White House Press Secretary Faces Backlash for Withholding Information on Biden's Health

A former White House physician has criticized press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre for refusing to provide details about a Parkinson's specialist visiting President Biden.

Former White House physician Dr. Ronny Jackson has joined the chorus of voices questioning the lack of transparency surrounding President Biden's medical visits. Jackson, who served as the physician to both Presidents Obama and Trump, has criticized press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre for refusing to divulge more information about a Parkinson's specialist repeatedly visiting the White House.

According to White House records, Dr. Kevin Cannard, a top neurologist at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, visited Biden's physician at the White House earlier this year. This visit has raised concerns about the president's mental health, leading to Jean-Pierre being asked numerous questions on the matter.

White House Press Secretary Faces Backlash for Withholding Information on Biden's Health

However, Jean-Pierre has repeatedly cited "security reasons" and "privacy" for withholding certain information, a response that Jackson has labeled as "ridiculous." Jackson asserts that there are no legitimate security concerns that would prevent the release of public records related to the president's health.

"The whole world can see right through it," Jackson said. "We know that Dr. Cannard came to the residence medical clinic at the bidding of Dr. Kevin O'Connor, who is the president's physician. That's what we know. What we don't know is who he saw there."

White House Press Secretary Faces Backlash for Withholding Information on Biden's Health

Jackson further argues that the White House could easily be more transparent without compromising the president's security or privacy. "If you saw someone besides the president, just tell us that, OK?" he said. "Have Dr. O'Connor come down to the podium and say that. But the question is, did he or did he not see the president?"

Jackson also points out that Cannard is a neurologist specializing in Parkinson's disease and movement disorders. This expertise has fueled speculation that Biden may be experiencing cognitive decline or another neurological condition.

White House Press Secretary Faces Backlash for Withholding Information on Biden's Health

"The sad truth is, the whole world knows that there's something wrong with this president. He's broken, right?" Jackson said. "And maybe it's not Parkinson's. He said it's not Parkinson's, but it's very Parkinson's-like, it's some other type of movement disorder and some other serious cognitive issue. We need to know what's going on. We need to know what he's being treated for."

Jackson argues that the public has a right to know about the health of their commander-in-chief, especially when there are concerns about his cognitive abilities. "This is not a privacy issue anymore. This is our commander in chief. This is a national security issue. And if this man is not leading our country and he's not capable of doing so, the world and the country needs to know that."

White House Press Secretary Faces Backlash for Withholding Information on Biden's Health

In a letter released Monday night, O'Connor defended Cannard's involvement in Biden's physicals, stating that he was chosen not for his expertise in movement disorders but as a "highly trained and highly regarded neurologist with a very wide expertise." O'Connor also stated that Biden did not see a neurologist outside of his annual physicals.

However, Jackson remains skeptical of these explanations, arguing that the public deserves more transparency and that the White House is attempting to conceal information about the president's health. This lack of transparency has led to increased scrutiny of Biden's mental fitness, and calls for more information about his medical condition are likely to continue.