According to Fox News, former President Barack Obama sharply criticized Joe Biden’s physician for questioning his cognitive health.
Though signs of Biden’s cognitive decline are well known and often highly visible, a coming book notes that former President Barack Obama rebuked his former White House physician for sharing his observations on the matter.
In what will be an aggravation for Biden if he moves forward with plans to run in 2024, the physician has highlighted concerns regarding Biden’s mental fitness in a forthcoming book, “Holding the Line: A Lifetime of Defending Democracy and American Values.”
In the memoir, the former White House physician and current Representative Dr. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, notes that Obama indicated in no uncertain terms that information on Biden’s mental health should not be made public.
Jackson notes he had concerns about Biden’s mental fitness before he declared his presidential candidacy. Recalling the 2020 campaign, Jackson wrote:
“Biden was on TV again, making crazy statements and concerning mental gaffes; he didn’t know what state he was in or what office he was campaigning for. He apparently thought at one point that he was running for the Senate and later couldn’t remember what state he was campaigning in. This had been going on for months and was getting worse.”
Jackson notes that the media accused Trump of mental incompetence and to quell concerns, in 2018, Trump underwent a cognitive evaluation. As White House physician, Jackson was tasked to share results with reporters.
Jackson reported that tests showed that Trump was in “excellent” mental shape and “had absolutely no cognitive or mental issues whatsoever.” For this, he received sharp criticism from the media.
Drawing a distinction between Trump’s euphemisms and Biden’s confused comments, Jackson writes:
“Trump never made crazy statements like the ones Biden was making almost every day, but these people were jumping up and down: ‘He’s not fit to be president; he needs a cognitive test!'”
Fox reports that in 2020 a concerned Jackson cast a spotlight on the media’s silence on Biden’s mental health. At the time, Jackson retweeted a video of Biden’s “latest cognitive misadventure” with the message: “Remember the cognitive test that I gave @realDonaldTrump? The one he aced! Sounds like somebody else might need some testing done!! Scary!!”
Jackson notes that within 20 minutes of that tweet, he received a “scathing” email from Obama.
“I have made a point of not commenting on your service in my successor’s administration and have always spoken highly of you both in public and in private,” Obama wrote. “You always served me and my family well, and I have considered you not only a fine doctor and service member but also a friend.”
“That’s why I have to express my disappointment at the cheap shot you took at Joe Biden via Twitter. It was unprofessional and beneath the office that you once held. It was also disrespectful to me and the many friends you had in our administration. You were the personal physician to the President of the United States as well as an admiral in the U.S. Navy. I expect better, and I hope upon reflection that you will expect more of yourself in the future.”
Jackson reports that he chose not to respond to the email, noting that a friend, radio host and conservative commentator Dan Bongino, reminded him that Obama did not support him when he was in an ugly Senate confirmation battle to become Trump’s Secretary for the Dept. of Veterans Affairs.
Jackson concluded: “So, upon reflection, I thought, You know what? Screw that guy! I’m not doing it,” Jackson wrote. “I just walked away from it, which was the last time I had any contact with [Obama],” Jackson wrote.
Fox News reports that Obama did not respond to their request for comment.
“It’s awfully ironic now, considering [Biden’s mental fitness] is all anyone, including the liberal media, can talk about,” Jackson told Fox News Digital.
Scroll down to leave a comment and share your thoughts.
