In a startling revelation, a former Biden campaign insider has raised allegations of deliberate tactics to mislead the public regarding former President Biden’s age and mental acuity. As the political landscape faces new scrutiny, these claims urge a fresh examination of campaign strategies and their ethical implications.
Claims of Gaslighting During the Campaign
Michael LaRosa, Jill Biden’s former press secretary, admitted that the Biden campaign dismissed legitimate concerns about former President Biden’s age and mental acuity as mere media frenzy. LaRosa criticized the denial strategy during a seminar at American University, pointing out the fear within the campaign about allowing unscripted media interactions with Biden. This tactic, described by LaRosa as “gaslighting,” involved denying polling data and attacking journalism highlighting these concerns.
BOMBSHELL: Former WH aide Michael LaRosa admits the Biden administration misled the public about concerns over Joe Biden’s age and cognitive health, fearing unscripted interviews would expose decline.
He called it “gaslighting,” contributing to Biden’s 2024 withdrawal. pic.twitter.com/3MoS6NYdpr
— Resist the Mainstream (@ResisttheMS) February 28, 2025
Despite Biden’s enthusiasm for media appearances, the campaign did not trust him to handle them unscripted. LaRosa’s claims align with a broader narrative of strategic obfuscation, where polling data indicating concern over Biden’s mental fitness was consistently downplayed. Additionally, LaRosa noted that Biden’s campaign was aware of age concerns from the outset.
Strategic Narrative vs. Public Perception
Polls from 2023 and 2024 revealed significant public concern about Biden’s age and mental fitness. A 2024 New York Times poll indicated 70% of voters believed Biden was too old to be effective. LaRosa argued that while the campaign’s approach was not an outright cover-up, it constituted an exaggerated narrative to maintain public confidence.
Ex-Biden aide admits Biden gaslit America
by Ireland OwensA former top staffer in the Biden-Harris administration told Puck News on Wednesday that the Biden-Harris administration was “gaslighting” Americans by dismissing concerns over polling showing that former President Joe… pic.twitter.com/SLCiGf1Fxk
— Stan Speer (@StanSpeer1) February 28, 2025
“Jill Biden’s ex-press secretary and White House insider Michael LaRosa has admitted the Biden campaign was ‘gaslighting’ the public and the press with its ‘denial’ of concerns surrounding former President Joe Biden’s age and ability which, he admitted, were very real.” – Michael LaRosa.
LaRosa acknowledged some truths in Jake Tapper’s book “Original Sin,” which discusses efforts to conceal Biden’s mental decline. However, LaRosa denied characterizing these actions as a complete cover-up, labeling such descriptions exaggerated.
Implications for Future Campaigns
As pressure mounts on Biden following a poor debate performance in July 2024, these revelations highlight the need for transparent discourse regarding candidate competencies. The situation underscores potential ethical challenges related to the portrayal of candidates’ capabilities during campaigns, urging future campaigners to engage more honestly with the public.
LaRosa’s statements suggest a contractual expectation from voters for Biden to serve only one term, aimed at ousting now President Trump and then passing the torch—a deal not fulfilled. This discrepancy between voter expectations and reality further complicates the narrative put forth by the Biden campaign.
Sources:
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5168925-biden-staffer-campaign-age-concerns/