Jill Biden shut down talk of Joe's decline and became 'one of the most powerful first ladies': Book

WASHINGTON, DC: Former first lady Jill Biden shut down talks about former President Joe Biden's mental decline and protected him from the truth as she became the real power in the White House, a bombshell book claims.

The former POTUS reportedly faced cognitive decline during the twilight of his presidency. Following his disastrous presidential debate against President Donald Trump in June 2024, the 82-year-old decided to step down from the race. 

New book details how Jill Biden became one of the 'most powerful first ladies in history'

The book, 'Original Sin', penned by CNN host Jake Tapper and Axios reporter Alex Thompson, mentions what insiders claim is the White House's deepest secret. The book talks about Jill's iron grip on power and the lengths she allegedly went to shield her husband from the public, per the Daily Mail.

In the book, the former first lady emerges not just as a loyal wife but also as a behind-the-scenes powerbroker who helped prop up the former president as his mental and physical decline became harder to hide.

The authors painted a disturbing portrait of a presidency in crisis after interviewing more than 200 sources, many from within the 46th president's own party, where aides feared the truth and the first lady played protector.

The book mentioned that Jill berated staff in private, defended Joe's missteps in public, and also helped him finish his thoughts in conversations while maintaining a "constant influence over the West Wing," per the Daily Mail.

Moreover, important figures such as senior adviser Anthony Bernal and deputy chief of staff Annie Tomasini reportedly had access to the POTUS' private residence, and the junior officials feared them.

"As Jill's power rose, so did Bernal's. Biden aides would say that she was one of the most powerful first ladies in history, and as a result, he became one of the most influential people in the White House," the book mentioned.

Book claims aides worried Joe Biden might need a wheelchair during a potential second term

The book did not shy away from the growing concerns that were spiralling around the former president's health.

It also shed light on internal discussions among advisers about whether a wheelchair might be needed in a second term, citing his worsening spinal issues and his increasingly careful stage management.

Moreover, staff opted for shorter walking routes and edited footage to downplay his frailty after a dramatic fall over a sandbag at the Air Force Academy in June 2023.

During the time, his White House physician, Dr Kevin O'Connor, reportedly warned that another serious fall could end up putting Joe permanently in a wheelchair. However, the aides deemed it impossible to sell during a campaign, but potentially unavoidable if the Democrat won the reelection.

During his recent interview on ABC's 'The View', the former president denied he suffered cognitive decline while serving in the White House, and said allegations that trickled out since he departed his position were off base, according to NBC News.

Joe said, "They are wrong. There’s nothing to sustain that."

Talking about his disastrous June 2024 debate, host Whoopi Goldberg suggested that some in the party made too much of the episode, and Biden said, "We still were winning the primary. We were still doing everything. The Democratic Party at large didn’t buy into it, but the Democratic leadership and some of the very significant contributors did."