President Biden’s faltering debate performance on June 27 has fueled speculation that he might be experiencing symptoms of a degenerative neurological disorder such as Parkinson’s. However, the White House maintains that Biden is not being treated for Parkinson’s, nor has he undergone any neurological examinations beyond his routine check-ups.
Some of this speculation has stemmed from White House visitor logs that reveal a neurologist from Walter Reed Medical Center making multiple visits to the President’s personal medical unit at the White House in late 2023 and early 2024.
Dr. Kevin Cannard, a specialist in treating movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease, met with President Biden’s personal physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor at the White House on January 17 at 5 p.m., according to visitor logs. The meeting also included Dr. John E. Atwood, a Walter Reed cardiologist, as per the records. The White House logs indicate Dr. Cannard also visited the residence clinic on March 28, and made six other visits over the preceding months. These entries in the logs were initially reported by .
It remains unclear whether Dr. Cannard has visited the White House in recent weeks. The White House visitor logs, which the administration makes public voluntarily on the White House website, showcase visitors up to March. More recent logs have yet to be released.
Cannard has been part of the broader White House medical team since 2012, according to his LinkedIn profile.
When questioned repeatedly about Cannard’s visits on Monday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to explain the purpose of his visits to the White House. Citing privacy reasons, she stated she would not confirm the identities of specific doctors who visited the White House compound to treat the President. She also emphasized that over a thousand military service members receive medical attention at the White House medical unit.
Jean-Pierre stated that Biden “has seen a neurologist three times” since assuming office, and those visits occurred during Biden’s annual physicals.
“Is he being treated for Parkinson’s? No,” said Jean-Pierre. “Is he taking medication for Parkinson’s? No.”
White House Senior Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates mentioned that, similar to previous Presidents, Biden underwent examinations by a panel of doctors specializing in various fields during his routine annual physicals.
Bates also affirmed that no examination has revealed any signs of Parkinson’s in Biden. “We do not disclose the dates on which the President receives care from the diverse range of specialists who participate in his physical, nor their names,” Bates remarked. “However, there have been no neurologist visits apart from the one for his physical.”