Jon Stewart and ex-Obama aides accuse Biden’s circle of misleading the public on his cognitive health.

Allegations Emerge Following Release of ‘Original Sin’

Comedian Jon Stewart and several high-profile former Obama administration officials have openly criticized President Joe Biden’s inner circle for allegedly concealing concerns about his mental and physical health. Their remarks follow the release of the book Original Sin, which details efforts by top aides and allies to manage public perceptions about Biden’s cognitive abilities.

Speaking on his podcast, “The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart,” the host mocked the repeated assurances from Biden’s allies about his intellect. “I sit with this guy. He’s the smartest one in the room… and they wouldn’t put him out there,” Stewart said, implying that these claims were part of a carefully controlled narrative. “Because they knew they couldn’t.”

The book, released Tuesday, includes accounts of confusion and disorientation from the president, reportedly witnessed by close observers. Stewart questioned why such claims of brilliance weren’t backed up by public appearances, suggesting the reluctance to showcase Biden stemmed from concerns over his condition.

Favreau: Advisers ‘Lying to the American People’

Jon Favreau, who served as President Barack Obama’s head speechwriter from 2005 to 2013, offered a sharp critique of the Biden administration’s handling of age-related concerns. On the “Pod Save America” podcast, Favreau claimed that those closest to Biden were not just misleading the public, but possibly deceiving themselves. “The closer you got to Joe Biden… the more I think they were not just lying to the American people, but lying to themselves,” he said.

Favreau linked the administration’s denialism to a broader pattern in the Democratic Party. “We have a hard time hearing hard truths and admitting hard truths to ourselves,” he remarked, suggesting this cultural issue has persisted within the party for decades.

Favreau, along with co-hosts Dan Pfeiffer and Jon Lovett, met Biden at the White House in April 2024. According to Original Sin, they were left “deeply disturbed” after the interaction, describing the president’s demeanor as “rambling” and “incoherent.”

Despite these revelations, Favreau had previously dismissed such concerns. In a February 13, 2024 episode of “Pod Save America,” shortly after Special Counsel Robert Hur’s report on Biden’s handling of classified documents, Favreau stated that the age issue had long existed and was not a partisan attack. However, he acknowledged that Biden “sounds more frail” and “shuffles more” than in prior years, attributing it partly to physical ailments such as arthritis and the effects of a stutter.

Tommy Vietor, another Obama-era aide and podcast co-host, agreed that the DOJ report had intensified public and media scrutiny of Biden’s fitness. “This just kicked it up and focused the media’s attention on it in a very damaging way,” Vietor said.

The debate around Biden’s health gained further traction after the White House disclosed his prostate cancer diagnosis on Sunday. According to his spokesperson, Biden had not undergone a blood test for prostate cancer since 2014, a revelation that raised further questions about transparency within the administration.

As concerns grow within Democratic circles and the broader electorate, the fallout from Original Sin and these public statements may prompt renewed calls for clarity and accountability about Biden’s capacity to lead.