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White House officials defended President Biden’s health and denied he was ever treated for Parkinson’s disease, despite a meeting between an expert on the disease and the president’s physician earlier this year.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre faced numerous questions about the president’s health, particularly regarding recent reports of a top neurologist from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center meeting with Biden’s physician at the White House in January. Reports of this January 17 meeting emerged as the 81-year-old president faces increased scrutiny over his age and mental acuity, especially after a poor debate performance on June 27 in Atlanta.
When asked about the physician’s meeting, Jean-Pierre explained that over the past three years, Biden has undergone a comprehensive exam, which included a consultation with a neurologist. The most recent report from February stated that an extremely detailed neurological exam found no evidence of any central neurological disorders, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, or Parkinson’s. Jean-Pierre emphasized that Biden has neither been treated for Parkinson’s nor is he currently being treated or taking medication for the disease.
Dr. Kevin Cannard, a Parkinson’s disease expert, met with Dr. Kevin O’Connor and two others at the White House residence clinic on January 17, as indicated by records reported by the New York Post. Dr. John E. Atwood, a cardiologist at Walter Reed, also attended this meeting, according to White House visitor logs, but the fourth attendee has not been identified.
The New York Times reported that Cannard visited the White House eight times in eight months over the past year, noting that Cannard is a neurologist who recently published a paper on Parkinson’s. White House logs show Cannard’s visits occurred from July 2023 through March 2024, with more recent visits not yet disclosed due to the White House’s voluntary disclosure policy. Additionally, records from Biden’s vice presidency under the Obama administration show Cannard visited 10 times, including a family tour in 2012, and multiple visits from 2013 to 2016.
During the press briefing, Biden’s national security spokesperson John Kirby was asked if he had observed the president behaving similarly to his debate performance. Kirby declined to discuss every meeting he had with the president, but he asserted that the debate performance did not reflect the man and leader he has worked with over the past two and a half years. He shared that Biden asked him specific questions about the European situation that morning, illustrating the president’s engagement and mental acuity.
Throughout the briefing, reporters expressed frustration with the White House officials for not being straightforward, even accusing the president’s communications team of revising their responses. Jean-Pierre defended her team’s efforts to provide accurate information, stating that they meet with the press daily and respect the freedom of the press. She acknowledged that sometimes they may not have all the information or might make mistakes, but she emphasized their commitment to transparency and took offense at accusations of withholding information.
