Context:

At a high-profile fundraiser in June 2024, President Joe Biden failed to recognize George Clooney, one of the event's hosts, highlighting concerns about his cognitive decline. This incident, occurring shortly before a critical debate against Donald Trump, was detailed in an upcoming book by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, which discusses Biden's decision to withdraw from the presidential race. The book reveals that Clooney was so disturbed by the encounter that he considered publishing an op-ed urging Biden to step down, despite advice against it from Barack Obama. Biden's inner circle and his wife, Jill, continued to defend his capabilities, dismissing claims of decline. The situation stirred significant concern among Democratic insiders, leading to discussions about contingency plans should Biden falter further in his campaign efforts.

Dive Deeper:

• At a fundraiser co-hosted by George Clooney in June 2024, President Biden did not recognize Clooney, despite their longstanding acquaintance, raising alarms about Biden's mental acuity among attendees and insiders.

• In the upcoming book 'Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again,' authors Tapper and Thompson explore the implications of Biden's cognitive challenges leading up to his withdrawal from the presidential race.

• Clooney, affected by the encounter, drafted an op-ed urging Biden to leave the race, consulting with figures like Barack Obama who advised against it, fearing it would entrench Biden's resolve to stay in the race.

• Despite the incident and subsequent debate performance concerns, Biden and his wife Jill publicly defended his mental fitness and dedication, arguing that outsiders could not appreciate his daily efforts and workload.

• Democratic leaders, including Chuck Schumer, expressed concerns about Biden's performance in an upcoming debate, hinting at a backup plan if his campaign faltered, reflecting broader worries within the party about his candidacy.