Biden Aides Discussed Putting Him in a Wheelchair for Potential Second Term: Book
Aides to former President Joe Biden privately discussed putting the president in a wheelchair should he have managed to win a second term, according to new details from an upcoming book by CNN's Jake Tapper and Axios' Alex Thompson.
According to details of the book published by Axios on Tuesday, in Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, Thompson and Tapper write that concern about Biden's declining health was so acute amongst his staff that 'there were internal discussions about putting the president in a wheelchair, but they couldn't do so until after the election.'
'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 book adds.
Fears over the optics of a president in a wheelchair in the middle of a reelection campaign ultimately stayed their hand, but Thompson and Tapper write that the former president's team began taking precautions to avoid falls or other incidents, including decreasing the amount of walking expected of him, briefing him on routes, and having him wear sneakers more often.
In a statement to Axios, a Biden spokesperson said that the former president's stiff gait toward the end of his term had been 'caused, in part, by wear and tear to his spine — but that no special treatment was necessary and that it had not worsened.'
'He was transparent about this, and it was far from 'severe,'' they added. 'Yes, there were physical changes as he got older, but evidence of aging is not evidence of mental incapacity […] We are still waiting for someone, anyone, to point out where Joe Biden had to make a presidential decision or make a presidential address where he was unable to do his job because of mental decline. In fact, the evidence points to the opposite — he was a very effective president.'
According to a separate review by The Guardian, which obtained a copy of the book, former Obama Campaign Manager David Plouffe told the authors of Original Sin that Biden 'totally fucked us' by clinging onto the campaign despite clear signs to exit the race.
Another source who spoke to Tapper and Thompson said that staff had 'attempted to shield [Biden] from his own staff so many people didn't realize the extent of the decline beginning in 2023.'
'I love Joe Biden. When it comes to decency, there are few in politics like him. Still, it was a disservice to the country and to the party for his family and advisers to allow him to run again,' the unnamed senior aide added. A prominent Democratic strategist is quoted saying that 'it was an abomination' and that Biden 'stole an election from the Democratic party; he stole it from the American people.'
There were several moments where Biden's age and mental decline were clearly visible in the waning months of his presidency, most notably during his disastrous debate against President Donald Trump in June of last year. Set for release on May 20, Original Sin will grapple with the decline in Biden's health as it unfolded both privately and publicly — and how the former president's refusal to step aside and pass the torch until mere months before the election may have set the stage for a second Trump term.
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