According to a report from FOX News, the White House has confirmed that President Joe Biden will not be taking a cognitive test during his upcoming physical examination on February 16.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed this decision, which comes after investigative reporter Paul Sperry made claims about comments made by White House Physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor.
“White House Physician Kevin O’Connor said he will not advise Biden undergo a neurological exam or cognitive test as part of his belated Feb 16 “annual” physical. O’Connor doesn’t believe it’s necessary, despite egregious memory lapses observed by Special Counsel Rob Hur,” Sperry wrote on X.
BREAKING: White House Physician Kevin O'Connor said he will not advise Biden undergo a neurological exam or cognitive test as part of his belated Feb 16 "annual" physical. O'Connor doesn't believe it's necessary, despite egregious memory lapses observed by Special Counsel Rob Hur
— Paul Sperry (@paulsperry_) February 12, 2024
According to reports, Dr. O’Connor, who has been in charge of Biden’s medical evaluations, has allegedly expressed the view that there is no need to include a neurological examination or cognitive test in the President’s upcoming physical.
This position is maintained despite statements made by Special Counsel Rob Hur last week, where he referred to Joe Biden as an “elderly man with a poor memory.”
“We have also considered that, at trial, Mr. Biden would likely present himself to a jury, as he did during our interview of him, as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory. Based on our direct interactions with and observations of him, he is someone for whom many jurors will want to identify reasonable doubt. It would be difficult to convince a jury that they should convict him – by then a former president well into his eighties – of a serious felony that requires a mental state of willfulness.” the report read.
During a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated Dr. O’Connor’s stance by affirming that President Biden accomplishes more in one hour than the average person does in a whole day.
This statement was made despite the fact that the President has no scheduled activities on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of this week.
As journalists probed further into the need for a cognitive assessment for the President, Jean-Pierre restated Dr. O’Connor’s previous remarks.
She emphasized that Biden’s cognitive abilities are evident every day through his leadership and decision-making responsibilities.
“Does the White House think that the idea of the president taking a cognitive test as a part of this physical is a legitimate idea?” a reporter asked.
“I’m just gonna say what Dr. O’Connor said to me about a year ago when [Biden’s physical] was released,” Jean-Pierre said.
“The president proves every day [in] how he operates and how he thinks, by dealing with world leaders, by making difficult decisions on behalf of the American people – whether it’s domestic or it’s national security.”
“That is how Dr. O’Connor sees it, and that is how I’m going to leave it.”
