4 sources·Politics

Ron Klain Reveals Biden's Struggles Before Trump Debate in New Book

Former chief of staff Ron Klain discloses concerns over President Biden's mental acuity prior to a key debate against Trump, sparking criticism for not speaking out sooner.

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Biden’s dismal, halting performance caused a crisis of confidence among fellow Democrats and ultimately led to his exit from the race.
Pelosi secretly tried to prevent Biden from ‘lowering himself’ by debating Trump in 2024: new book
New York Post·18d
Mostly Reliable
This source is generally reliable but sometimes includes opinion, propaganda, or minor inaccuracies.
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Leans Right
This outlet slightly leans right.
This led the then-81-year-old Biden to withdraw his candidacy and pass the leadership to Vice President Kamala Harris.
'Embarrassing': Biden’s ex-chief of staff slammed for hiding president was 'out of it'
AlterNet·18d
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This source has a mixed track record—sometimes accurate but also prone to bias, sensationalism, or incomplete reporting.
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Left
This outlet favors left-wing views.
While Klain came clean to Whipple, he argued the exact opposite last summer while other Democrats were calling on Biden to get out of the race.
Biden Super-Loyalist Ron Klain Stabs Him in the Back: Couldn’t Even ‘Grasp’ Trump’s Arguments at Debate
MEDIAite·18d
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This source is generally reliable but sometimes includes opinion, propaganda, or minor inaccuracies.
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This outlet slightly leans left.

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Updated: Apr 2nd, 2025, 5:21 PM ET

Summary

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In a new book, Ron Klain, President Biden's former chief of staff, details his concerns about Biden's mental state and exhaustion leading up to a pivotal debate with Donald Trump. Klain's remarks have drawn criticism, as some commentators question his decision not to publicly address these issues earlier, especially amid concerns regarding Biden's cognitive abilities. The narrative suggests internal conflicts within the Democratic Party about Biden's ability to withstand challenges from Trump, culminating in Biden's eventual withdrawal from the race, with supporters rallying around Vice President Kamala Harris as the nominee.

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