During a Feb 12. press conference, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said that Biden’s physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, does not think a cognitive test is necessary. A reporter asked, “Does the White House think that the idea of the president taking a cognitive test as a part of this physical is a legitimate idea?” Jean-Pierre responded, “I'm just gonna say what Dr. O'Connor said to me about a year ago when [Biden's physical] was released. The president proves every day [in] how he operates and how he thinks, by dealing with world leaders, by making difficult decisions on behalf of the American people – whether it's domestic or it's national security." She added, “That is how Dr. O’Connor sees it, and that is how I’m going to leave it.” Biden has recently faced renewed questioning into his mental fitness and ability to maintain his role as commander-in-chief after a report raised concern over his memory and age. Special Counsel Robert Hur, who has been probing Biden’s mishandling of classified documents taken from when he served as a senator and as vice-president, stated in a 388-page report that Biden suffers from “diminished faculties in advancing age.” During interviews with investigators, Biden could not remember when he was vice president, could not remember when his son died, and his memory was hazy when describing a debate that once held significance to him, according to the report. Since running for president, Biden's comments have been gaffe-prone, but a string of recent incidents leaves many questioning whether he should pass the torch. Last week, Biden twice referred to former German Chancellor Angela Merkel as the late German chancellor Helmut Kohl, the second time during the week he claimed to have spoken with a European leader who had died years earlier. In the same week, ironically as he was defending his memory and pushing back against Hur’s report, he also confused the leaders of Mexico and Egypt during a press conference. This year would not be the first time Biden has not taken a cognitive exam. In fact, it appears he has not taken one since becoming president. In 2021, CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta told the network that he “read pretty carefully through the doctor’s report” and there was no indication that a cognitive exam was performed. The following year more than three dozen Republicans sent a letter to the White House expressing “concern” over Biden’s apparent cognitive deficiencies, and calling on the president, who was 79 at the time, to take a cognitive test. In 2023, O’Connor declared Biden “fit for duty” following the annual exam, but still did not provide any indication that Biden had undergone mental capability assessments. By contrast, his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, took a cognitive test in 2018, earning a score of 30 out of 30.President Joe Biden will not be taking a cognitive test as part of an upcoming physical exam, according to administration officials.
