Book 'Original Sin' Exposes Biden Aides' Wheelchair Discussions Amid 2024 Election Concerns

A forthcoming book, Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, reveals that senior aides to then-President Joe Biden discussed the possibility of him needing a wheelchair during a potential second term due to physical decline. Concerns over Biden's health and mental acuity were highlighted, especially after a fall in June 2023 and a poor debate performance in June 2024. Despite internal pressure and intervention attempts by figures like Barack Obama, Biden pursued re-election but withdrew in July 2024, leading to a Democratic loss.

Aides Privately Feared Wheelchair Use Would Be Politically Damaging

According to Original Sin, Biden’s aides were increasingly alarmed by his halting walk and physical frailty, which became more pronounced during the second half of his presidency. The book reports that internal discussions were held about the possibility of using a wheelchair for the president, but aides concluded that such a move would be politically untenable during the 2024 campaign. They reportedly agreed that if Biden were re-elected, the use of a wheelchair might become necessary in his second term.

The authors write, “Biden’s physical deterioration — most apparent in his halting walk — had become so severe that there were internal discussions about putting the president in a wheelchair, but they couldn’t do so until after the election.” The concern was not only about optics but also about the broader implications of visibly acknowledging the president’s declining health during a contentious re-election campaign.

Physical Decline and Public Incidents

The book details several incidents that contributed to the growing unease among Biden’s team. One of the most publicized was his fall at the U.S. Air Force Academy’s graduation ceremony in June 2023, when he tripped over a sandbag on stage. While the White House downplayed the incident, it intensified scrutiny over Biden’s physical condition.

In response, aides reportedly adjusted the president’s routines: shortening walking paths, ensuring he used handrails, encouraging the use of sneakers, and guiding him more carefully in public. These measures were part of a broader effort to manage the president’s image and minimize the risk of further public stumbles.

Concerns Over Mental Acuity and Debate Fallout

Beyond physical health, Original Sin also documents growing concerns about Biden’s cognitive abilities. The book claims that since at least 2022, Biden had become increasingly prone to losing his train of thought and forgetting the names of top aides. His speeches were described as sometimes incoherent and difficult to follow. Aides reportedly resorted to filming him with two cameras to allow for smoother edits when he struggled to deliver even short video messages.

These concerns reached a critical point during the first presidential debate on June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. Biden’s performance was widely viewed as disastrous, with even longtime allies expressing alarm. According to the book, former Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said, “He totally fucked us,” referring to Biden’s decision to remain in the race despite the fallout from the debate.

The debate performance triggered a wave of internal panic. Prominent Democratic donor Ari Emanuel reportedly shouted at Biden’s former chief of staff Ron Klain, “Joe Biden cannot run for re-election! He needs to drop out! He can’t win! What’s the plan B?” Klain admitted there was no contingency plan.

Obama and Donors Tried to Intervene

The book also reveals that former President Barack Obama visited the White House in 2023 to personally urge Biden to consider whether he could still win. “Just make sure you can win the race,” Obama reportedly told him. Meanwhile, Plouffe fielded calls from donors who were increasingly worried about Biden’s energy levels, cognitive sharpness, and ability to deliver speeches.

Despite these warnings, Biden remained resolute in his decision to seek re-election. One Democratic strategist quoted in the book described Biden’s insistence on running as “an abomination,” adding, “He stole an election from the Democratic party; he stole it from the American people.”

Biden’s Response and Public Defiance

In the lead-up to the book’s release, Biden appeared on ABC’s “The View” and BBC Radio 4’s “Today” program to push back against the narrative of decline. When asked directly about the allegations of cognitive deterioration, Biden responded, “They are wrong, there’s nothing to sustain that.”

A spokesperson for Biden also issued a statement to Axios, defending the former president’s health. “Yes, there were physical changes as he got older, but evidence of aging is not evidence of mental incapacity,” the spokesperson said. They attributed Biden’s “stiffened gait” to wear and tear on his spine, noting that no special treatment was necessary and that the condition had not worsened.

The spokesperson further argued that Biden remained effective in his role, stating, “We are still waiting for someone, anyone, to point out where Joe Biden had to make a presidential decision or make a presidential address where he was unable to do his job because of mental decline.”

Aftermath and Political Consequences

Following the June 2024 debate and mounting pressure from within the Democratic Party, Biden ultimately withdrew from the race at the end of July 2024. His departure gave Vice President Kamala Harris just over 100 days to mount a campaign, but the Democratic ticket was unable to recover. Donald Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, went on to win the election, securing victories in key battleground states.

The revelations in Original Sin add to a growing body of post-election literature examining the internal dynamics of the Biden White House and the 2024 campaign. The book’s authors, Tapper and Thompson, conducted over 200 interviews, mostly after the election, with Democratic insiders who provided detailed accounts of the administration’s handling of the president’s health and re-election strategy.

References

• Biden aides allegedly fretted then-president would need wheelchair if re-elected, new book reveals
• New book: Biden aides discussed using a wheelchair in second term
• Biden’s aides discussed wheelchair use if he was re-elected, new book claims
• Biden destroyed Harris bid by staying in race too long, top adviser says in book
• Biden stumbles over his words as he defiantly calls out Dems who claim he was in mental decline