Dr. Kevin Cannard’s Visits to the White House
According to visitor logs reviewed by the New York Post, Dr. Kevin Cannard, a Parkinson’s disease specialist from Walter Reed Medical Center, met with Dr. Kevin O’Connor, Biden’s long-time physician, at the White House residence clinic on January 17.
Source: Wikimedia
Since August 2023, Cannard has visited the White House eight times, meeting with Megan Nasworthy, a liaison between Walter Reed and the White House, on seven occasions, including his most recent visit in late March.
Biden Continues to Reject Cognitive Testing
Biden has consistently refused to take a cognitive test, a stance he first expressed in August 2020 when he responded to a reporter’s question with: “Why the hell would I take a test?”
Source: Wikimedia
He has maintained this position and, according to aides, has not undergone such a test during any of his three annual physical exams in office.
Cognitive Testing Hasn’t Been Recommended
The Washington Post reported on Saturday that a White House aide stated that O’Connor, who has been Biden’s doctor since 2009, has never recommended a cognitive test for the president.
Source: Wikimedia
O’Connor has said that his primary role is to offer Biden an affirmative “Good morning, Mr. President” each day to help him start on the right track.
Biden Responds to Questions About Cognitive Tests
In an interview with ABC News on Friday, anchor George Stephanopoulos asked Biden if he had undergone any specific cognitive tests.
Source: Wikimedia
Biden replied, “No one said I had to … they said I’m good.”
“I get a cognitive test every day”
When asked if he would consider an independent neurological and cognitive exam and release the results, Biden said, “I get a cognitive test every day.”
Source: The White House/Wikimedia Commons
He added, “Everything I do – you know, not only am I campaigning, but I’m running the world,” and insisted, “I’ve already done it.”
Pre-Approved Interview Question
On Saturday, further scrutiny arose when two radio hosts who interviewed Biden on Thursday revealed that the Biden campaign had provided a list of approved questions. Wisconsin radio host Earl Ingram said that Biden’s aides had given him a set of four predetermined questions, with no room for negotiation.
Source: Alex Wong, Getty Images
“They gave me the exact questions to ask,” Ingram told the Associated Press. Philadelphia radio host Andrea Lawful-Sanders said she received a list of eight questions and approved four of them. Both interviews were designed to rehabilitate Biden’s image following his lackluster debate performance.
Common Practice
Biden campaign spokesperson Lauren Hitt defended the practice, stating that it is “not at all an uncommon practice for interviewees” and that accepting the questions was not a condition for the interview.
Source: @ParamountPlus/YouTube
However, the interviews were structured to highlight Biden’s achievements among Black voters.
Trump Fights with Sarcasm
On Saturday, Trump sarcastically urged Biden to “ignore his many critics and move forward, with alacrity and strength, with his powerful and far-reaching campaign.”
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Trump’s campaign also launched attack ads against Vice President Kamala Harris, who is polling better against Trump.
White House Defends O’Connor’s Decision
Earlier this year, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre defended O’Connor’s decision not to administer a cognitive test. This followed a report by special counsel Robert Hur, which described Biden as a “well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory.”
Source: Tabrez Syed/Unsplash
The White House had previously pushed back against Hur’s report, accusing him of a partisan smear campaign. Biden responded at a news conference, “I’m well-meaning, and I’m elderly, and I know what I’m doing,” adding, “My memory is fine.”
Visits Sparks Concerns
The eight visits by Dr. Cannard over the past 11 months have raised additional questions about the 81-year-old president’s mental capabilities, especially in light of his debate performance and subsequent verbal slip-ups, including a radio interview where he mistakenly claimed to be the “first Black woman to serve with a Black president.”
Source: @VP, X
Cannard, who has been the “neurology specialist supporting the White House medical unit” since 2012, has published academic research on the early stages of Parkinson’s disease.
Accusations of Mental Health Issue Cover-up
Republican Congressman Ronny Jackson, who served as White House doctor under both Barack Obama and Donald Trump, has previously called for Biden to undergo a cognitive exam and accused O’Connor and Biden’s family of attempting to “cover up” mental health issues.
Source: @JoeBiden/YouTube
Jackson told the New York Post that he believes O’Connor and Biden “have led the cover up” and claimed that “Kevin O’Connor is like a son to Jill Biden – she loves him,” suggesting that they trusted him to manage the situation.