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Dem 2028 Hopefuls Scramble to Walk Back Praise of Biden’s Mental State [WATCH]

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Several high-profile Democrats believed to be eyeing the 2028 presidential race are now distancing [1] themselves from past remarks praising Joe Biden’s mental sharpness, as new revelations emerge about concerns over his cognitive decline during his time in office.

The recent publication of Original Sin, a book by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios reporter Alex Thompson, has intensified scrutiny around Biden’s condition while in office.

The book includes accounts from White House aides who reportedly feared the president’s deterioration could become so severe that he might require a wheelchair.

It also outlines the extent to which senior staff and allies worked to obscure those concerns from the public.

As these revelations circulate, several prominent Democrats who once vouched for Biden’s mental acuity are now offering new explanations or backing away from their earlier statements.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a widely speculated 2028 contender, attempted to clarify her previous praise for Biden.

In an appearance on CNN this past Thursday, Whitmer said, “As a governor in a state halfway across the country… I was busy working. I didn’t see the president frequently. And I can tell you, I can’t speak to that directly.”

Her comments stand in contrast to a 2023 interview with MSNBC’s Alex Wagner, during which Whitmer said she had “confidence” in Biden’s leadership and would “continue to support” him.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, another Democrat frequently mentioned as a future national candidate, offered similar hedging.

Speaking to Politico, Shapiro said, “I was very frank with the president during his campaign about what I saw were some of the shortcomings.”

That admission diverges from his public comments in 2024, when he told reporters, “Not at all,” when asked if Biden had shown any signs of cognitive decline.

At the time, he was also quoted telling Democrats to “stop worrying” about Biden’s viability as a candidate.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who previously ran for president in 2020, also appears to be recalibrating his position.

Following Biden’s widely criticized debate performance, Buttigieg said Biden was a “focused and disciplined leader.”

However, he recently acknowledged that having Biden run in 2024 was “maybe” a mistake.

These shifting positions come as additional scrutiny is placed on Biden’s mental capacity through the release of audio from his October 2023 interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur.

In the audio, Biden appears to struggle with basic details, aligning with Hur’s report that described the former president as having a “significantly limited” memory.

The audio release follows months of debate over whether the Department of Justice would allow the public to hear Biden’s own responses during the classified documents investigation.

The Biden-Harris administration had initially declined to release the audio, prompting backlash and transparency demands from Republican lawmakers.

The combination of published accounts, official audio, and shifting rhetoric among Democrats suggests growing acknowledgment within the party of the challenges posed by Biden’s final year in office.

As speculation around the 2028 Democratic field intensifies, several figures once seen as Biden loyalists are now attempting to position themselves for a post-Biden political landscape.