Former first lady Jill Biden is facing sharp criticism from the White House over allegations she helped conceal her husband’s declining mental faculties during his presidency.

According to a Fox News report, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt accused Jill Biden of being "complicit" in a deliberate effort to hide Joe Biden’s struggles from the public.

The claims stem from a newly released book detailing how the former president’s team allegedly orchestrated a cover-up to mask his deteriorating condition.

Leavitt demands answers from Jill Biden

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt did not hold back in her condemnation of Jill Biden, insisting the former first lady must explain her role in shielding her husband’s decline.

"The former first lady should certainly speak up about what she saw in regard to her husband and when she saw it and what she knew," Leavitt told reporters. She pointed to video evidence showing Jill Biden redirecting her husband away from cameras, arguing it was proof of an intentional deception.

Leavitt also accused Jill Biden of continuing to mislead the public, citing a recent appearance on The View where the former first lady insisted everything was fine. "She's still lying to the American people," Leavitt said. "She still thinks the American public are so stupid that they're going to believe her lies. And frankly, it's insulting, and she needs to answer for it." A spokesperson for Jill Biden did not immediately respond to Fox News’ request for comment.

New book details Biden’s struggles

The controversy stems from Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, a book by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’ Alex Thompson. The book alleges that Joe Biden’s team went to great lengths to hide his difficulties, including scrapping a campaign video shoot after he struggled to answer pre-screened questions.

"The campaign was trying to make it look like the president was out there taking off-the-cuff questions from voters in public," the book states. "But the event was closed to reporters, and the campaign had the full list of questions that people would ask."

Despite the campaign’s efforts, Biden reportedly faltered so badly that the footage was unusable. Some blamed poor lighting, but others admitted the real issue was the former president’s inability to articulate coherent responses. The book also claims Biden’s inner circle had concerns about his age and mental sharpness long before his widely criticized debate performance in 2024.

Biden team pushes back on allegations

A spokesperson for Joe Biden dismissed the book’s claims, arguing it failed to prove any actual harm to national security or presidential duties.

"There is nothing in this book that shows Joe Biden failed to do his job, as the authors have alleged, nor did they prove their allegation that there was a cover-up or conspiracy," the spokesperson said. "Nowhere do they show that our national security was threatened or where the President wasn’t otherwise engaged in the important matters of the Presidency."

The statement emphasized Biden’s effectiveness as president, describing him as a leader who governed "with empathy and skill." However, critics argue the book’s revelations, combined with public footage of Biden’s struggles, paint a troubling picture of a White House that prioritized image over transparency.

Fallout and next steps

The White House’s public rebuke of Jill Biden marks a significant escalation in the ongoing debate over Joe Biden’s fitness for office. With Leavitt demanding accountability, pressure is mounting on the former first lady to address the allegations directly. Meanwhile, Biden’s defenders continue to dismiss the claims as politically motivated attacks.

As the controversy unfolds, the book’s authors stand by their reporting, which draws from multiple sources within Biden’s orbit.

Whether Jill Biden responds to the accusations remains to be seen, but the White House shows no signs of backing down. For now, the debate over Joe Biden’s presidency—and the role his wife played in shaping its public perception—shows no signs of fading.