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The Wall Street Journal has made a striking revelation about Joe Biden's presidency, claiming in an article that associates and White House staff knew from his first day in office that there were concerns about his mental state. The 82-year-old Democrat reportedly faced such issues throughout his tenure.
The report alleges that White House officials implemented a "firewall" from Biden's first day in Washington, D.C., to obscure what was described as his "apparent mental decline."
As noted by the WSJ, "The limited access to the nation’s oldest president was widely recognized in Washington, with Biden holding the fewest extensive press conferences in modern history and frequently making gaffes during public appearances."
The publication, citing Democratic lawmakers, party donors, and White House staff, said the first measure to protect Biden was introduced even before he officially took office. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2021, his personal contacts were significantly restricted.
Managing "good days" and "bad days"
The strategy reportedly extended to adjustments in Biden’s daily schedule, tailored to his energy levels and incidents of fatigue. Meetings during the spring of 2021, for instance, were scheduled to accommodate what insiders referred to as his "good days" and "bad days."
A national security official reportedly told a presidential adviser at the time, "He has good days and bad days. Today was a bad day, so we’ll handle it tomorrow."
Additionally, Biden’s meetings were often pushed to later in the day, a practice highlighted after his widely criticized debate with Donald Trump. Associates revealed that, during the 2020 campaign, Biden struggled to maintain focus for longer than a six-hour window, which typically closed by 4 p.m.
Briefings and interactions
Briefings for Biden were also adjusted to be concise and comprehensive. One-on-one meetings were kept brief, and interactions with key cabinet members, including Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, reportedly became less frequent. According to a White House source, these measures led at least one cabinet member to stop attempting to meet with the president after repeated requests were denied.
The WSJ further reported that Biden’s team hired a voice coach to improve his communication and removed negative references about him from daily briefings. This approach allegedly left the president with little awareness of public sentiment, which reached a 70-year low in 2024.
The special prosecutor meeting
One particularly challenging incident for Biden’s mental stamina, according to the report, was his meeting with special prosecutor Robert Hur regarding what was later characterized as the "deliberate" retention of classified documents.
The meeting, which Biden himself reportedly requested in an effort to appear more cooperative than Trump, turned into a significant ordeal. Preparation sessions lasted three hours daily, but Biden reportedly struggled with his "catchphrases" and exhibited fluctuating energy levels. A transcript from the grueling two-day session in October 2023 revealed that he even forgot the year his son, Beau Biden, passed away from brain cancer.
The White House responds
In response, Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates disputed the claims, stating: "President Biden speaks with his cabinet members every day, and with most members several times a week, ensuring close collaboration to implement key laws and strengthen national security. President Biden leads a modern administration. While cabinet meetings remain an important tradition, the contemporary work environment makes them less frequent."
Source: Protothema
