Van Jones just dropped a political bombshell on his own party—accusing Democratic leaders of engaging in a “massive cover-up” to shield President Joe Biden’s declining cognitive health from the American public. The former Obama adviser warned this deception could cost Democrats for years to come unless they make serious internal changes before the next presidential election. Jones: “A Crime Against This Republic” In a fiery CNN appearance, Van Jones condemned Democratic operatives and Biden aides for knowingly hiding the president’s condition. The remarks came after details surfaced from Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson’s upcoming book Original Sin, which reportedly outlines a long-standing effort to suppress evidence of Biden’s mental decline. Jones didn’t hold back, saying: “That wasn’t the first time he was in that condition,” referring to Biden’s disoriented debate performance. He labeled the cover-up a “crime against this republic,” accusing Democratic insiders of betraying public trust for political convenience. Wild to see Democrat supporters now admitting the party covered up Biden’s mental decline. It was obvious to anyone actually watching him — but hearing Van Jones call it out confirms what we already knew. pic.twitter.com/8Ih3yC8K76 — Jeffery Mead (@the_jefferymead) May 19, 2025 Urging a Total Democratic Reset Jones warned Democrats will “pay for a long time” unless they begin a serious process of self-reflection and reform. Comparing the current moment to the party’s deep reckoning after the 2004 election, Jones urged top Democrats to apologize to the American people and take accountability for the deception. He demanded an internal restructuring that promotes transparency, integrity, and leadership rooted in public interest—not political expediency. “We’ve lied to ourselves and the country,” he said, and the party now faces a crisis of credibility that could fracture its voter base. NEW: CNN's Van Jones WARNS Dems will suffer long-term fall-out for Biden cover-up "There are people who knew and said nothing. And that is a crime against this republic. And I think the Democrats are going to pay for a long time." @DailyCaller pic.twitter.com/VSBfDfog8P — Jason Cohen (@JasonJournoDC) May 18, 2025 Axelrod: Biden’s Re-Election Chances Were a “Fantasy” Adding fuel to the fire, David Axelrod—former top Obama strategist—blasted Biden’s belief that he could have won re-election as ‘preposterous.’ Axelrod claimed that, well before Biden’s disastrous debate, internal data showed he had less than a 5% chance of winning. Axelrod blamed Biden’s top aide Mike Donilon for feeding him false hope, calling it “emotional blindness.” He added that Democrats were headed for a Senate wipeout had Biden not stepped aside when he did—suggesting party leaders knew the stakes but stayed silent. Structural Changes Democrats Must Make Before 2028 As fallout grows, party insiders like Jones and Axelrod are pressuring Democrats to implement urgent structural reforms: Enforce cognitive transparency for candidates over a certain age, with independent evaluations before nomination. Limit influence of longtime aides and family members who shield candidates from reality. Create internal whistleblower protections to allow campaign staff to raise serious concerns without fear of retaliation. Revamp the primary process to avoid rigged coronations and promote actual competition. If Democrats ignore these calls, Jones warns the party could face massive electoral losses and a permanent fracture in its coalition. For many voters, the damage is already done. Whether the party can recover depends entirely on what it chooses to do next. Sources: ‘Crime Against This Republic!’ CNN’s Van Jones Torches Dems for Biden ‘Cover-Up’ Ex-Obama adviser Van Jones calls Biden’s ‘massive cover-up’ a ‘crime against this republic’