What's happened
President Joe Biden's health has come under intense scrutiny following a poor debate performance against Donald Trump. Reports revealed that Dr. Kevin Cannard, a neurologist specializing in Parkinson's disease, visited the White House eight times from August 2023 to March 2024. The White House confirmed that Biden underwent a neurological exam in January, but denied he is being treated for Parkinson's. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre faced heated questions from reporters, insisting that the visits were part of Biden's annual physical exams and not related to any specific treatment for the president.
What's behind the headline?
What the papers say
According to The Independent, the White House initially denied that Dr. Cannard's visits were related to President Biden's care, but later confirmed the neurological exam. The Washington Post reported that Dr. Cannard's findings showed no signs of Parkinson's or other neurological disorders. Sky News highlighted the controversy surrounding the White House's transparency, with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre facing tough questions from reporters. The New York Times emphasized the repeated visits by Dr. Cannard and the public's growing concern over Biden's health.
How we got here
Concerns about President Biden's health have been mounting since his poor performance in a debate with Donald Trump on June 27, 2024. This led to increased scrutiny of his medical records and the revelation that Dr. Kevin Cannard, a neurologist specializing in Parkinson's disease, had visited the White House multiple times. The White House has maintained that these visits were part of Biden's annual physical exams and not related to any specific treatment for Parkinson's. The issue has sparked debates about the transparency of the president's health information and its impact on his re-election campaign.
Go deeper
- What were the results of Biden's neurological exam?
- Why did Dr. Cannard visit the White House multiple times?
- How has the White House responded to concerns about Biden's health?
Common question
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Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. is an American politician who is the 46th and current president of the United States. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 47th vice president from 2009 to 2017 and represented Delaware in the United States Senate
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Karine Jean-Pierre is a Martinican-born Haitian-American political campaign organizer, activist, political commentator, and lecturer in international and public affairs at Columbia University.
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Kevin O'Connor is an American physician and retired U.S. Army Colonel serving as the physician to the president.
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Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.