Former White House official acknowledges fears over Biden’s fitness for office
A former senior aide to former President Joe Biden has admitted that the administration deliberately downplayed growing concerns about Biden’s age and health, misleading the American public in the process.
Michael LaRosa, who previously served as White House aide and longtime press secretary for First Lady Jill Biden, revealed that the campaign was fully aware “from day one” that Biden’s age posed a challenge. He acknowledged that staffers were deeply concerned about allowing the 81-year-old to engage in unscripted interviews ahead of the election.
“Gaslighting” and internal concerns over Biden’s public appearances
Speaking at a seminar hosted by the Science Institute at American University, LaRosa admitted that Biden’s team worked to minimize public perception of the issue. “Calling it a cover-up might be too strong, but every politician tries to manage concerns about their age,” he said. “We knew from the beginning that age was a factor.”
He went further to acknowledge that the administration had engaged in what he described as “gaslighting” by denying polling data and public concerns. “There was a lot of denial about what the numbers were showing,” LaRosa admitted. “The campaign and former colleagues were pushing a message to downplay the issue and convince people it was too early to worry.”
Campaign’s fear of unscripted moments
Despite repeated assurances from the White House that Biden was in good health, internal worries about his fitness were widespread. According to LaRosa, the campaign avoided allowing Biden to engage in unplanned interactions or live television appearances.
“The president’s team was terrified of anything impromptu, unscripted, or unrehearsed,” he said. “They couldn’t adapt to the fast-paced media environment, and they didn’t believe Biden could, either.”
While LaRosa noted that Biden himself enjoyed public appearances and television, his advisers lacked confidence in his ability to perform under pressure. “Biden loved being in front of the camera, but his own team didn’t trust him,” he said. “Instead of letting him engage, they tightened control, never easing up. Politically, it left him in a vulnerable position.”
Public struggles and eventual withdrawal from the race
Biden’s campaign was plagued by persistent concerns about his verbal missteps, moments of confusion, and physical stumbles. As negative polling continued to mount, pressure over his cognitive health ultimately led Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, endorsing then-Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor.
LaRosa’s remarks came in response to a question about a recent book co-authored by CNN’s Jake Tapper, which details the extent to which the Biden administration and its allies sought to conceal concerns over his cognitive decline.
Tapper, who had previously dismissed worries about Biden’s age during the campaign, has since faced backlash on social media for his reporting on the subject.
As the revelations continue to unfold, they raise further questions about transparency within political campaigns and the extent to which officials shape public perception of their candidates.
