We came across a reel circulating on Facebook claiming that “according to internal White House documents, former US President Joe Biden was diagnosed with acute dementia as far back as 2022,” and that “they let him stay in office while Barack Obama pulled the strings.” The post includes images of Biden and Obama, and is branded with the logo of a group called “America’s Last Line of Defense.”

At first glance, these statements may seem sensational and alarming. However, upon closer scrutiny, the claims are not only unsubstantiated, but demonstrably false.

There is no evidence — public or leaked — of any official White House document indicating that Biden has been diagnosed with dementia, whether in 2022 or at any other point. In fact, the most recent official health assessment of Biden, released in February 2023 by his physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor, described him as a “healthy, vigorous 80-year-old male who is fit to successfully execute the duties of the presidency.” The medical report made no mention of cognitive decline or dementia.

The second part of the video suggests that Barack Obama is somehow orchestrating Biden’s presidency from behind the scenes. This is a conspiracy theory that has circulated among fringe political groups for years.

While Biden and Obama maintain a publicly friendly relationship, there is no credible reporting or insider testimony to suggest that Obama is influencing Biden’s decisions in office. Biden has his own team of advisers, Cabinet officials, and long-established policy positions that are distinct from those of his predecessor.

Importantly, the Facebook page responsible for the video, America’s Last Line of Defense, is known for publishing satirical content. The page includes disclaimers that its content is meant to be humorous or absurd, and not taken as fact. The video in question even includes a small “SATIRE” label at the bottom right corner.

In light of the facts, both claims — that Biden was diagnosed with dementia in 2022, and that Obama is secretly controlling the presidency — are satire. However, such posts are often shared out of context, and satire can easily be mistaken for genuine information — particularly when it is styled to resemble serious reporting.