Former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has criticised people close to former President Joe Biden who she believes were aware of concerns about his condition but failed to take action earlier. Her comments have reignited debate over Biden’s final years in office and the handling of concerns about his ability to continue leading.
Speaking at a political event, Pelosi said that “those who did know should have acted upon that information”, referring to individuals around Biden who may have had greater access to his day-to-day condition. She said she personally did not fully understand the extent of the concerns before Biden’s widely criticised 2024 debate performance against Donald Trump.
Pelosi said her contact with Biden became less frequent after Democrats lost control of the House in the 2022 midterm elections, arguing that she was not among those with regular insight into his private meetings and daily activities.
The comments have drawn attention because Pelosi herself had previously faced questions about whether senior Democrats were aware of Biden’s struggles before the 2024 election campaign intensified. Reports and books examining the period have described private concerns among some Democratic figures about Biden’s age and public appearances.
Biden’s political crisis escalated after his June 2024 debate performance against Donald Trump, which triggered widespread concern among Democrats and voters about his ability to serve another term. Pressure from party figures and donors eventually contributed to Biden withdrawing from the presidential race.
Pelosi has previously said she believed the party needed a stronger electoral path forward and played a significant role in discussions about Biden’s campaign future. She later supported Vice President Kamala Harris after Biden ended his re-election bid.
The latest comments have reopened questions about transparency, political responsibility and whether Biden’s inner circle should have addressed concerns earlier. Supporters of Biden argue that many criticisms have been politically motivated, while critics say voters deserved clearer information about the president’s condition.
The controversy remains one of the most debated issues from the 2024 US election period, continuing to shape discussions about leadership, age and accountability in American politics.
