Jon Lovett, a former aide to President Obama and co-host of the podcast "Pod Save America," recently opened up about his concerns regarding President Joe Biden’s health during the 2024 campaign. Speaking on Jon Stewart’s podcast, Lovett admitted that he chose not to voice his worries about Biden’s physical decline. He expressed a strong desire for Biden to win the election, saying, "I want him to f—— win."
Lovett explained that while he recognized Biden’s age as a potential issue, he didn’t want to publicly suggest that the president should step down. He felt uncertain about the situation behind the scenes and believed that any criticism he voiced could be used against Biden by political opponents. Lovett worried that his words might be taken out of context and weaponized, especially by those on the right who might twist his concerns to undermine Biden’s campaign.
He emphasized the importance of supporting Biden if he was the nominee, stating, "It was about being honest about Joe Biden’s age as a liability while knowing that if he is the nominee, I want to be clear that I thought it was important to make sure we did everything we could to reelect him."
This discussion comes at a time when Biden’s health has been under scrutiny. CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’s Alex Thompson have recently highlighted concerns regarding the president’s health in their new book, "Original Sin." The book discusses the alleged efforts by Biden’s administration to downplay these concerns. Lovett is mentioned in the book, recalling a meeting with Biden in April 2024, where he and his co-hosts reportedly left feeling "deeply disturbed" by the president’s rambling and incoherent remarks.
As the 2024 election approaches, Lovett’s candid reflections bring to light the delicate balance between supporting a candidate and addressing legitimate concerns about their fitness for office.