President Joe Biden told more than two dozen Democratic governors on Wednesday as he discussed his presidential campaign trajectory that his health is fine except for his brain function, people familiar with the matter told The New York Times.
Biden assured the governors he would remain in the race despite growing calls for him to drop out of the presidential race. They and several others who attended the meeting were briefed on Biden's comments. Said When asked about his health by Hawaii Governor Josh Green, the 81-year-old said everything was normal except for his “brain,” according to The New York Times. (Related: Inconsistencies in KJP press conference stall White House spin machine)
“It's my brain,” Biden told Greene, which confused at least one governor, who took it seriously, according to The New York Times, while at least three others in the room appeared to interpret the remark as a joke.
“He was clearly joking,” Biden campaign chair Jen O'Malley Dillon told The New York Times, adding that he followed up the remark with a “no jokes aside.”
(L-R) New York Governor Kathy Hockle, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Maryland Governor Wes Moore speak to reporters after meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House in Washington, DC, July 3, 2024. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Biden told governors that a trip to France, California and Italy in the two weeks before the debate had affected his performance, The New York Times reported, adding that he told staff he needed more rest but kept pushing himself and ignoring staff concerns about his schedule.
Biden also argued that people needed to cut back on their work hours and avoid attending events after 8 p.m., a person familiar with his remarks told The New York Times.
While the president and his campaign have ostensibly maintained he remains in the race, a “key ally” appeared to tell The New York Times this week that Biden is considering whether to stay in the race. The “key ally,” speaking on the condition of anonymity to account for the sensitivity of the situation, told The New York Times that Biden knows he must succeed in future public appearances to allay concerns about his age.
The White House denied the story's authenticity.
That assertion is completely false, and we would have said so if The New York Times had given us more than seven minutes to comment. https://t.co/SRTYIVTy7v
—Andrew Bates (@AndrewJBates46) July 3, 2024
“The allegation is completely false. If The New York Times had given us more than seven minutes to comment, we would have said so,” White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates tweeted.
