Former White House official exposes Biden’s declining health in recent testimony

Former White House chief of staff Jeff Zients has given lengthy testimony to lawmakers about Joe Biden’s health and performance during his presidency, according to people familiar with the closed-door interview.

In his appearance before the House Oversight Committee on Thursday, Zients reportedly described how Biden’s ability to make decisions slowed over time, while his struggles with recalling names and dates grew more pronounced.

The session is part of a broader Republican-led investigation into Biden’s potential cognitive decline and whether advisers attempted to hide warning signs from the public. Several of Biden’s closest aides have already been questioned as part of the inquiry.

Following Biden’s faltering debate performance last year, Zients said he urged the former president’s physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, to perform a full medical check-up, including a cognitive assessment. According to one account, O’Connor told him he would “take the suggestion under advisement.” O’Connor, however, refused to answer questions when he appeared before the committee himself in July.

Zients also testified that Biden had been suffering from a cold prior to the debate, but that he had never witnessed the president display behavior like he did on stage, including what he called “mental freezes.” Afterward, Zients and several advisers concluded Biden should consider leaving the race.

Jill Biden also raised concerns, according to Zients’ testimony, telling him the then-president needed more rest and a lighter schedule. A separate source stated that the conversation occurred in 2023.

Zients noted he had discussed Biden’s age-related challenges with other senior aides, including Annie Tomasini and Anthony Bernal. Both later invoked their Fifth Amendment rights and declined to answer questions when questioned separately by the committee.

Despite his observations, Zients stressed that Biden remained the final decision-maker. One source said he told lawmakers that his role was to ensure the president heard from a range of advisers before acting, and that he maintained “full confidence” in Biden’s ability to serve.