CNN anchor Jake Tapper recently made a stunning confession about his prior reporting on President Joe Biden's cognitive abilities. During a revealing interview with Megyn Kelly on her SiriusXM program, Tapper discussed his new book, "Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again," co-authored with Alex Thompson. The book has ignited a fervent dialogue regarding the media's portrayal of Biden's mental acuity throughout his presidency.
The conversation with Kelly shed light on Tapper's reflections, particularly notable given his role at a mainstream news network that has faced criticism from conservatives for perceived favorable bias towards Biden. "Knowing what I know now, obviously I feel tremendous humility about my coverage," Tapper admitted, conceding that "conservative media was correct" in their reporting on the matter.
The discourse between Tapper and Kelly was frank, especially when Kelly referenced a 2022 interview where Biden mistakenly called out for a deceased colleague. She questioned Tapper's decision to not directly confront Biden about cognitive concerns during that time, labeling it a missed journalistic opportunity. Tapper acknowledged his oversight: "That’s correct. I didn’t. And like I said, I feel humility about my coverage."
Their exchange also revisited a 2020 segment where Tapper had reprimanded Lara Trump for bringing up Biden's "cognitive decline." With hindsight, Tapper recognized, "That Lara Trump interview, for example, she saw something that I did not see at the time, 100 percent, and I own that."
Despite previously urging Biden to release his health records, Tapper acknowledged that Biden had not been transparent. Moreover, Kelly pointed out additional instances that raised public concern about Biden's cognitive state, which Tapper had failed to follow up on in past interviews.
Tapper reflected on the broader implications for the media, suggesting that there ought to be significant introspection within legacy media concerning their coverage of Biden's mental state. He remarked on the readiness of Democratic insiders to reveal post-election discrepancies in their representation of Biden's condition, citing fears of Trump as an "existential threat" as their justification for prior misrepresentations.
Further, Tapper disclosed that sources implied the collapse of a plea deal for Biden's son Hunter over gun charges in 2023 had adversely impacted Biden's cognitive health. These personal tribulations, Tapper suggested, might have contributed to an acceleration of his decline while in office.
The interview concluded with Tapper's contemplation on the necessity for journalistic self-examination and the rights of conservative media to highlight the oversights of their mainstream counterparts.
Recently, President Biden announced his diagnosis with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, adding complexity to the ongoing discussions about his health. This news comes after Biden's withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race, amid escalating concerns over his ability to serve.
