The article featured former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy as the sole on-the-record Republican source, which drew strong backlash for its perceived bias.

McCarthy stated that he had noticed a change in Biden's demeanor, mentioning how he used to meet with the president during his vice-presidential tenure, but now believes that Biden is not the same person. He described an instance during debt ceiling negotiations in May 2021, where Biden appeared sharp during a phone conversation but reverted to discussing outdated matters in an in-person meeting. The article also highlighted a January meeting on Ukraine funding, where Biden's soft voice and prolonged pauses prompted difficulty for some participants to hear him.

However, Morning Joe's host Joe Scarborough dismissed McCarthy's claims, citing other reports where the former House Speaker allegedly found Biden mentally sharp in meetings. Scarborough pointed out that McCarthy publicly praised the progress made after the May in-person meeting, describing it as a significant improvement.

The White House also voiced its dissatisfaction with the article shortly after its release. White House Communications Director Ben LaBolt described it as an "utter editorial fail" and criticized the Republicans' election year messaging strategy that contradicts their earlier statements about President Biden.

The piece, titled "Behind Closed Doors, Biden Shows Signs Of Slipping," authored by Annie Linskey and Siobhan Hughes, included responses from the White House and on-the-record counterpoints from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY). The report also acknowledged that questions have been raised about former President Donald Trump's mental acuity, highlighting instances such as when he mistook Nikki Haley for Nancy Pelosi during a speech.

Criticism was not limited to the White House, as lawmakers like Pelosi expressed disappointment that the Journal ignored Democrats' testimony, focused on Republican attacks, and published what they considered a "hit piece."

The article clarified that it was based on interviews with over 45 individuals, including Republicans and Democrats who either participated in meetings with Biden or were briefed on them contemporaneously. The report noted that while most of the criticism came from Republicans, some Democrats also believed Biden showed signs of his age in certain exchanges.

A spokesperson for The Wall Street Journal reaffirmed the publication's commitment to its reporting, standing by the credibility of the article.

Public opinion polls have consistently reflected voter concerns about the age of both President Biden, who is 81, and former President Trump, who is 77. As Biden currently serves as the oldest president, these concerns continue to be a topic of discussion in American politics.