Newly released audio recordings of Joe Biden (D-DE) speaking with his memoir ghostwriter reveal the president discussing classified documents and stumbling over dates [1].

The tapes are being used by conservative activists to argue that the president's mental acuity had begun to decline years before it became a central public debate [4].

The recordings were captured in October 2016 [1] and throughout 2017 [2]. They were recorded in Washington, D.C., during Biden's final year as vice president and his first year after leaving office [2]. The audio entered the public domain in July 2024 following a legal battle that lasted several years [3].

In one specific segment, Biden discusses the location of sensitive government records. "I just found all the classified stuff downstairs," Biden said [1]. He also mentioned his personal record-keeping habits during his time in government. "I kept extensive notes that the White House didn’t know I had," Biden said [1].

Beyond the mention of classified materials, the recordings capture moments where Biden occasionally struggles to recall specific names or dates [1]. These lapses are the primary focus for those challenging his cognitive health. Supporters of the recordings' release said the material "should have come out a long time ago" [3].

The release follows a period of intense litigation regarding the privacy and ownership of the recordings. The ghostwriter's tapes provide a rare window into the transition period between Biden's vice presidency and his later return to the national stage.

“"I just found all the classified stuff downstairs."”

These recordings provide a baseline for evaluating the president's cognitive functions and handling of sensitive materials during a transition period of his career. By surfacing conversations from 2016 and 2017, the tapes shift the timeline of the debate over his mental sharpness, suggesting that the patterns observed in recent years may have had earlier precursors.