WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden's terrible performance at the June 27 presidential debate has raised concerns about his age, health and ability to lead the federal government.
Administration officials have blamed his confused and at times indecipherable answers at the debate with Republican Donald Trump on a head cold, jet lag and poor preparation at Camp David. But at 81, Biden has found his health to be a key issue for many voters going into November's election. Dr. Kevin O'Connor, Biden's physician, issued his first comment since the debate late Monday, after White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre struggled to address questions about the president's health at Monday's news briefing.
In a letter, O'Connor described Biden's health examination regimen, including visits from a neurologist.
Read the full letter here.
Jean-Pierre said Biden had seen a neurologist three times. "Not more than that."
The White House spokesperson repeated the phrase "three times" in 17 instances during the Monday briefing. She stressed that all three meetings with a neurologist were tied to the president's annual physical exams. But Jean-Pierre declined to say where Biden had seen the neurologist — whether the visits were at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center or elsewhere. "I don't have anything to state as to location," she said.
Biden's physical exams has not found signs of Parkinson's or other neurological diseases, Jean-Pierre said.
O'Connor's letter said "an extremely detailed neurologic exam was again reassuring" in that there were no findings consistent with a stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's or ascending lateral sclerosis. The letter added that no tremors or "motor weakness" were detected. Written by Biden's physician, O'Connor, the letter added that Biden "demonstrates excellent fine motor dexterity."
Why has a neurologist specializing in Parkinson's visited the White House?
Visitor logs show that Dr. Kevin Cannard, a neurologist who has conducted research into Parkinson's, went to the White House eight times between July 2023 and this past March.