A former Biden White House official has claimed that his colleagues deliberately “gaslit” the public and journalists who raised concerns about former President Biden’s age and cognitive abilities.
Speaking at a Wednesday seminar hosted by Puck reporter Tara Palmeri at the Sine Institute of Policy and Politics at American University, Michael LaRosa, a longtime press secretary for former First Lady Jill Biden, revealed efforts within the administration to shield Biden from media scrutiny, Fox News reported.
Throughout the 2024 presidential race, many media pundits and commentators rushed to Biden’s defense amid speculation about his mental acuity. This included reactions to Special Counsel Robert Hur’s report describing Biden as well-meaning but forgetful, viral videos of him appearing confused, and a Wall Street Journal report detailing concerns about his behind-the-scenes demeanor.
While LaRosa was reluctant to label these efforts as a “cover-up,” he acknowledged that the White House had been aware from “day one” that former President Biden’s age was a concern.
He also disclosed that his colleagues actively downplayed and dismissed data indicating that Biden’s poll numbers had stagnated leading up to the 2024 election.
Despite polls showing that the majority of Americans believed Biden was too old to serve a second term, many journalists dismissed concerns about his health as a right-wing conspiracy.
These worries reached a breaking point after Biden’s shaky debate performance in June, which led to mounting pressure for him to withdraw from the race.
