Ian Sams worked as an aide and spokesman for former President Joe Biden, and was often asked to defend the president’s physical health and cognitive abilities – but according to recent testimony, Sams only actually met with then-President Biden face-to-face on two occasions.
Rep. James Comer (R-KY), House Oversight Committee Chairman, laid out the details after hearing Sams’ testimony on Thursday — remarking in particular that he himself may have spent more time with Biden than Sams had.
“Ian Sams, a top Biden White House spokesman, just admitted to Congress he barely ever interacted with Joe Biden — yet he was the loudest voice insisting Joe was ‘fit,’” Comer captioned a video of himself speaking with reporters after Sams’ testimony.
WATCH:
???? Ian Sams, a top Biden White House spokesman, just admitted to Congress he barely ever interacted with Joe Biden—yet he was the loudest voice insisting Joe was “fit.”
Ian parroted talking points from Biden’s handlers, not firsthand experience. pic.twitter.com/ySil6MPcg5
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) August 21, 2025
“Ian Sams, who was the White House spokesperson for a significant amount of Joe Biden’s time as president, interacted with him two times,” Comer told C-Span. “I interacted more with Joe Biden than Joe Biden’s spokesperson.”
WATCH:
.@RepJamesComer: “Ian Sams, who was the White House spokesperson for a significant amount of Joe Biden’s time as president, interacted with him two times…I interacted more with Joe Biden than Joe Biden’s spokesperson.” pic.twitter.com/x47pgyXsk1
— CSPAN (@cspan) August 21, 2025
“Think about this: I had more face time with Joe Biden than his own spokesman Ian Sams did. In fact, Special Counsel Robert Hur probably spent more time with Joe Biden than Ian Sams did. Ian Sams had no standing to say Joe Biden was ‘on top of his game,’” Comer added.
Think about this: I had more face time with Joe Biden than his own spokesman Ian Sams did.
In fact, Special Counsel Robert Hur probably spent more time with Joe Biden than Ian Sams did.
Ian Sams had no standing to say Joe Biden was ‘on top of his game.’ https://t.co/WNpPLsq1zn
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) August 21, 2025
The fact that Sams had no regular, in-person contact with his boss did nothing to deter him from putting up a vigorous defense of his capabilities — a defense that the public now knows was baseless.
As former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer pointed out, “In July 2024 the same Ian Sams said: ‘When I deal with him, he’s sharp. He’s asking tough questions.’”
In July 2024 the same Ian Sams said:
“When I deal with him, he’s sharp. He’s asking tough questions.” https://t.co/J27Dsul4nb
— Sean Spicer (@seanspicer) August 21, 2025
Comer released a full statement following Sams’ testimony:
Ian Sams frequently spoke publicly and with apparent authority about President Biden’s mental fitness and state of mind. However, Mr. Sams admitted he had very limited interaction with the President—identifying only two in-person meetings, one virtual meeting, and one phone call. In fact, Special Counsel Robert Hur probably spent more time with President Biden than Mr. Sams did.
Rather than drawing conclusions from firsthand experience, Mr. Sams received much of his direction from the White House Counsel and Biden’s inner circle. Mr. Sams repeatedly made broad public claims about the President’s cognitive condition, but he was not in a position to make these claims based on such limited contact.
Mr. Sams’s testimony raises serious questions about who is truly calling the shots in the White House. We will continue to press for answers to ensure full transparency for the American people.