The US Presidency, including the Press Secretary and Dr. Kevin Cannard, has denied allegations that President Joe Biden has Parkinson’s Disease.
Concerns regarding the president’s health surfaced amidst public and media speculation following multiple visits by Dr. Kevin Cannard, a neurologist specializing in movement disorders, to the White House.
Records from the White House visitor logs indicate that Dr. Cannard met with White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor on multiple occasions, including a notable meeting on January 17, 2024. According to the logs, beginning last August and ending with the March 28 meeting, Cannard has visited the White House at least eight times over the past year.
These visits prompted questions about whether they were related to concerns about President Biden’s health, specifically regarding Parkinson’s disease.
However, O’Connor on Monday night released a letter, writing, “President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical” and that Cannard was the “neurological specialist that examined President Biden for each of his annual physicals.”
On Cannard’s visit, he wrote, “Prior to the pandemic, and following its end, he has held regular Neurology Clinics at the White House Medical Clinic in support of the thousands of active-duty members assigned in support of White House operations.”
“Many military personnel experience neurological issues related to their service, and Dr. Cannard regularly visits the WHMU as part of this General Neurology practice,” he added.
Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Monday also addressed the issue during a daily news briefing at the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, D.C. She acknowledged that a neurologist had visited Biden three times during his presidency – once during each of his physicals – but refused to reveal his/her identity or account for Cannard’s eight visits.
“I am not sharing or confirming names from here,” she said.
“It doesn’t matter how hard you push me, it doesn’t matter how angry you get with me, I’m not going to confirm a name. It doesn’t matter if it’s even in the log; I am not going to do that from here.”
The president has never been treated for or taken any medicine to treat Parkinson’s, she claimed.
Speaking with Biden during an interview on Monday morning, MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski asked, “Have you been tested for any age-related illness, pre-Parkinson’s or anything like that, that might explain sort of having a night like that where you couldn’t finish sentences?”
“I had before,” Biden said after laughing.
“I was feeling so badly before the debate, when I came back, they tested me for – I thought maybe I had COVID, maybe there was something wrong, I had an infection or something. They tested me, they gave me those tests, I was clear.”
While speculation persists in some quarters based on public observations and Dr. Cannard’s presence, official medical assessments and statements from the White House medical team have consistently reaffirmed President Biden’s health and fitness to perform his duties.
