The White House has confirmed that President Biden has been assessed by a Parkinson’s specialist three times since taking office.
Dr Kevin Cannard, a neurologist specialising in the early signs of Parkinson’s, performed examinations on the President during the three annual check-ups, the White House said.
However, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre refused to be drawn on why, according to visitor logs, Dr Cannard visited the White House eight times from July 2023 to March this year.
In January, Dr Cannard is reported to have met with the 81-year-old’s personal doctor. According to Ms Jean-Pierre, Mr Biden showed no sign of Parkinson’s during the three annual check-ups. However, her refusal to go into more detail about the Dr’s recent visits sparked tempestuous scenes in Monday’s press conference.
She refused to expand on why Dr Cannard was present at the White House, however she suggested that it might be related to treating other government personnel.
Swerving increasingly angry questions, she said: “There are thousands of military personnel that come to the White House and they are under the care of the medical unit.”
White House doctor Dr Kevin O’Connor, who met with Dr Cannard in January, put out a letter to dispel rumours over whether Mr Biden was being assessed for Parkinson’s.
“President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical,” Dr O’Connor said in his letter.
He added that an “extremely detailed neurologic exam” did not spot any symptoms “consistent with any cerebellar or other central neurological disorder, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s or ascending lateral sclerosis”.
Joe Biden has come under increasing pressure to resign or pull out of the presidential race over concerns for his health. The latest gaffe in a debate with President Trump, saw the pensioner freeze, stumble on his words and correct himself on numerous occasions.
In one instance Trump admitted he couldn’t understand what his opposition had said. But President Biden issued a powerful statement after the extreme backlash – and insisted he “is not going anywhere.”
He said: “I wouldn’t be running again if I did not absolutely believe I was the best person to beat Donald Trump in 2024. He continued that despite the speculation in the media and elsewhere, “I am firmly committed to staying in this race.”
