The Controversial Wall Street Journal Report on Biden's Decline Sparks Media Backlash

The Controversial Wall Street Journal Report on Biden’s Decline Sparks Media Backlash

Nearly a year before numerous publications began discussing Joe Biden’s cognitive decline, The Wall Street Journal faced intense criticism for its groundbreaking reporting. This scrutiny came at a time when many mainstream media outlets were reluctant to address the issue.

In early June 2024, the Journal released a story titled “Behind Closed Doors, Biden Shows Signs of Slipping.” This in-depth investigation, conducted by reporters Annie Linskey and Siobhan Hughes, drew insights from over 45 sources closely involved with Biden. The report described the president as appearing slower in his public engagements, exhibiting both positive and negative moments.

This report emerged just weeks ahead of Biden’s controversial debate performance and was met with an immediate wave of resistance, not only from the Biden administration but also from various media allies.

Reactions from the Media Landscape

CNN anchor Jake Tapper, known for his critical stance, framed his coverage around the White House’s strong response to what they deemed “false claims” from the Journal. Tapper consistently suggested that the report was predominantly influenced by Republican perspectives, hosting Biden ally Sen. Chris Coons to defend the president and dismiss the article as politically biased.

Notably, it was only after the debate, which Tapper co-moderated, that he invited the authors of the Wall Street Journal article to discuss their findings on his segment.

Other CNN anchors underscored that the Journal’s story leaned heavily on criticism from Republican figures. They specifically scrutinized former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy for previously contradicting his statements about Biden’s mental acuity, implying these remarks were a calculated PR strategy to preserve harmonious relations with the Biden administration.

Further Critiques and Allegations

The backlash intensified when CNN’s Boris Sanchez probed Hughes over claims from Democratic circles asserting that her reporting was biased. Such questioning would likely be frowned upon in coverage focused on former President Donald Trump.

Additionally, CNN’s media reporter Oliver Darcy took aim at the Journal, arguing its reporting featured significant flaws and asserting that it owed its audience more rigorous journalism.

Darcy expressed disbelief that a comparable story involving Trump would rely on Democratic sources to assess his mental state. He pointed out a fundamental disparity in how the media scrutinizes Biden versus Trump.