President Joe Biden has declined to commit to an independent medical evaluation of his neurological and cognitive functions, despite growing calls from within his own party to assess his fitness for re-election. Biden addressed the issue during a Friday interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos, following a widely criticized debate performance against former President Donald Trump.
At 81 years old, Biden attempted to reassure the public about his health, stating, “I’m still in good shape.” He claimed that his doctors, who travel with him, had attributed his poor debate performance to exhaustion. “I have an ongoing assessment of what I’m doing, and they don’t hesitate to tell me if they think there’s something wrong,” Biden said.
When Stephanopoulos asked if he had undergone a “full neurological and cognitive evaluation,” Biden responded, “I get a full neurological test every day” through his duties as president. He added that his doctors had not suggested specific cognitive tests performed by a neurologist, asserting, “No. No one said I had to. No one said. They said I’m good.”
Stephanopoulos pressed further, asking if Biden would be willing to undergo an independent medical evaluation and release the results to the public. Biden deflected, claiming, “I have a cognitive test every single day. Every day I have that test. Everything I do. You know, not only am I campaigning, but I’m running the world. Not– and that’s not hi– sounds like hyperbole, but we are the essential nation of the world.”
Despite repeated questioning, Biden remained non-committal about an independent evaluation, suggesting that the American people should judge his fitness by observing his campaign over the next few months. “Watch me between– there’s a lotta time left in this campaign. There’s over 125 days. They’ll make a decision,” he said.
The issue of Biden’s health has become a focal point in his re-election campaign, with some Democrats expressing concerns about his ability to serve another term. Biden’s refusal to undergo an independent medical evaluation may further fuel these concerns, as voters seek reassurance about his capacity to lead.
Biden concluded the interview by insisting that he had already proven his fitness for office, but the calls for transparency and an independent medical assessment are likely to continue as the campaign progresses.
