The forthcoming book “Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again” by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios reporter Alex Thompson delves into the alleged efforts to conceal former President Joe Biden’s physical and cognitive decline from the public eye. An excerpt from the book, featured in The New Yorker, recounts a troubling incident at a California fundraiser in June 2024 where Biden appeared disoriented and failed to recognize actor George Clooney, a longtime supporter.

Senior CNN political commentator David Axelrod, a former adviser to President Barack Obama, expressed astonishment at the revelations in the book, highlighting deeper issues within Biden’s inner circle and the Democratic Party. Axelrod emphasized the challenges of presidential fatigue and strain and questioned Biden’s decision to seek re-election at 81.

The book, part of a series scrutinizing Biden’s presidency, argues that his choice to run again at an advanced age was a critical misstep, compounded by efforts to conceal his cognitive decline. While Biden’s spokesperson dismissed the book as an attempt for profit, Axelrod criticized Biden’s public appearances post-presidency as exacerbating the situation rather than addressing the controversies raised in the book.

Axelrod raised concerns about the handling of Biden’s declining condition and emphasized the need for responsible decision-making by the former president and his family. He suggested that Biden’s continued public appearances may not be serving his best interests or those of the Democratic Party, urging a more strategic approach to address the issues raised in the book.