CNN anchor Jake Tapper recently received sharp criticism from callers on C-SPAN regarding his new book about former President Joe Biden’s cognitive decline. One caller accused him of bias against current President Donald Trump.
Tapper appeared on the Tuesday edition of the Washington Journal to discuss his bestselling book, co-authored with Axios reporter Alex Thompson, titled “The Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again.”
During the segment, a caller from Virginia named Sarah expressed her frustration with what she viewed as a biased portrayal. “I’m watching you on CNN,” she said. “But now, I really don’t like you. I think you’re also harming Joe and the Americans.”
She questioned why Tapper wasn’t holding Trump to the same standards regarding his actions and fitness for office. “When do you know what’s going on with Trump? Joe Biden looked after America for four years. He went abroad and negotiated with other leaders,” she noted. “This president is pure confusion,” she added, implying that Trump shows signs of instability.
Sarah, although a fan of Tapper’s show “The Lead,” felt his recent focus had changed her perception of him. “I think you should write another book examining Trump and how unstable he is,” she said.
Tapper responded to the caller, acknowledging that he may not have scrutinized Biden’s fitness issues as closely during his presidency but defended his reporting. He encouraged viewers to tune in to CNN for comprehensive coverage. “Sarah, we cover President Trump for two hours every day,” he replied, highlighting the coverage of the current president’s actions.
Tapper also pointed out instances where Trump’s public comments had seemed confusing, suggesting some issues stem from personality rather than cognitive decline. He emphasized the importance of journalists covering the stories that matter to the public.
Tapper concluded by affirming his belief in the book’s content and that CNN would continue addressing significant events moving forward.
The book alleges that White House aides tried to conceal Biden’s deteriorating mental and physical health during his presidency. Since its release, Tapper has stirred controversy by implying the situation is “worse than Watergate” and remarking on the role of Hunter Biden in the family dynamics.
Meanwhile, House Republicans have referenced the book in their attempts to expand investigations into what they claim is a cover-up concerning Biden’s health. A representative for Tapper declined to comment when approached for additional information.
