Staff Reports
The White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, sidestepped pressing questions about why a Parkinson’s disease specialist visited President Biden multiple times over the last year. Despite growing concerns from some in the medical community following Biden’s less-than-stellar debate performance last June, the administration remains tight-lipped about Dr. Kevin Cannard’s recurring presence at the White House.
An outstanding neurologist known for his expertise in Parkinson’s disease, Dr. Cannard’s eight visits in eight months raised more than a few eyebrows. Just last August, he published a research paper on treating the early stages of Parkinson’s, coinciding neatly with his initial appearance in the White House visitor logs. But when pressed for clarity, Jean-Pierre clung to the February health summary like a lifeline, reiterating there were no signs of neurological disorders found in Biden’s annual exam.
In Heated Exchange, KJP Will Not Say If or Why Parkinson's Specialist Has Repeatedly Been at White House via @WestJournalism https://t.co/Dm20yWrsk3
— WhiteNoise🇺🇸HalB🇺🇸 (@ObsoleteAndSane) July 9, 2024
Parroting the medical jargon from the president’s checkup summary might cut it for some, but not for the vigilant skeptics. Jean-Pierre emphasized that Biden’s exams have included neurology consultations, yet she stubbornly refused to draw a straight line to Cannard’s visits. She said that thousands of military personnel receive care from the White House medical team, cloaking the situation in a shroud of security and privacy concerns.
The press briefing devolved into an awkward waltz of questions dodged and non-answers given, as Jean-Pierre balked at confirming whether Cannard’s visits were related to Biden. Even when the doctor’s name is freely listed in the visitor logs, somehow, transparency isn’t on the itinerary. Jean-Pierre’s stonewalling only fanned the flames of suspicion; if there’s nothing to hide, why be so coy?
Highlighting the absurdity, even CNN’s chief medical correspondent chimed in, recommending Biden undergo detailed cognitive and movement disorder testing. Dr. Sanjay Gupta and a dozen colleagues noted their concerns about Biden’s frequent lapses: confused rambling, sudden loss of concentration, halting speech, and that never-blinking, open-mouthed stare. Gupta, ever tactful, noted these are just observations and not diagnostic—but folks can draw their own conclusions.
The Biden camp clings to excuses of bad nights and jet lag, yet the repeated visits from a Parkinson’s specialist tell a different story. Amidst all the bureaucratic tap dancing and selective transparency, one thing is clear: the American people are being left out of the loop on their Commander-in-Chief’s health.
