A forthcoming political exposé by two renowned journalists promises to reveal the behind-the-scenes circumstances surrounding President Joe Biden’s decision to run for reelection, despite his declining health. The writers label his decision as an “original sin” that eventually led to the resurgence of Donald Trump in the White House.
CNN anchor Jake Tapper and Axios correspondent Alex Thompson are set to release “Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again” on May 20, 2025. The book will be published by Penguin Press.
According to preliminary promotional materials, the book connects Biden’s decision to seek reelection, which it terms as his “original sin,” to a campaign of deception and denial, ultimately leading to Trump’s election as President.
The book announcement draws a parallel between the events of 2024 and a Greek tragedy, where the protagonist’s efforts to avoid his fate eventually seal it.
The authors contend that Biden’s unsatisfactory debate performance in June 2024 was not an isolated incident. Instead, it was the predictable outcome from an 81-year-old man who had been experiencing gradual cognitive decline. They argue that Biden, his family, and his team prioritized their self-interest and dread of another Trump term over acknowledging the president’s diminished capacity.
The book is expected to lead readers into private discussions among political insiders, revealing the extent of Biden’s cognitive issues and who was aware of them. This circle extended from White House staffers at various levels to congressional leaders, Cabinet members, governors, donors, and Hollywood personalities.
Thompson promised significant revelations, telling Axios, “This book is as much of a human story as a political one. Stay tuned — you won’t believe what we’ve found.”
Public concern over Biden’s fitness for office intensified after his June 2024 debate performance. Following weeks of speculation and private negotiations, Biden withdrew from the race on July 21, 2024, in what he said was the “best interest of my party and the country.” He immediately endorsed former Vice President Kamala Harris, who won the Democratic nomination but lost to Trump in the general election.
Several journalists have acknowledged their failure to adequately report on Biden’s cognitive decline during his presidency. Media figures like Matt Yglesias, Josh Barro, and Mehdi Hasan expressed regret for not questioning Biden’s fitness for office earlier, as reported by Rolling Stone. Some suggested that more proactive reporting could have triggered a Democratic primary and possibly altered the election’s result.
Reports indicate that the Biden administration restricted who the President could speak with and what information he could access. This contributed to the limited public awareness of his condition. Journalists who raised concerns about Biden’s health were allegedly “blackballed” by the White House.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reportedly informed Biden privately that polling data showed he couldn’t defeat Trump, and that his continued campaign might damage Democrats’ chances of winning the House. While Biden publicly insisted on running, sources suggest he was more open to discussions about withdrawal in private.
Throughout his presidency, the White House consistently defended Biden’s health. Official medical reports found no evidence of conditions like Parkinson’s disease or stroke, although they noted a stiffness in his gait due to degenerative spine changes and peripheral neuropathy. Biden also had other health conditions including sleep apnea and atrial fibrillation, as well as a history of brain aneurysms.
Biden declined to undergo extensive cognitive testing, asserting that he took “a cognitive test every single day” by carrying out his presidential duties. His medical team conducted regular verbal check-ins while the president exercised.
In “Original Sin”, Tapper and Thompson depict Biden’s decision to run for reelection as more than a political misjudgment. They see it as a moral failure with significant implications for American democracy. The publisher describes it as a “shockingly narcissistic, self-delusional, and reckless” decision that ultimately facilitated Trump’s return to power.
A recent Forbes article compared Biden’s cognitive decline to President Woodrow Wilson’s concealed stroke in 1919. This raised questions about who was truly in charge in both instances and the ethical implications of hiding a president’s health issues from the public.
“Original Sin” is slated to reveal new information about the extent of Biden’s decline and the intentional efforts to keep his condition away from public scrutiny. For Democrats still grappling with their 2024 defeat and Trump’s return to the White House, the book could provide insightful revelations about what went wrong and how it could have been avoided.
