Washington insiders are buzzing after a bombshell admission from one of President Joe Biden’s closest aides.
The Daily Caller reported that Anita Dunn, Biden’s former senior advisor, reportedly told the House Oversight Committee on Aug. 7, 2025, that the president’s team dodged a cognitive test to avoid political fallout. The revelation has reignited debates about transparency in leadership.
Dunn’s closed-door testimony, partially leaked to the media, confirmed Biden’s inner circle saw no political upside in subjecting him to a cognitive exam.
This decision, as relayed by a source to the Daily Caller, prioritized optics over accountability. It’s a move that critics argue undermines public trust.
In her opening statement, Dunn insisted Biden was “fully engaged” and mentally sharp during her time advising him. “His ability to probe, to find the weakness in an argument, and to make well-informed decisions, did not change,” she claimed. Yet, the refusal to test that sharpness raises questions about what the administration was hiding.
Dunn’s testimony revealed other calculated moves by Biden’s team. They opted against a Super Bowl interview, citing concerns tied to the February 2024 Department of Justice Special Counsel Robert Hur report. That report, though not detailed here, clearly spooked the administration into avoiding high-profile risks.
Despite Dunn’s defense of Biden’s mental acuity, she admitted he aged physically during his presidency. She maintained he was clear in his directions and supervision, but the physical toll of the office was undeniable. This acknowledgment only fuels speculation about what else was at play.
“While I observed that President Biden aged physically during his time in office, which is something that happens to every President,” Dunn said.
Her attempt to normalize Biden’s aging feels like a dodge when paired with the cognitive test refusal. It’s hard to take claims of vigor at face value.
Dunn doubled down, asserting Biden made all key decisions himself. “The President made it clear that decisions rested with him,” she stated. But if Biden was so decisive, why shy away from a test that could have silenced doubters?
Other aides echoed Dunn’s defense. Bruce Reed, another former Biden advisor, testified on Aug. 5, 2025, blaming Biden’s poor debate performance on his stutter, not cognitive issues.
This explanation feels convenient, especially when Dunn claimed she only learned of the stutter in 2020, despite decades of knowing Biden.
Two other senior aides, Steve Ricchetti and Mike Donilon, also faced the committee the week prior. Their hours of testimony, though not detailed, suggest a coordinated effort to shield Biden’s image. The pattern of deflections is hard to ignore.
Dunn’s claim about Biden’s stutter is particularly puzzling. She allegedly knew Biden since the 1980s but only became aware of his speech impediment when the media reported it in 2020. This gap strains credulity and invites skepticism about her candor.
“It’s no surprise Anita Dunn is telling the American people not to believe their own eyes,” a House Oversight Committee spokesperson told the Daily Caller.
The spokesperson’s jab cuts deep, highlighting the disconnect between Dunn’s rosy portrayal and public perception. Voters aren’t easily swayed by polished spin.
Dunn’s leaked opening statement, which hit the media before her testimony, drew sharp criticism. “This opening statement, leaked to the media before Ms. Dunn even delivered it, is yet another example of the absurd lengths Biden loyalists will go,” the Oversight spokesperson said. The preemptive leak reeks of damage control.
Dunn’s long history with Biden, including her role as a senior advisor to the Biden-Harris campaign, underscores her loyalty.
She shaped messaging and debate prep, per her Wall Street Journal bio, and previously served as Obama’s White House Communications Director. Her track record makes her defense of Biden predictable but not necessarily convincing.
“I believed strongly then, and I believe just as strongly today, that Joe Biden was an effective President,” Dunn declared. Yet, her refusal to address the cognitive test head-on undercuts her praise. Effective leaders don’t shy away from scrutiny—they face it.
