Biden Misspeaks on Son Beau’s Death and Trump’s Election Year in Leaked Hur Interview Audio
May 17, 2025 – Washington, D.C.
– Newly leaked audio from Special Counsel Robert Hur’s interview with President Joe Biden has ignited a fresh wave of political scrutiny after the president appeared to struggle to recall key personal and historical details, including the year his son Beau died and when Donald Trump was elected president.
The audio, obtained and released by media outlets late Friday, captures moments from Biden’s voluntary interview during the special counsel’s investigation into his handling of classified documents. In the recording, the 82-year-old president is heard hesitating and appearing uncertain when referencing the year of his son Beau Biden’s death, ultimately misstating the date. Beau Biden, a decorated Iraq War veteran and former Delaware attorney general, died from brain cancer in 2015.
In another portion of the interview, Biden appeared unclear about when Donald Trump was elected president, initially misstating the 2016 election as happening in 2020 before correcting himself with the aid of staff.
Critics have seized on the audio as further evidence of Biden’s age-related mental acuity, an issue that has dogged his presidency and reelection campaign. Republicans, including former President Trump’s allies, have called the audio “disturbing” and argue it reinforces concerns about Biden’s fitness for office.
“This is more than a simple gaffe — it’s a glimpse into the cognitive struggles of a sitting president,” said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) in a statement. “The American people deserve transparency and leadership that is sharp and responsive.”
The White House, however, dismissed the criticism, defending Biden as “a deeply engaged and effective leader.” A spokesperson emphasized the emotional nature of the questions related to his late son and characterized the leaked audio as politically motivated.
“The president spoke candidly and emotionally during a voluntary interview. Trying to weaponize a father’s grief is as cruel as it is desperate,” said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
The Hur interview, which formed the basis of a report released earlier this year, did not recommend criminal charges against Biden, but described him as having “a poor memory” — a characterization the White House strongly objected to at the time.
With both Biden and Trump headed toward a likely rematch in the 2024 presidential election, the leaked audio is expected to add fuel to an already heated political climate, raising further questions among voters about age, health, and transparency at the highest levels of American government.
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