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By Kaitlin Lewis
Night Reporter
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President Joe Biden met with his physician after last week's presidential debate, according to White House spokesman Andrew Bates.
The update comes as questions swirl around the future of Biden's reelection bid. The president and his supporters have dispelled rumors that he is considering dropping out of the race after his first debate performance of 2024 against former President Donald Trump was overshadowed by his repeated gaffes.
An aide for Biden previously told Newsweek that the president was fighting a cold on the night of the event. Bates told CNN on Thursday, "Several days later, the president was seen [by his physician] to check on his cold and was recovering well."
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Newsweek reached out to the White House Press Office for additional comment via email on Thursday.
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Bates' comment comes a day after CNN correspondent MJ Lee asked the White House whether the president had received "any medical exams" since his annual checkup in February, at which Biden's physician reported that the president is "a healthy, active, robust 81-year-old male, who remains fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency."
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had told Lee, "We were able to talk to his doctor about that and that is a no."
During a meeting with a group of Democratic governors Wednesday evening, Biden reportedly told the group that he had a medical checkup following the debate and that his health was fine, according to three sources familiar with the meeting that spoke with Politico*.*
Concerns have swelled for months over Biden's ability to serve another four years. The 81-year-old, who has been open about his lifelong struggle with a stutter, has been repeatedly criticized for his blunders during public events.
Polling has shown that the majority of American voters believe Biden is too old to seek reelection. Trump, who turned 78 last month, has faced similar criticisms about his cognitive state.
Two sitting Democratic members of the House of Representatives have called on Biden to drop out of the 2024 race since last week's debate. Other Democratic figures, however, have stood steadfast in their support for the president.
"Bad debate nights happen," former President Barack Obama said in a statement shared to X, formerly Twitter, a day after the debate. "Trust me, I know. But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself."
Vice President Kamala Harris also told CNN in an interview following the June 27 debate, "Yes, there was a slow start, but it was a strong finish. What became very clear over the course of the night is that Joe Biden is fighting on behalf of the American people on substance, on policy, on performance."
Update 07/04/24, 3:14 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and background.
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