• 📺 Tapper states he observed Biden deteriorating in front of cameras but didn't have insight into the specific difficult moments detailed in the book until their reporting.
• ✍️ The authors stand by their reporting and hope that history will reveal the truth, acknowledging the family's tendency to stick together.