A new book claims Biden aides, including Andrew Bates, defended his acuity despite lacking firsthand insight.

Allegations of a White House Media Strategy to Shield Biden

A new book by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson alleges that top Biden communications aide Andrew Bates played a central role in efforts to downplay concerns about President Joe Biden’s cognitive health, despite lacking direct exposure to the president’s condition. The book, Original Sin, outlines what the authors claim was a calculated campaign to suppress scrutiny and discredit journalists who questioned Biden’s mental fitness.

According to the book, Bates—then White House deputy press secretary—was viewed as “the tip of the spear” in defending Biden’s acuity. He and other press staffers, it says, had little direct contact with the president and relied heavily on senior aides for guidance. Despite this, Bates routinely issued firm denials to the press and pushed back against coverage on the topic.

“Some of Bates’s colleagues believed that Biden’s inner circle took advantage of his loyalty,” the book claims, adding that Bates “willingly became the White House’s tip of the spear” in countering reports on Biden’s condition. The book also alleges that Biden’s team employed a “modus operandi” of aggressively discrediting journalists who investigated questions about the president’s age and cognition.

In one instance, following a press conference that raised new questions about Biden’s cognitive health, Bates posted on social media, “To answer the question on everyone’s minds: No, Joe Biden does not have a doctorate in foreign affairs. He’s just that f---ing good.” Tapper and Thompson describe the remark as sycophantic and tone-deaf, even among Democratic circles.

Bates has rejected the book’s portrayal. In a statement to Fox News Digital, he called the narrative “distorted” and accused the authors of “stretching select facts while excluding others.” A former White House colleague also came to his defense, asserting that Bates frequently traveled with and briefed the president, including on Air Force One and in the Oval Office.

“He served as a point person on major legislative and political issues,” the colleague said. “He was known for being respectful and supportive, even when colleagues declined to speak on sensitive topics.”

Suppressed Reports and Internal Denials

The book further details an incident where the White House allegedly quashed a reporter’s story about Biden’s mental lapses weeks before a Wall Street Journal exposé. The unnamed reporter was reportedly warned off by then-White House counselor Steve Ricchetti, who denied the concerns during an off-the-record conversation, rendering the claims unpublishable by attribution.

“The message from the White House was clear,” the authors write. “If she went forward with the story… the White House would aggressively dispute it and portray her as a liar.” The book suggests this pressure tactic was effective in halting the story’s release.

The allegations have triggered a strong reaction across the political spectrum. Critics argue the media and Biden’s team conspired to mask the president’s condition. Biden supporters, including his granddaughter Naomi Biden, have dismissed the book as “political fairy smut.”

A Biden spokesperson said the book fails to demonstrate any instance where the president neglected his duties. “There is nothing in this book that shows Joe Biden failed to do his job,” the statement reads, emphasizing Biden’s continued engagement in national security and policy decisions throughout his tenure.