Podcast Discussion on Biden’s Health and Transparency

During her podcast on Tuesday, host Megyn Kelly spoke with CNN anchor and author Jake Tapper about the release of President Biden’s book, Original Sin, and the surrounding controversies.

Kelly opened by addressing the criticism from right-wing commentators, who allege a cover-up regarding Joe Biden’s mental acuity.

Tapper reflected on the criticism, stating, “Looking back now, I feel quite humbled by my reporting. For instance, during my interview with Lara Trump.”

Kelly remarked, “We’ll get to that.” Tapper continued, acknowledging that Trump perceived issues in Biden that he overlooked at the time. “Absolutely, I own that,” he said. “I asked Biden to be open about his health in a 2020 interview and questioned how voters perceived him.”

Kelly countered, “But he wasn’t open at all.”

Tapper agreed, “No, he wasn’t at all transparent.” Kelly pointed out that Biden had assured him he would be transparent about his health, yet, when they met again, he wasn’t forthcoming.

Tapper acknowledged this, admitting that he didn’t follow up on significant points such as Biden tripping on stairs or frequently losing his train of thought. “I did ask him about his age,” Tapper said, noting the American public’s concerns. “People see you, and they’re worried about whether you’re too old for this job.”

Kelly added, “There’s a way to approach that, like I might. After the passing of Jackie Wolosky, you saw him lowering the White House flag. This happened just 13 days before your interview. You could have pushed him on his vulnerabilities, but didn’t.”

Tapper responded, “That’s true, I didn’t. I feel humbled about my reporting. We didn’t delve into personal topics like his favorite movies or colors; we focused on national issues. However, I wish I’d covered the matters of age and mental sharpness more thoroughly.”