U.S. President Joe Biden was examined by his physician in the days following last week鈥檚 CNN presidential debate, the White House tells CNN 鈥� despite the White House press secretary having said Wednesday that the president has had no medical exams since his February physical.
鈥淪everal days later, the president was seen to check on his cold and was recovering well,鈥� White House spokesman Andrew Bates said.
On Wednesday, CNN had asked Karine Jean-Pierre in the White House press briefing whether the president had received 鈥渁ny medical exams鈥� since his February physical, and the press secretary had responded: 鈥淲e were able to talk to his doctor about that and that is a no.鈥�
A White House official adds when Biden was seen by his doctor after the debate, it was a 鈥渂rief check,鈥� not a physical. CNN on Wednesday did not ask Jean-Pierre whether Biden had had another 鈥減hysical鈥� since February, but rather, any medical examination.
first reported that Biden told more than 20 Democratic governors in a private meeting Wednesday night that he underwent a medical checkup after last week鈥檚 debate and is fine.
Questions about and ability to seek a second term have swirled since his stunningly halting debate performance at last week鈥檚 CNN presidential debate.
CNN reported Thursday that Biden privately acknowledged to an ally earlier this week that the next stretch of days are critical as to whether he can save his reelection bid. The White House and campaign have insisted the president is not considering ending his campaign.
Asked about concerns about Biden鈥檚 age, top advisers have repeatedly and emphatically cited his aggressive schedules during international travel as examples of his vitality and capacity to do the job at 81.
The president鈥檚 new explanation this week that he performed badly at the debate this week because of the grueling foreign travel before the debate 鈥� despite having had nearly two weeks back in the states before facing off against Donald Trump 鈥� has undercut that argument.
Jean-Pierre did not mention travel fatigue and jet lag as factors for Biden鈥檚 poor debate performance in Tuesday鈥檚 White House briefing. On Wednesday, pressed by CNN on why she had failed to mention those issues, she blamed her focus on Biden鈥檚 cold.
鈥淚 was so focused on the call 鈥� on the cold 鈥� and that鈥檚 what I kind of leaned into and talked about, but yes, his schedule did have something to do with it. It was the schedule and the cold. And I did 鈥� I was aware of that yesterday,鈥� she said.
