Jill Biden has told confidants she feared President Joe Biden had suffered a stroke during last week's televised debate, sparking a furious denial from the White House. The First Lady's private alarm, disclosed by two sources familiar with the conversation, came after the president appeared to freeze, lose his train of thought and slur words while facing Donald Trump. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre insisted the president was not suffering from a stroke or any neurological condition, attributing his performance to a cold and jet lag.
But the revelation adds to growing speculation about Biden's health ahead of the November election. Labour leaders in the North, already wary of Biden's economic policies, expressed concern that a diminished president could weaken union bargaining power. 'We need a president who can stand firm, not one who might be fading,' said a regional union official.
The White House has not commented on the First Lady's reported fears.
