Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again

Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson examine President Joe Biden's 2024 reelection campaign despite evidence of cognitive decline and the efforts to conceal the extent of his deterioration. Biden launched his 2020 presidential bid with the goal of preventing a second Trump term. Convinced that only he could defeat Trump again, Biden, his family, and senior aides misrepresented his condition and limitations to themselves, allies, and the public. His June 27, 2024 debate performance with Trump exposed the consequences of this deception to the world. The authors draw on private conversations with numerous figures—White House staff at all levels, congressional leaders, Cabinet members, governors, donors, and entertainment industry figures—to document how widespread knowledge of Biden's condition was and the scale of the problem. The book characterizes Biden's decision to seek reelection as narcissistic, self-delusional, and reckless, describing it as part of an extended public deception with few historical precedents. The authors argue that in attempting to defeat what they viewed as an existential threat to democracy, Biden and his inner circle instead ensured Trump's return to power. The book raises questions about accountability and responsibility that will persist for years.