In a candid reflection, CNN anchor Jake Tapper has acknowledged that the media, including himself, did not ask enough probing questions about concerns surrounding President Joe Biden's cognitive health. This admission is now directly shaping how he covers the fitness of former President Donald Trump as he enters a second term.
A Lesson Learned from the Biden Presidency
Tapper made these remarks during a Monday appearance on the "Pod Save America" podcast, hosted by former Barack Obama spokesperson Tommy Vietor. The discussion turned to how the press is handling increasing reports of Trump appearing to fall asleep in meetings or showing potential signs of decline.
Tapper co-authored the book "Original Sin" with Axios reporter Alex Thompson, released in May. The book details efforts by Biden's aides to conceal the extent of the president's health issues from the American public. Notably, Biden was diagnosed with prostate cancer in May and is undergoing radiation and hormone therapy.
"I think that is, to a large degree, because we saw what happened with Biden, and while we covered it, we didn't cover it maybe — we didn't ask as many questions as we should have at the time," Tapper told Vietor. He emphasized that cognitive fitness is a "legitimate question for any president of any age, but particularly anybody who is in the range of being an octogenarian."
Shifting Gears for Trump's Second Term
Tapper was quick to clarify that his book was not merely about Biden's missteps. Instead, he described it as an examination of "an unprecedented event" — specifically, Biden's disastrous June debate performance against Trump, where his primary task was to convince voters he was fit for another four years. That performance ultimately led Biden to drop his reelection bid in late July 2024, leaving Vice President Kamala Harris to launch a last-minute campaign.
Applying the lessons learned, Tapper stated his show now covers questions about Trump's health and cognitive state "all the time." He pointed to his recent coverage of a December 9 Truth Social post by Trump as a prime example. In that rant, Trump attacked The New York Times for reporting on his aging, calling such coverage "seditious" and "treasonous."
"Literally yesterday, I covered that crazy Truth Social rant, when he was mad at The New York Times for covering his aging, and he called it sedition or treasonous," Tapper told the podcast hosts.
The New Standard for Presidential Coverage
Tapper's introspection highlights a potential turning point in political journalism. The intense scrutiny following Biden's debate collapse and subsequent withdrawal from the race has seemingly established a new benchmark for holding presidential candidates accountable for their fitness for office, regardless of party.
The CNN host's comments suggest that the media's perceived failure to adequately vet Biden's capacity has created a more aggressive and vigilant posture. This shift ensures that questions about age, health, and cognitive ability will remain at the forefront of political coverage for the remainder of the 2024 election cycle and beyond.
