During an interview on “CBS Sunday Morning,” former President Bill Clinton talked about Joe Biden and questions people have had about Biden’s mental health. Some believe that as Biden got older, he started to lose his sharp thinking and clear judgment. But Clinton said that wasn’t true based on what he saw. He said Biden was still sharp, focused, and able to do the job when they spoke.
The topic came up because of a book written by Jake Tapper from CNN and Alex Thompson from Axios. The book claims that Biden’s aides tried to hide signs that he was struggling with both his mind and body, especially during his campaign to be reelected. According to the book, his team worked hard to keep the public from noticing any problems. This made people worry even more about whether Biden was healthy enough to lead the country.
A spokesperson for Biden responded to those claims by saying that while it’s true Biden changed physically with age—as most people do—that didn’t mean he was mentally unfit. They said just because someone looks older doesn’t mean their brain isn’t working well.
When Clinton was asked if he ever had a moment where he felt Biden couldn’t handle being president anymore, he said no. He explained that he and Biden had many deep conversations and that Biden always seemed alert and capable. Clinton said the only thing that concerned him was whether anyone could handle such a tough job all the way into their mid-80s. But even then, Clinton never got the sense that Biden couldn’t do it.
Clinton said Biden always seemed well-prepared and on top of things. When the interviewer asked again if he ever saw any signs that Biden’s mind wasn’t sharp anymore, Clinton clearly said no. He said he had seen Biden not long ago and thought he looked healthy and mentally sound.
Clinton also said he didn’t read the book that made all these claims. He explained that he didn’t want to because he feels some people are just trying to blame Biden for the fact that Trump won the presidency again. Clinton doesn’t think that’s fair. He believes Biden did a good job as president, even if he isn’t in office anymore.
Biden’s health was already a big concern for many Americans while he was president. People got especially worried after he performed poorly during a debate in June 2024 while trying to get reelected. That moment made more people think he might not be healthy enough to serve another term. Eventually, Biden dropped out of the race, and Kamala Harris, who was vice president at the time, became the Democratic nominee. But she lost to Donald Trump, who became president again in January 2025.
Not long ago, Biden also shared that he had been diagnosed with a serious form of prostate cancer. That news made people wonder even more about what kind of health issues he might have been dealing with while he was still in the White House. Some are now looking back and asking if those problems affected his ability to lead.
