KJP Clarifies Statement After Briefing
In a significant development, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has acknowledged that President Biden was examined by neurologist Kevin Cannard, who specializes in Parkinson’s disease, at the White House on January 17. This revelation came just hours after Jean-Pierre had initially denied the meeting during her regular briefing.
The clarification follows just a day after Jean-Pierre admonished a journalist for highlighting the press’s frustration over her previous misleading information about Biden’s medical evaluations, particularly after his June 27 debate performance, which many viewed as problematic.
Jean-Pierre stated, “Because the date was not mentioned in the question, I want to be clear that the Jan. 17 meeting between [presidential physician] Dr. [Kevin] O’Connor and Dr. Cannard was for the president’s physical.” She further explained that this was one of the three occasions Cannard had seen Biden, each time as part of his physical examination. The findings from these exams, she assured, have been publicly released.
Earlier, when pressed by the Associated Press’s Seung Min Kim about whether the meeting was related to Biden’s care, Jean-Pierre had firmly stated, “I can say that it was not.” However, this statement was later contradicted by her admission that the meeting did involve Biden’s health.
Cannard, according to public visitor logs, visited the White House eight times over eight months, which raises questions about the nature and frequency of these visits. The White House initially suggested Cannard’s visits were to treat military members, though his consultations took place at the residence clinic rather than the larger medical facility in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.
The findings from Cannard’s evaluations were included in a physical report released by Dr. O’Connor on February 28. The report indicated that Biden underwent an “extremely detailed neurologic exam” with no findings consistent with severe neurological disorders such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, or Parkinson’s disease.
This admission has fueled ongoing speculation and debate about Biden’s cognitive health. Jean-Pierre’s latest statement appears to adjust the timeline of Biden’s most recent neurological exam, amidst growing public and political concern.
Jean-Pierre’s credibility has been under scrutiny, particularly after she initially claimed last week that Biden had not undergone “any kind” of medical exam following the debate, a statement that was later proven incorrect. The press corps has been vocal about their dissatisfaction, leading to tense exchanges during briefings.
For example, CBS journalist Ed O’Keefe confronted Jean-Pierre about the inconsistencies, which led to a heated back-and-forth. Jean-Pierre defended her handling of the press briefings, though O’Keefe pointed out that her answers often required subsequent corrections.
Jean-Pierre is known within White House circles as being unprepared for detailed inquiries, which has led to some internal criticism. An effort led by presidential adviser Anita Dunn to have Jean-Pierre step down ahead of the election year was ultimately unsuccessful.