Jake Tapper, a prominent anchor at CNN, admitted on the podcast "Pod Save America" that his show has been focusing on President Donald Trump's alleged missteps due to a perceived lack of scrutiny on former President Joe Biden's decline.
This revelation came about during a discussion about Tapper's upcoming book, set to release in May, which delves into Biden's physical and mental deterioration.
Tapper confessed to the podcast's host, Tommy Vietor, that he believes the media's coverage of Trump's supposed lapses, such as dozing off in meetings or public stumbles, has been influenced by their previous handling of Biden's condition. "We cover it all the time on my show. All the time. And I think that is to a large degree because we saw what happened with Biden," Tapper stated.
He further expressed regret over not asking more questions about Biden's health during his tenure, emphasizing that it's a legitimate concern for any president, especially those of advanced age.
According to the Daily Caller, several media outlets, including CNN, The New York Times, MS NOW, and ABC's "The View," have insinuated that Trump is experiencing a decline during his second term. However, these assertions have been met with criticism. Comedian Adam Carolla, on his show "The Adam and Dr. Drew Show," lambasted these media outlets for their apparent bias, accusing them of attempting to portray Trump as diminished after failing to adequately cover Biden's decline.
Carolla argued that these outlets, having turned a blind eye to Biden's evident impairment, have forfeited their credibility on the subject. He suggested a five-year probationary period during which these outlets should be barred from commenting on presidents' mental acuity.
In a report published on Nov. 25, The New York Times noted a decrease in Trump's domestic travel and public schedule compared to his first term, while acknowledging an increase in his foreign travel and media appearances. The report, titled "Signs of Fatigue: Trump Faces Realities Of Aging in Office," was authored by White House reporter Katie Rogers and journalist Dylan Freedman.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, during a Dec. 1 briefing, criticized The New York Times and Rogers for their reporting on Trump's fitness, accusing them of hypocrisy for defending Biden's health during his tenure. Leavitt dismissed the report as "unequivocally false" and lamented the fact that the same outlet and reporter had previously defended Biden's health, even after he tripped while boarding Air Force One.
Leavitt also revealed that a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan conducted in October showed that Trump "remains in excellent overall health." This statement stands in stark contrast to the media's portrayal of Biden's health, which was largely downplayed until his disastrous performance in the June 2024 debate against Trump.
The media's handling of these two Presidents' health issues raises questions about their objectivity and commitment to balanced reporting.
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