In a statement posted to his Truth Social platform, former President Donald Trump challenged President Joe Biden to take a cognitive test ahead of their next debate. He also said that from now on, it should become a mandatory requirement for all presidential contenders to take one, no matter what.
“Joe should immediately take a Cognitive Test, and I will go with him, and take one also. For the first time we’ll be a team, and do it for the good of the Country….And from now on, all Presidential candidates should be mandated to take a Cognitive Test and Aptitude Test, regardless of their age!!!” Trump wrote.
For a considerable time, many conservative commentators have expressed concerns about Biden’s physical and cognitive health, often referring to his public gaffes as “senior moments.” These concerns seemed to gain broader recognition following Biden’s recent debate performance, prompting even some traditionally left-leaning voices to question his fitness for office. This shift has led to speculations about whether the White House has not only been downplaying signs of potential cognitive decline but possibly other significant issues as well.
Visitor logs obtained by the New York Post revealed that Biden’s primary physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, had multiple consultations with a specialist for Parkinson’s disease at the White House. According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, Parkinson’s disease is “a chronic neurologic condition” that “causes a gradual loss of the nerve cells in the brain that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine,” and can cause “decreased facial expression, soft speech, and difficulty swallowing.” Eventually, “postural instability develops, resulting in a slow, imbalanced shuffling gait, which can result in falls.”
On January 17, Dr. Kevin Cannard, a Parkinson’s disease specialist at Walter Reed Medical Center, convened at the White House residence clinic with O’Connor and two others, as disclosed by White House visitor logs. Dr. John E. Atwood, a cardiologist from Walter Reed, was also present at the 5 PM meeting. The identity of the fourth attendee remains undisclosed in the records. This meeting took place on the same day President Biden was actively engaged in discussions with House and Senate leaders at the White House, pushing for additional funding for Ukraine, as per his official schedule, The Post reported.
Cannard, who has been affiliated with Walter Reed for nearly two decades, specializes in neurology and has been supporting the White House Medical Unit since 2012. His expertise in Parkinson’s disease is well-documented, with his most recent research, focusing on the early stages of the disease, published in August 2023 in “Parkinsonism & Related Disorders.”
“The President feels well and this year’s physical identified no new concerns,” O’Connor wrote in his annual report on Biden’s health back in February. “He continues to be fit for duty and fully executes all of his responsibilities without any exemptions or accommodations.”
Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), who previously served as the physician to Presidents Obama and Trump, suggests that the meeting involving White House physician Kevin O’Connor likely centered on President Biden’s health. Jackson served on the White House medical staff for 14 years, spanning the administrations of Presidents Bush, Obama, and Trump. He served as Physician to the President under Obama and Trump, with Trump creating the office of Chief Medical Adviser to the President and appointing Jackson as its inaugural officeholder.
“During that time, I took care of all three of the presidents and, you know, on a day to day basis. I also, you know, I also was the director of the White House Medical Unit and the appointed physician to the president for both Obama and Trump. So I kind of feel like I know exactly what’s required on a day-to-day basis, both mentally and physically, to do the job of president of the United States,” Jackson told Fox News host Maria Bartiromo in June.
He also explained that he’ll be submitting another letter to the White House demanding that Biden submit to a cognitive test. “Maria, I don’t need to tell you, I don’t need to tell your viewers or anybody else in this country right now that we have a serious problem here. Everyone knows it now. You don’t have to be a physician. You certainly don’t have to be a physician to the president and see what’s going on right now,” the former White House doctor said.
“So I have sent five letters previously asking for President Biden to submit to a cognitive test, very similar to the one that President Trump got while he was president. And all five of those letters have gone completely ignored. So tomorrow I’m sending a letter to President Biden, to his physician, Dr. O’Connor, and I’m CC’ing his entire cabinet,” Jackson continued, describing it as an “embarrassing” necessity.
“But we don’t have any choice based on what’s going on. But I’m going to be demanding on behalf of many millions of concerned Americans right now that he submit to a drug test before and after this debate, specifically looking for performance-enhancing drugs,” Jackson continued.
Disclaimer: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.