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White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Wednesday denied there was a “cover-up” over President Joe Biden’s health and mental capacity. Biden’s top spokeswoman has been repeatedly questioned about Biden’s apparent change of heart on a second term and denied that his health had anything to do with the decision.
During her press conference — the first since Biden’s historic decision to resign as the Democratic presidential nominee — Fox News’ Peter Doocy asked her, “It appears that people in the White House knew that President Biden was in decline and that was hidden from the American people. Who directed White House officials to cover up a declining president?” “There was no cover-up,” she replied.
For weeks, Jean-Pierre and other aides denied that Biden was considering dropping out of the presidential race. For months, they denied reports that his health was deteriorating. But during the June 26 presidential debate, Biden repeatedly fumbled for words and balked at the camera, leading to questions from his own party about his ability to serve a second term in the White House. On Sunday, Biden announced he was stepping down as the party’s nominee. She said the president had made his decision in a “very short period of time.”
But she declined to provide further details, saying the president would outline the reasons behind his decision when he addresses the nation from the Oval Office at 8 p.m. ET. Jean-Pierre pushed back against reports that advisers, lawmakers and Democratic officials had noted for months that Biden was slipping.
She also said his health was not a factor in his decision to leave the presidential race. “It has nothing to do with his health,” she said. “I can say, no, that is not the reason.” She advised everyone to watch Biden’s speech in the Oval Office.
“The president is going to speak directly to the American people tonight in prime time about this,” she said. “Listen to him tonight.” She also called calls for the president to resign “ridiculous.” Questions have been raised about why Biden, if he can’t serve four more years, is being allowed to serve six more months.
Jean-Pierre argued that Biden was capable of serving a full second term. “He did not resign from the campaign or from the candidacy because he did not believe he could serve a second term. That is not the reason,” she said. She said his answer would be revealed in his speech.
Biden’s decision to step down sent shockwaves through the political world. He endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his nominee and turned over his campaign infrastructure to her. The campaign renamed itself “Harris for President.” Within 30 hours, Harris had secured enough delegate pledges to win the presidential nomination.
Delegates are scheduled to formally vote on the nominee at the Democratic National Convention, which begins Aug. 19 in Chicago. The president returned to the White House on Tuesday after spending six days in isolation at his Rehoboth Beach home, where he was battling COVID. He canceled a West Coast fundraiser planned for the end of the week. He is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Thursday.