Karine Jean-Pierre insists she saw no cognitive decline in Biden before debate
Karine Jean-Pierre, former White House press secretary, stated that she did not observe any cognitive decline in President Joe Biden prior to the first presidential debate.Speaking during the promotion of her new book, *Autonomous*, Jean-Pierre emphasized that Biden was “always engaged” and cognitively present, including during a trip on Air Force One where she traveled with him. She highlighted her close working relationship with Biden over many years, noting that while age brings changes, she never saw signs of diminished mental acuity. Jean-Pierre also disclosed that her book reflects personal disappointments with the Democratic Party,including frustrations with efforts to push Biden out of the 2024 presidential race prematurely. The *Independent* book tour began in New York City with additional stops planned in several U.S. cities. Meanwhile, former Vice President Kamala Harris is conducting her own book tour for *107 Days*, encouraging continued resistance against Republicans amid the ongoing government shutdown.
Karine Jean-Pierre insists she saw no cognitive decline in Biden before debate
Former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday that former President Joe Biden was “always engaged” cognitively while promoting her new book Independent.
Jean-Pierre announced she left the Democratic Party in June when unveiling her new book, and said Monday her book is “connected” to her story and the “disappointment” she has with the party. She also confirmed she vents anger in the book at those trying to push Biden out of the 2024 race before he did so on July 21 of that year.
CBS’s Gayle King said Jean-Pierre wrote that she flew with Biden on Air Force One to the first presidential debate, and Jean-Pierre wrote she “didn’t see anything.” Jean-Pierre said Biden’s campaign and family were also on the plane with the former president, and this was a rare trip where “I didn’t really see him until after the debate.”
“So really, I want everybody to know that I take this question incredibly seriously. I do. I was his White House press secretary, which means I had a role that saw him practically every day and traveled with him for more than 95%. We’ve always said, ‘We’re not going to say, oh, he didn’t age.’ He aged, and he poked fun at it. We always owned up and with age comes what happens when you get older,” Jean-Pierre said on CBS Mornings.
Jean-Pierre also said she takes questions about Biden’s “mental acuity” seriously, but she “never saw” Biden indicating he “wasn’t there.” She added that Biden would sometimes call her in the Oval Office, and he would ask her “direct” questions.
Jean-Pierre testified to the House Oversight Committee last month, and said she didn’t see any change in Biden’s “competency” in the 16 years she’d known him. She did admit Biden is not the “same speaker” compared to when she first met him.
The Independent book tour kicks off in New York City on Monday, a day before its official release. Other tour stops include Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday, Boston, Massachusetts, on Friday, and Chicago, Illinois, on Oct. 29.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris is doing her own book tour for 107 Days. She encouraged her party to continue fighting Republicans in the government shutdown at the tour’s most recent stop in Birmingham, Alabama. Her next tour stop is set for Thursday in London, United Kingdom.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
