Former President Joe Biden sparked controversy on May 30, 2025, with a confrontational response to questions about his cognitive health. When asked about criticisms from CNN anchor Jake Tapper and journalist Alex Thompson, co-authors of a book detailing his alleged cognitive decline, Biden retorted, “You can see that I’m mentally incompetent and I can’t walk, and I can beat the hell out of both of them.”
The book, Original Sin, alleges that Biden’s inner circle concealed signs of his mental deterioration during his presidency. Reports include instances where Biden appeared disoriented, such as failing to recognize actor George Clooney at a fundraiser. The authors claim that aides considered using a wheelchair for Biden if he secured re-election.
Biden’s remarks have intensified scrutiny over his fitness for office, especially following his announcement of a metastatic prostate cancer diagnosis earlier this month. Despite stating that his prognosis is good and treatment is underway, concerns persist about his ability to lead effectively.
The former president’s comments also included a challenge to fellow Democrats who questioned his decision to run for re-election, stating, “Why didn’t they run against me then? Because I’d have beaten them.” He added that he has no regrets about his campaign decisions.
These developments come amid ongoing investigations by Congressional Republicans into Biden’s health and the alleged cover-up of his cognitive decline during his tenure. The House Oversight Committee is examining the use of autopen signatures on official documents, questioning their validity.
