Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has criticized allies of President Joe Biden, asserting that individuals aware of the president's cognitive decline should have intervened earlier. Pelosi, speaking at Politico’s “The California Agenda: Sacramento Summit,” indicated she was not fully aware of Biden’s struggles prior to his June 27, 2024, debate against Donald Trump, citing limited in-person interactions with the president after Democrats lost the House majority in 2022.
"I do think that those who did know should have acted upon that information. Whoever knew," Pelosi stated. She also noted reports that staff claimed the family was aware, while the family attributed awareness to staff.
However, author Chris Whipple’s upcoming book, “Uncharted,” alleges that Pelosi expressed concern about Biden's aging to a friend after a White House ceremony in May 2024 where Biden presented her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Whipple quoted Pelosi as saying, “He was not the same Joe Biden.”
Despite this, Pelosi publicly praised Biden’s “wisdom, experience, strength and strategic thinking” in June 2024, shortly after the Wall Street Journal published a report detailing concerns from over 45 lawmakers and staffers who found the president spoke softly and relied on aides during meetings. Pelosi had described the Journal story as a “hit piece” that disregarded Democratic testimony.
Pelosi told Politico correspondent Jonathan Martin that the June 2024 debate was when many, including herself, truly understood the situation. "I didn’t know, and I think he had his sort of ups and downs," she said.
She also addressed accounts of her role in convincing Biden to end his re-election bid, calling them inaccurate. Pelosi recounted advising Biden, "I've come to question the polling that you have and how your campaign is being conducted," referencing public opinion polls indicating a significant portion of Americans did not believe he should run.
Pelosi also stated she urged Biden to undergo and release the results of a cognitive examination to reassure the public of his fitness for another term. She has denied directly telling Biden to withdraw from the race or initiating calls for him to do so among other Democrats.
Previously, Pelosi notably refrained from endorsing Biden on a July 10, 2024, appearance on “Morning Joe,” instead stating, “It’s up to the president to decide if he is going to run. We’re all encouraging him to make that decision because time is running short.”
President Biden was diagnosed with prostate cancer that has metastasized to his bones, a condition that former first lady Jill Biden has stated made a second term inadvisable.