Newly released audio recordings from President Joe Biden’s 2023 interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur have raised fresh concerns about the president’s cognitive health. The recordings, made public on May 14, 2025, capture Biden struggling to recall key facts during a multi-hour inquiry related to his handling of classified documents after his vice presidency. Among the lapses were Biden’s inability to remember the year his son Beau died, the year Donald Trump was elected president, and the precise timeframe of his own service as vice president.
Special Counsel Hur’s report, published earlier this year, described Biden as “a well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory,” a phrase that sparked political controversy at the time. The White House criticized the characterization, calling it politically motivated and emphasizing that the Justice Department ultimately declined to bring criminal charges.
The audio, which had been requested by multiple congressional Republicans, was released after weeks of pressure and legal wrangling over transparency. Republican lawmakers have pointed to the recordings as evidence that Biden may be unfit for reelection, while Democrats argue the tapes show no criminal wrongdoing and reflect the natural strain of a five-hour interview on a sitting president.
The release comes as Biden continues his 2024 reelection campaign amid persistent questions about his age and fitness for office. Biden, who is 82, has repeatedly defended his cognitive abilities and dismissed criticisms as politically driven. The White House has not commented on the tapes since their release but previously said the president fully cooperated with investigators and provided access to personal notes and staff testimony.
