White House press secretary Caroline Levitt criticized a New York Times reporter last week over an article she co-authored, which portrayed President Trump as a less significant figure.
The piece mentioned that the 79-year-old President Trump seemed to be dozing off in the Oval Office and noted that he has hosted fewer public events compared to his first term.
“Before I dive into the New York Times report—it makes up about a third of the president’s schedule that we discuss daily—I want to highlight one key piece of misinformation from the weekend,” Levitt remarked during a press briefing on Monday.
“This is a blatant lie, and it’s unfortunate that the same outlet and the same reporter stated that Biden is ‘100 percent fine’ after a stumble on Air Force One.”
“Seriously? The same reporter who claims President Trump is unfit for the job?”
In discussions surrounding former President Joe Biden, he consistently claimed he was “100 percent fine” after tripping while boarding Air Force One in 2021, as noted by a press secretary. This article refrains from expressing any opinion on Biden’s condition.
Importantly, the reporter in question, Katie Rogers from the New York Times, is also a co-author of another article stating that Biden’s missteps are becoming increasingly alarming.
In the article, which came out days after Biden’s shaky debate performance against Trump, Rogers and other reporters highlighted that Biden’s aides noticed him becoming noticeably confused and displaying signs of aging.
By that time, mainstream media had started paying more attention to Biden’s mental sharpness. Reports indicated that Biden’s campaign was quite angry with the New York Times for its coverage of his age and declining polls.
At 83, Biden is currently the oldest person to hold the presidency, and if he completes his term, he will surpass Trump’s age record.
Trump criticized Rogers for her reporting, calling her “third-rate” and “ugly inside and out.”
“You see him almost daily. He’s the most approachable president ever. He’s always in meetings,” Levitt further commented.
She pointed out another piece by Rogers that suggested Biden had been “healthy” after his first presidential medical check-up, based on his doctor’s findings.
Rogers had also written a piece about Trump, claiming he said a recent MRI was “perfect” and that he would “love” a third term. Earlier, she had reported on his health during the hydroxychloroquine controversy, noting that Trump “is maintaining good health,” according to his doctor.
After weeks of speculation regarding why the 79-year-old Trump required the test, the White House released a memo on Monday about an MRI he underwent in October.
“As part of President Donald J. Trump’s comprehensive executive physical exam, advanced imaging tests were conducted because men of his age benefit from thorough evaluations of their cardiovascular and abdominal health,” Dr. Sean Barbavera, the president’s physician, detailed in the memo.
“The aim of this imaging test is preventive, with the goal of identifying potential issues early, ensuring overall health, and confirming long-term vitality. All cardiovascular imaging tests for President Trump came back completely normal.”
