White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre vigorously denied claims that President Joe Biden is being treated for Parkinson’s disease during a heated press briefing. This denial follows reports that a Parkinson’s specialist visited the White House eight times in the past eight months, raising questions about the president’s health.
“Has the president been treated for Parkinson’s? No. Is he being treated for Parkinson’s? No. He’s not. Is he taking medication for Parkinson’s? No,” Jean-Pierre stated emphatically. She explained that the specialist’s visits were part of regular medical care provided to military personnel working at the White House, not to the president.
These denials come at a time of heightened concern over Biden’s health, particularly after a lackluster debate performance and an interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos, where Biden described his debate experience as a “bad night” due to a cold. Biden has also been reluctant to undergo an independent cognitive test, claiming, “Every day I have that test. Everything I do.”
The New York Times recently published a report titled “Biden’s Lapses Are Said to Be Increasingly Common and Worrisome,” which suggests that those close to the president have observed an increase in his moments of confusion and disorientation. “People who have spent time with President Biden over the last few months or so said the lapses appear to have grown more frequent,” the report states. “[C]urrent and former officials and others who encountered him behind closed doors noticed that he increasingly appeared confused or listless, or would lose the thread of conversations.”
Despite these reports, the White House maintains that President Biden is in good health and capable of performing his duties. The administration’s efforts to quell rumors and maintain transparency about the president’s health are ongoing as public and media scrutiny continues.
