House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries repeatedly dodged questions about President Biden’s alleged cognitive decline during a CNN interview, raising questions about Democratic leadership’s transparency before the 2024 election.
Key Insights
- CNN anchors pressed Jeffries about claims in Jake Tapper’s forthcoming book “Original Sin” that Democrats concealed Biden’s mental decline
- Jeffries repeatedly deflected questions, stating “We’re not looking backward. We’re looking forward at this particular moment in time.”
- The book alleges Biden failed to recognize George Clooney at a fundraiser the actor was hosting
- Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer similarly avoided questions about Biden’s fitness, mentioning a mysterious “plan B”
- Biden’s decision to run in 2024 despite health concerns is cited as a key factor in the Democratic loss to President Trump
CNN Anchors Confront Jeffries with Bombshell Allegations
During a tense CNN interview, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries faced direct questioning about Democratic leadership’s alleged cover-up of President Biden’s cognitive decline prior to the 2024 election. Wolf Blitzer cited explosive claims from CNN anchor Jake Tapper’s upcoming book, co-authored with Alex Thompson, titled “Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again.” The book, based on over 200 interviews, reportedly reveals how Biden’s inner circle concealed his deteriorating mental state from the American public.
When confronted with specific allegations that Biden failed to recognize George Clooney at a fundraiser the actor was hosting, Jeffries sidestepped the question entirely. “I can’t tell you what happened between George Clooney and President Biden that wasn’t at that event,” Jeffries responded. “What I can say is that we’re not looking back. We’re gonna continue to look forward because at this moment, we’ve got real problems that need to be addressed on behalf of the American people.”
Pattern of Deflection Among Democratic Leadership
Jeffries’ evasiveness appears to be part of a broader pattern among Democratic leaders questioned about Biden’s fitness to serve. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer demonstrated similar deflection tactics when asked about his February 2024 meeting with Biden, which reportedly raised serious concerns about the then-president’s mental state. “Kasie, we’re looking forward. We have the largest Medicaid cut in front of us–” Schumer responded before abruptly concluding with, “That’s it.”
“We’re not looking backward. We’re looking forward at this particular moment in time,” said Hakeem Jeffries.
CNN’s Pamela Brown pressed further, challenging Jeffries on the trust issue at the heart of these allegations: “You say we’re not looking back, we’re looking forward, but what happened in the past has to do with what’s going to happen in the future and whether voters can trust Democrats. As you look back, you were in a leadership position when President Biden decided to run again. Should you have done more at that point to intervene?” Jeffries again pivoted to discussing recent special election victories rather than addressing the substance of Biden’s condition.
Book Details Serious Concerns About Biden’s Health
Tapper’s book, scheduled for release on May 20, reportedly provides extensive documentation of Biden’s declining cognitive abilities. According to published excerpts, Biden’s condition deteriorated to the point where aides feared he might require a wheelchair during the 2023-2024 campaign period. The book also alleges that Democratic leadership, including Schumer, had developed a “plan B” in anticipation of Biden potentially becoming incapacitated.
“Why should voters trust Democrats when it’s clear so many in your party went to great lengths to keep Biden’s condition hidden, hidden from the public?” asked Wolf Blitzer.
Penguin Press, the book’s publisher, describes Biden’s decision to seek reelection as “narcissistic and reckless.” After Biden’s disastrous June 27 debate performance against Donald Trump, which publicly revealed what many insiders allegedly already knew, he eventually withdrew from the race in July. This late withdrawal created a chaotic scramble for a new Democratic candidate, further damaging party prospects in what ultimately became a decisive victory for President Trump.
Sources:
- Top Democrats Dodge Questions About Biden’s Fitness Amid Bombshell Book – Newsweek
- CNN Anchors Take Turns Asking Hakeem Jeffries About Biden’s Mental Decline: ‘Why Should Voters Trust Democrats?’
- Watch Hakeem Jeffries Squirm When Pressed on Biden Cover-Up – PJ Media
