In a recent column for The New York Times, columnist Ross Douthat highlighted the growing concerns surrounding President Biden's health and the alleged concealment of his mental acuity by close advisors and family members. Douthat suggested that Biden's withdrawal from the race has now intensified the fallout from these reports.

According to Douthat, there is a possibility that Biden's true capacities should have prompted his resignation, thereby elevating Vice President Kamala Harris to the presidency. This scenario, Douthat argues, could have potentially positioned Harris in a better position for the upcoming elections.

Despite growing tensions between Iran and Israel and a global market sell-off, Biden has only appeared in one public event in the past week. This limited public presence raises concerns of whether the president is able to effectively address pressing matters. Douthat suggests that a crisis in the coming months could further expose the president's perceived overmatched abilities.

Furthermore, there are increasing calls for Biden's resignation after his underwhelming debate performance. These calls shed light on reports indicating that the president's inner circle may have deceived the public in encouraging Biden to run for re-election despite his obvious decline. However, Douthat acknowledges that the scale of this potential scandal has diminished since Biden is no longer seeking another term in office.

While former President Trump's age of 78 attracted scrutiny during his presidency, Douthat suggests that attention has now shifted to Biden's own age. Despite being the president, Biden operates on a reduced schedule for his remaining six months in office, with his advisors effectively running the government around him. Douthat questions the need for greater transparency regarding the functioning of the White House and urges observers to closely observe Biden to gain insights into his performance.

Paradoxically, instead of discussing Biden's ability to serve out his presidency, Douthat claims that voters are presented with an image of Biden as a self-sacrificing figure. This narrative seems to be working in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris, who is experiencing positive media coverage and a boost in the polls. Douthat suggests that this "bargain" is diverting attention from the alleged cover-up of the president's decline.

As Biden's decision to withdraw from the presidential race appears to benefit Harris, concerns over the president's mental acuity persist. The ultimate impact of these concerns on the upcoming elections remains to be seen.

Fox News' Timothy H.J. Nerozzi contributed to this report.