A forthcoming political exposé written by two leading journalists, Jake Tapper of CNN and Alex Thompson of Axios, is set to offer an insider’s perspective on President Joe Biden’s decision to run for reelection, despite his deteriorating health. The authors suggest that this decision was a pivotal misstep leading to Donald Trump’s return to the presidency.
Tapper and Thompson’s book, “Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again” will be published by Penguin Press on May 20, 2025.
The book reportedly traces a direct link between Biden’s decision to run again – which they term his “original sin”—and President Trump’s election win. It suggests that Biden’s campaign was characterized by denial and manipulation, according to early promotional materials.
The authors say that, in 2024, American politics resembled a Greek tragedy, where the protagonist’s efforts to avoid his destiny only ensure it. This analogy is outlined in the book’s announcement.
Tapper and Thompson contend that Biden’s poor debate performance in June 2024 was not a one-off event but the outcome of an 81-year-old man’s cognitive decline over several years. They argue that Biden, his family, and his team prioritized their self-interest and fear of another Trump term over acknowledging the president’s deteriorating cognitive abilities.
Readers are provided with an inside view into private discussions among influential figures, revealing the extent of Biden’s cognitive problems and how widely it was known. According to the authors, knowledge about Biden’s condition extended from White House staff to congress leaders, governors, donors, and even Hollywood personalities.
Thompson hinted at significant revelations in the book, telling Axios, “This book is as much of a human story as a political one. Stay tuned — you won’t believe what we’ve found.”
Concerns about Biden’s fitness for office grew following his June 2024 debate performance. After weeks of speculation and backroom discussions, Biden withdrew from the race on July 21, 2024, stating it was in “the best interest of my party and the country.” He then endorsed former Vice President Kamala Harris, who won the Democratic nomination but subsequently lost the general election to Trump.
Several journalists, including Matt Yglesias, Josh Barro, and Mehdi Hasan, have since expressed regret over not questioning Biden’s fitness for office more rigorously earlier. As reported by Rolling Stone, some suggested that more aggressive reporting might have initiated a Democratic primary and potentially affected the election’s results.
Reports indicate that the Biden administration restricted who could speak with the president and the information he received, which affected public awareness of his condition. Journalists who raised questions about Biden’s health were allegedly “blackballed” by the White House.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reportedly privately advised Biden that polls suggested he could not beat Trump, and his continued campaign might harm Democrats’ chance of winning the House. Despite his public determination to run, sources indicate Biden was more open to discussions about withdrawing in private.
The White House consistently defended Biden’s health throughout his presidency. Official reports found no evidence of serious conditions such as Parkinson’s disease or stroke, but they noted a stiffness in his walk due to degenerative spine changes and peripheral neuropathy. Biden’s medical history also includes sleep apnea, atrial fibrillation, and brain aneurysms.
Biden resisted extensive cognitive testing, asserting that his daily presidential duties constituted a cognitive test. His medical team reported regular verbal check-ins during his physical activity.
In “Original Sin,” the authors seem to characterize Biden’s decision to seek reelection as more than a political blunder. They suggest it was a failure of moral judgment with significant implications for American democracy. The publisher describes it as a “shockingly narcissistic, self-delusional, and reckless” choice that facilitated Trump’s return to power.
Forbes recently compared Biden’s cognitive issues to President Woodrow Wilson’s concealed stroke in 1919, prompting questions about who was truly governing the country in both cases. This comparison highlights the ethical dilemma of keeping a president’s health problems secret from the public, balancing patient-physician confidentiality against the public’s right to know about their leader’s ability to govern.
“Original Sin” is anticipated to reveal new information about the depth of Biden’s decline and the concerted efforts to hide his condition from the public. For Democrats still trying to understand their 2024 defeat and Trump’s return to the White House, the book may provide valuable insights into what went wrong and how it could have been avoided.