White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre admitted during Monday’s press briefing that 80-year-old President Joe Biden will be dodging his customary annual physical exam, after previously assuring the public he would be examined “before the end of the year.”
“Uh, the president is in good health, and maintains an active lifestyle as his doctors have said,” Jean-Pierre claimed. “And, uh, as a – as a number of independent expert also told the New York Times, just to, uh, highlight that for a second.”
“He will have a physical in the upcoming months and the results will be released like they were, uh, most recently in the same way, and it will – we will be transparent,” she added.
Joe Biden said he would have a physical before the end of the year, but now Karine Jean-Pierre says it will happen "in the coming months." pic.twitter.com/Zm9yPDzMQK
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) December 19, 2022
Jean-Pierre’s claims on Monday stand in direct contradiction to what Biden himself told the press just a few weeks ago.
In November, Biden asked a female reporter if she thought he needed to undergo a physical exam of the kind typically administered to sitting Presidents.
The incident happened late last month, and was followed by the President mumbling about “part of my physical” being “already done.”
It began when a reporter asked the elderly octogenarian, “When will you get your annual physical, Mr. President?”
Biden, who insists that he plans to run for reelection in 2024, replied, “What, do you think I need it?” before wandering over to the questioner. “Well, you just had a birthday,” the reporter told the 80-year-old commander-in-chief.
Biden laughed nervously and replied, “I’ve gotten my physi – I will get him – part of my physical’s already done, and I’ll be getting before the end of the year.”
Reporter: "When will you get your annual physical, Mr. President?"
Biden: "What, do you think I need it?"
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) November 25, 2022
Though Democrats have consistently tried to brand criticisms about Biden’s health as a fringe Republican talking point, public polling has consistently revealed that a growing number of citizens are concerned about the 80-year-old man’s ability to conduct himself effectively in the White House.
This news and commentary by Gabriel Keane originally appeared on Valiant News.