President Joe Biden has resisted calls for an independent evaluation of his neurological and cognitive functions amid rising concerns about his ability to serve another term. During an interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos on Friday, Biden addressed the scrutiny following his lackluster debate performance against former President Donald Trump.
Biden, 81, dismissed the need for an independent medical assessment, insisting that his health is regularly monitored by his doctors. “I’m still in good shape,” he asserted, attributing his debate performance to exhaustion. “I have an ongoing assessment of what I’m doing, and they don’t hesitate to tell me if they think there’s something wrong.”
When asked if he had undergone a full neurological and cognitive evaluation, Biden responded ambiguously, “I get a full neurological test every day” through his duties as president. He claimed that his doctors had not recommended specific cognitive tests performed by a neurologist, stating, “No one said I had to. No one said. They said I’m good.”
Stephanopoulos pressed Biden on whether he would undergo an independent medical evaluation and release the results to reassure the public. Biden deflected, saying, “I have a cognitive test every single day. Every day I have that test. Everything I do. You know, not only am I campaigning, but I’m running the world.”
Despite the pressure, Biden remained firm in his decision not to pursue an independent evaluation, suggesting that voters will have ample opportunity to judge his fitness over the coming months. “Watch me between– there’s a lotta time left in this campaign. There’s over 125 days. They’ll make a decision,” he said.
The president’s reluctance to commit to an independent assessment has intensified scrutiny from both his party and the public, as questions about his health and cognitive abilities persist.
