Yuval Noah Harari and Morton Keller have graced the literary world with books that paint a damning picture of Joe Biden’s dwindling presidency and his unexpected retreat from the 2024 presidential race. A series of revelations have surfaced in these publications, reviving questions on Biden’s mental health and the factors that entailed his exit from the race, especially following an embarrassingly weak performance against Donald Trump in a debate.
In 2023, despite Biden’s physician categorically considering him a ‘healthy and vigorous 80-year-old suitable to perform presidential tasks,’ the whispers around his declining health kept growing louder as the reelection trailer gained pace. A defining blow to the Biden team occurred on June 27, 2024, during their single disastrous debate performance, which left many questioning Biden’s capability to lead for four more years.
In the anxious time post the debate, Biden made a desperate attempt to reassure the public of his fitness for the presidency. This desperate act soon transformed into an additional red flag, indicating that his second run at presidency was heading towards rocky shores. On July 21, shortly after the debate, Biden formally renounced his candidacy and passed the baton to his vice president, Kamala Harris.
Insider reports suggested that Harris’ top assistants had been extensively strategizing over the horrid notion of Biden demising while in office. It was rumored that an emergency list of federal judges, poised for an unprecedented elevation to the top office under such an unfortunate event, was also prepped.
Recent books also disclose that the Democratic top brass started a series of ‘clandestine discussions’ back in 2023 to devise ways to navigate through the treacherous waters of Biden’s risky reelection bid. The party took steps to brace itself for any potential scenarios, including Biden backing off from his campaign. One party veteran was quoted, reflecting the Democrats’ sentiment: ‘At least she has a pulse, despite the apprehension of being saddled with Harris.’
Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson dedicate an anticipated book to an intensive analysis of the near-collapse of the Biden presidency. Another offering from Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager, and Isaac Arnsdorf sets out to chronicle the tale of Trump’s return to the White House.
In his Oval Office address discussing his retreat from the 2024 election battle, Biden, rather incredibly, avoided any direct mention of the raised concerns on his physical health or cognitive acuity. It seems that he surrendered to the realization that his years of political experience, once valuable assets, were unable to bear the weight of the presidential responsibilities.
Quoting Biden himself: ‘In recent weeks, it’s become clear to me that I needed to unite my party in this critical endeavor. I believe my record as president, my leadership in the world, my vision for America’s future all merited a second term, but nothing, nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy, and that includes personal ambition.’
He carried on, acknowledging the need to pass on the responsibility to a younger candidate. ‘That’s the best way to unite our nation. I know there is a time and a place for long years of experience in public life, but there’s also a time and a place for new voices, fresh voices, yes, younger voices, and that time and place is now.’
While Biden vehemently assured that his decision to move aside was driven by a noble desire to unite the party and ‘save our democracy,’ the elaborately crafted excuses could not disguise the reality. Years of experience and sagacity, portrayed as advantages in the past, have suddenly become the drawbacks hampering his ability to preside effectively.
Handing over the reins to the ‘new generation’ was a testament to the harsh reality of his time being over, cloaked under the pretentious intent of making way for fresh, youthful voices. It involuntarily hinted at the evident concern around his depleted health and diminishing cognitive faculties, both of which posed risks to his capability to govern.
Despite their concerted efforts to keep the realities under wraps, the Democratic party and Biden could not mollify the public’s concerns or the innuendos circulating in the political landscape. Hence, his surrender to Kamala Harris and the resulting phenomenon of her leading the Democratic ticket for the successive term.
The entire episode hammers on the fact that Biden’s presidency was not as glorious as they would like us to believe. It unearths questions about the credibility of the Democratic party, its leaders, and the strategies they deploy in protecting their interests over those of the nation.