Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki denied witnessing any cognitive decline in former President Joe Biden during her time with the White House, insisting she “never saw that person—not a single time,” referring to Biden’s shaky debate performance in June 2024. Psaki made the remarks during her appearance on the “Mixed Signals” podcast, rejecting the idea of a cover-up by White House staff. She instead pointed to rapid aging and Republican messaging.
Psaki said she left the administration in May 2022 and has only seen Biden once since. “I’m not a doctor, aging happens quite quickly,” she stated, acknowledging that “possibly” similar signs of decline occurred later but said she didn’t have the facts. She dismissed the term “cover-up” as “a very loaded term,” adding that it’s used to describe crimes, such as Watergate or wartime deception.
When asked if media had been complicit in downplaying concerns about Biden’s health, Psaki said, “Maybe the media missed a lot and so maybe in retrospect, there were major stories and moments missed.” She emphasized that Biden’s age had long been a public concern, blaming Republicans for amplifying it. “There was an aggressive all-out pitching operation from the right-wing and from the Republicans about Joe Biden’s age and how he was in decline,” she claimed.
Psaki concluded by defending Biden’s character while admitting his reelection bid damaged his legacy. “I think a lot of his legacy has been based around this question of him running for reelection, him not being aware or not being honest with himself, about him not being to do a full term,” she said.
