Sen. John McCain’s youngest daughter, Meghan McCain, has sparked controversy by comparing President Joe Biden’s cognitive state to her father’s battle with glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer. Despite not being a medical professional, McCain shared her concerns on her podcast, drawing from her personal experience.
“I know what cognitive decline looks like,” she told listeners, according to the Daily Beast. “I think any caregiver for an aging parent knows that—and to me, I felt saddened and uncomfortable and then very scared,” she said, reflecting on Biden’s debate performance.
Biden has acknowledged feeling unwell the week before the debate, which affected his preparation and performance. Despite this, in the 14 days since the debate, some top Democrats have called for Biden to consider stepping aside in the 2024 race to allow another candidate to step in.
The Glioblastoma Research Organization explains that symptoms of the brain cancer McCain’s father had include headaches, vomiting, seizures, memory loss, confusion, personality changes, difficulty concentrating, hemiparesis, and aphasia. While Biden has been open about his struggles with a stutter, he has not shown symptoms like seizures or hemiparesis. A neurologist’s report on Biden stated he does not exhibit symptoms similar to those associated with glioblastoma.
Biden has a personal connection to glioblastoma, having watched his eldest son, Beau, fight and ultimately succumb to the same disease three years after John McCain’s death. The Biden and McCain families have a long-standing relationship, highlighted by Biden’s appearance on “The View” when Meghan McCain was a co-host. During the show, Biden spoke fondly of Senator McCain, consoling Meghan as she became emotional discussing her father’s illness.
“Her dad goes after me hammer and tongs,”