Former President Bill Clinton is pushing back against growing claims that Joe Biden’s presidency was marred by severe cognitive decline, calling the accusations overblown and politically charged. Speaking during a recent televised interview, Clinton dismissed allegations raised in the new book Original Sin, which claims Biden was little more than a figurehead by the end of his term.
“I haven’t read the book,” Clinton admitted, “but in every conversation I had with President Biden, he was well-prepared, thoughtful, and fully in command of the facts.” Clinton insisted that Biden was in “good shape,” both mentally and physically, during their interactions, despite his age and the increasing scrutiny over his fitness for office.
The controversial book, co-authored by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios reporter Alex Thompson, paints a picture of an administration quietly run by aides and family members while Biden struggled behind the scenes. According to the book, Biden’s inner circle shielded him from press interactions and made key decisions on his behalf, even exploring contingency plans in case his condition worsened.
Clinton rejected the narrative, suggesting it was a post-election blame game aimed at explaining how Donald Trump regained the White House in 2024. “This isn’t about Joe Biden,” Clinton said. “It’s about creating a scapegoat.”
Bill Clinton says he never saw anything to point to Biden being in cognitive decline. He thought Biden was in perfect shape and sharp as a tack.
If only there were signs… pic.twitter.com/LVSUfDCphg
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) June 1, 2025
The remarks come in the wake of Biden’s dramatic exit from the 2024 race following a disastrous debate performance and mounting concerns about his age and stamina. Though his closest allies, including First Lady Jill Biden, have dismissed the book’s claims, the controversy has only grown—with some Democrats privately admitting the party was unprepared to handle the public fallout.
Still, Clinton urged people to judge Biden by his record and not by secondhand claims from unnamed insiders. “He took the job seriously. He worked hard. And in my experience, he was every bit the President.”
Whether Clinton’s defense will stem the tide of criticism remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the conversation about Biden’s mental fitness—and the decisions made behind the scenes during his presidency—is far from over.