Biden aide hits back at book alleging cover-up of his 'deterioration'

Joe Biden's aides have hit back at a new book that accuses a White House inner circle of covering up the former US president's "physical deterioration" during his ill-fated re-election campaign.

According to the book, Original Sin, Biden's condition during his 2024 presidential run was said to be so poor that aides discussed putting him in a wheelchair.

A spokesperson for Biden, 82, said "evidence of aging is not evidence of mental incapacity" and maintained the Democrat had been "a very effective president".