Fifty-three U.S. lawmakers, all Republicans, signed onto a letter this week from former White House physician Ronny Jackson, who served in the role under the Obama and Trump administrations, demanding that Democrat President Joe Biden take a cognitive exam and immediately share the results with the public.
“While you underwent your annual physical exam on November 19, 2021, you either did not face a cognitive test or those results were withheld from the public,” Jackson, a Republican who now represents Texas’ 13th Congressional District in Congress, wrote. “White House Physician Kevin O’Connor, D.O., attested to you being ‘fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency’ in a very superficial, and purely physical manner; however, we are worried about your mental abilities.”
The letter cited numerous metrics of America’s declining confidence in Biden’s ability to do the job, including the following statistics from surveys:
- 66% of voters believe that you should take a cognitive test.
- 56% of voters are not confident that you are physically and mentally fit for your duties as President, representing a 39-point change from October 2020.
- 64% of voters believe you have shown signs that you are too old to execute the duties of the President of the United States, including 60% of respondents aged 65 and older.
- Only 33% of voters approve of the job that you have done as President.
The letter noted that even the left-of-center New York Times published an extensive report recently highlighting the numerous concerns that exist about Biden’s mental fitness for office.
“The increased scrutiny surrounding your cognitive state has been fueled by your recent public appearances, during which you shuffle your feet when you walk, often slur your words, lose your train of thought, have trouble summoning names, and appear momentarily confused,” the letter stated. “All of this was exemplified during your most recent trip to the Middle East, where you claimed that we must ‘keep alive the truth and honor of the Holocaust,’ among other things.”
The letter listed various instances in which Biden has made embarrassing remarks about U.S. policy that have had to be quickly corrected by his staff to avoid potential issues that may arise in the wake of the alleged “gaffes” from the 79-year-old president.
The letter then took more pointed shots at Biden by listing examples of times where he has exhibited behavior that could be considered evidence of “mental decline” as defined by the Alzheimer’s Association, including “changes in mood and personality,” “confusion with time or place[s],” and forgetting things like names.
Jackson suggested on Twitter this week that the White House doctor might be trying to hide information from the public about Biden’s cognitive state.
“I’ve NEVER seen a doctor who couldn’t answer simple questions about their patient – so why are we getting the SILENT treatment from Dr. O’Connor?” Jackson tweeted. “The White House is afraid of a question about Biden’s cognitive decline. They can’t keep hiding it forever!”
I’ve NEVER seen a doctor who couldn’t answer simple questions about their patient – so why are we getting the SILENT treatment from Dr. O’Connor? The White House is afraid of a question about Biden’s cognitive decline. They can’t keep hiding it forever!
— Ronny Jackson (@RonnyJacksonTX) July 26, 2022