Staff Reports
Joe Biden’s decision to end his re-election campaign arrived with the fanfare of a wet blanket. Just hours after the announcement, Frank Biden, the brother of the President and self-styled family spokesman, hinted at something dark lurking behind the curtain — Biden’s health. Frank made headlines with his comments that truthfully sounded as if he had just come from one of those overly dramatic soap operas, suggesting that his brother’s political demise may have more to do with his “overall health” than any desire for good sportsmanship.
It seems Americans learned of Biden’s withdrawal from the race not through a grand speech befitting a sitting president, but rather through a letter posted online, like an angry rant from someone fired from their job. To add an extra dash of absurdity, even members of Biden’s staff were kept out of the loop until shortly before the news splashed across social media platforms. The President’s farewell message waxed poetic about the “honor” of serving, while pointedly ignoring the critical issue of his cognitive decline—an issue glaringly evident after Biden’s disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump, which could only be described as a slow-motion train wreck.
Frank Biden’s vague indications about his brother’s vitality, along with remarks about Joe’s pride and his shuffle-walk, have only fueled speculation about hidden health issues. But it wasn’t long before a family source jumped in, furiously disavowing Frank’s comments and instead noting that he apparently has not conversed with his brother in weeks due to his own personal struggles. It’s a classic case of “take out the trash” approach to family drama, which could explain why Frank chose to air out the family’s dirty laundry in public.
As the weekend rolled on, the whispers of Joe Biden’s decision were confirmed with a string of poorly-timed phone calls during his quarantine at his Delaware beach house. Even with COVID holding him hostage, Biden was reportedly pressured by his inner circle to face reality: running against Trump in the current political climate was a losing game. One has to wonder if Joe shared a laugh or two with a COVID-infected buddy about how he managed to dodge the debacle of a second debate.
While it’s no secret that Biden’s health appears to be on a slippery slope, his brother’s comments paired with the family’s hasty rebuttal raise more questions than answers. It remains clear that, despite the presidential façade, serious health concerns are brewing beneath the surface. As the Democratic party scrambles to regroup, they can be thankful for Frank Biden’s uncanny ability to keep the attention squarely on the family dysfunction that truly seems to define this administration. It’s a story of a brother’s love gone wrong, and America watches with a mixture of disbelief and morbid curiosity.
