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Chris Cillizza, a former CNN journalist, has raised serious allegations regarding how aides of former President Joe Biden managed information about his cognitive health. In a candid discussion, Cillizza revealed that a significant amount of evidence suggests Biden’s aides created a challenging environment for journalists, effectively discouraging inquiries into the President’s physical and mental condition.
Cillizza, who held the position of editor-at-large at CNN and currently writes for his own Substack, reflected on the media’s approach to covering Biden’s health issues. He emphasized that this coverage was lacking until the former President’s frail performance during the debates last June contributed to his decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race.
“There’s ample evidence that a cover-up occurred concerning Joe Biden’s actual physical and mental state by his aides in the White House. The reporting around this is extensive, making it hard to dismiss,” Cillizza stated in an email correspondence.
While Cillizza asserts that Biden’s team obscured crucial information from the public, he does not believe the media was complicit in the cover-up. Instead, he suggests that the Biden administration made it difficult for reporters to ask relevant questions, often shaming them or implying they held biased views.
“The Biden team made it particularly tough to pursue questions about his health. Reporters, myself included, allowed that to stifle our inquiries,” Cillizza noted.
Cillizza pointed out a perceived disparity in how the media treats different political figures. He suggested that Trump’s team would not have received the same leniency, remarking that some journalists seemed inclined to trust the Biden administration more because it was a Democratic presidency.
“Some journalists might be more willing to accept statements from a Democratic leader, possibly due to a belief that this administration is less prone to making numerous misleading remarks, unlike the former President,” he explained.
In recent weeks, Cillizza has voiced his concerns regarding the media’s failure to adequately investigate Biden’s health issues. He cited a recent video he released titled, “Why it still matters that the media missed the big Biden story.” This video highlights how journalists, including Axios’ Alex Thompson during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, have begun to call attention to the media’s shortcomings in addressing Biden’s cognitive decline.
According to Cillizza, reporting directly on Biden’s possible dementia or other cognitive issues requires a significant threshold of evidence, which he believes was not sufficiently met.
Last year, Cillizza publicly expressed regret for not raising concerns about Biden’s health sooner. “As a reporter, I must admit that I should have sought further information regarding Joe Biden’s mental and physical well-being. I owe it to the public to hold leaders accountable,” he stated in a video posted online.
He recalled that during his tenure at CNN, Republicans often questioned him about his reluctance to discuss Biden’s health. Cillizza confessed that he would dismiss these concerns due to a lack of observable evidence.
Cillizza acknowledged that the Biden administration set a tone where any suggestion of declining health was viewed as offensive or ageist. “The White House insisted that any inquiries about Biden’s physical or mental health were offensive,” he remarked. This cultural atmosphere of fear may have influenced how he and other reporters approached their coverage.
“While I occasionally posed questions about his health, I cannot deny that I did not press the issue vigorously. After leaving CNN, I began to take a more critical stance, especially following the June debates, when it became apparent that doubts about his capabilities were valid,” he admitted.
Cillizza underscored the responsibility of the media to ask difficult questions, regardless of the political climate. He believes that to ensure transparency and accountability from elected officials, journalists must remain vigilant and persistent in their inquiries about politicians’ health and capabilities.
Fox News Digital reached out to a spokesperson for Biden’s team for a response regarding these allegations but has yet to receive a reply.
The issue of accountability in American media remains critical. As journalists continue to navigate a complex political landscape, they must prioritize truth and transparency. Cillizza’s commentary sheds light on the necessity of demanding thorough and unbiased reporting, especially when it comes to candidates’ health and fitness for office.
This conversation highlights essential questions regarding the media’s role in democracy. Reporting on public figures is a foundational aspect of journalistic responsibility, one that should never be taken lightly.
Reporters Alexander Hall and Joseph A. Wulfsohn contributed to this report.