NBC News chief political analyst Chuck Todd said President Joe Biden's deteriorating cognitive abilities had been an "open secret" for several years.
According to Todd's account, in 2022, a senior cabinet member in the Biden administration warned Biden that he could not run for re-election in 2024 because of his declining health.
The NBC News pundit recounted his conversation with the senior cabinet member during a Wednesday episode of his podcast, The Chuck Toddcast.
"I had a cabinet secretary two years ago … all out of the blue ask me, ‘Do you really think he’s gonna—he can’t run again like this?'” Todd claimed, though declined to reveal the identity of the senior cabinet member. "This is a pretty senior cabinet secretary. And this was two years ago."
"It’s the classic open secret, a non-versation, right? It’s the story everybody knows and ... everybody was afraid to talk about.” Todd continued. 'Open Secret': Chuck Todd Reveals That a 'Senior' Cabinet Secretary Didn't Think Biden Could Run Again Two Years Ago https://t.co/dg9AxqERAF
— Mediaite (@Mediaite) July 10, 2024
Todd then joined a growing number of Democrats and pundits who have criticized Biden's ailing health since his concerning debate performance with former President Donald Trump late last month.
“It looks like they’re putting, essentially, party over country—and for what?” Todd questioned. “They cannot, I mean, there is no evidence—this is irresponsible — there is no evidence he can serve four years.”
Todd also panned the White House's recent admission that Biden had undergone a neurological exam earlier this year, claiming the White House had to "drag it out of him."
"If he had it, he should have been at the [George] Stephanopoulos interview: ‘Here you go, George, here it is. Here it is. I know people have been asking for it. Look, I did it in February. It’s clear, you know, it’s all fine. Here it is,'" Todd said referencing Biden's interview with ABC News last Friday. “But now you have to wait till the New York Times goes to the visitor logs, finds eight visits!”
The NBC News political analyst said the White House had "no credibility left" when reporting on the president's health.
On Monday, Todd said President Biden's "anger" with those calling for his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race was "misplaced." Todd's remarks were about Biden's call-in to MSNBC's Morning Joe earlier that morning, in which the president took issue with "elites" in the Democratic Party calling on him to drop out.
“I’m getting so frustrated by the elites in the party," Biden said. "They know so much more.”
The president challenged his detractors and called on them to announce their own bid for the White House to challenge him during the upcoming Democratic National Convention.
"Biden’s anger at 'elites' is a bit misplaced," Todd wrote. "Without the 'elites,' he would have had a serious primary foe. Without the 'elites,' the No Labels effort would have a compelling ticket." Biden’s anger at “elites” is a bit misplaced. Without the “elites,” he would have had a serious primary foe. Without the “elites,” the No Labels effort would have a compelling ticket. Arguably, it’s the “elites” who put too much faith in Biden that got the Dems in this position.
— Chuck Todd (@chucktodd) July 8, 2024
"Arguably, it’s the 'elites' who put too much faith in Biden that got the Dems in this position," the NBC host added.
