Book Exposes Biden’s Scripted Cabinet Meetings Amid Cognitive Decline Concerns

A new book, Original Sin, by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’ Alex Thompson, pulls back the curtain on former President Joe Biden’s tightly controlled Cabinet meetings, revealing a troubling pattern of scripted encounters amid whispers of cognitive decline. Insiders paint a picture of a presidency where Biden’s team leaned heavily on teleprompters and note cards, even in private discussions, to manage what sources describe as his diminishing capabilities.

Cabinet members didn’t mince words: meetings were stiff, overly orchestrated, and often uncomfortable. One official called them 'terrible,' noting Biden’s presence rarely inspired confidence. His remarks, shortened and simplified by speechwriters, became a crutch, with one Cabinet secretary lamenting the lack of genuine dialogue. Another doubted Biden’s stamina for a second term as early as 2022.

The book details a stark contrast between the White House’s public narrative and reality. Take a January 2024 meeting on Ukraine aid: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called Biden 'forceful' and 'decisive,' but attendees described a 'disaster.' Biden struggled through bullet points, mumbling and trailing off, leaving aides like Jake Sullivan to pick up the slack.

Even more telling was an event marking the Roe v. Wade anniversary, where Biden’s 'weak, slurry' speech and mix-up of Cabinet members—confusing Alejandro Mayorkas with Xavier Becerra—left officials stunned. 'I blame his inner circle,' one said, pointing to a shrinking circle of access. By 2023 and 2024, some Cabinet members went months without seeing Biden, suspecting aides filtered information to control decisions.

This wasn’t just a leadership quirk—it was a strategy, sources claim, to limit exposure to Biden’s apparent disorientation. As one official put it, the White House ensured he met 'as few people as necessary.' The result? A presidency increasingly insulated, raising questions about who was really steering the ship.