President Joe Biden's White House staff actively concealed his mental decline from the start of his presidency, an explosive investigation has revealed.
The bombshell report, based on interviews with nearly 50 people familiar with White House operations, reveals that administration officials noticed signs of the President's age-related struggles within just months of taking office.
Staff members implemented an extensive system to shield the 82-year-old President from public view, particularly when he was having what they termed "bad days", the Wall Street Journal report revealed.
The protective measures included cancelling meetings, restricting his reading material, and limiting his interactions with top officials and Cabinet members.
Officials noticed something was wrong just months after Biden took office
REUTERS
A former aide disclosed that meetings would be rescheduled when Biden was struggling, with one national security official warning how he "has good days and bad days".
Staff went to extraordinary lengths to manage Biden's public appearances, including hiring a voice coach through Hollywood mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg to improve his wavering voice.
Detailed instruction cards were provided to the President for basic tasks, telling him where to walk, sit and look during events.
A small group of senior advisers, including Jake Sullivan, Steve Ricchetti and Lael Brainard, were placed in roles traditionally occupied by the President himself.
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Detailed instruction cards were provided to the President for basic tasks, telling him where to walk, sit and look during events
REUTERS
"They body him to such a high degree," one witness told the Wall Street Journal, describing the intense "hand holding" by close aides.
Press staff were instructed to exclude negative news stories from the President's daily briefings.
Even lawmakers found access restricted, with House Armed Services Committee Chair Adam Smith unable to reach Biden during the critical Afghanistan withdrawal.
Special Counsel Robert Hur's investigation into Biden's handling of classified documents provided stark evidence of the President's cognitive issues, depicting him as "an elderly man with a poor memory".
Biden struggled to recall lines his staff had discussed with him whilst preparing for the special counsel interview - and Hur ultimately decided against charging Biden, noting he would likely present himself to a jury as "a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory".
Press staff were instructed to exclude negative news stories from the President's daily briefings
REUTERS
When challenged about the report's findings, Biden insisted: "I know what the hell I'm doing! My memory has not gotten worse".
But he then immediately confused the leaders of Mexico and Egypt when discussing Gaza.
Biden's decline became undeniable during a June debate with Donald Trump, where gaffes, fumbles and blank stares peppered the televised event.
The disastrous performance led senior Democrats and party stalwarts, including Nancy Pelosi, to call for Biden's withdrawal from the race - which he then did.
His successor Donald Trump will be 78 at his January 20 inauguration - the same age Biden was when he began his presidency.
And Democrats are reportedly frustrated with Biden's late departure, with one official telling The Times: "It feels like Trump is President already".
