Jake Tapper’s Biden Book Sparks Outrage, Accusations of Hypocrisy
CNN anchor Jake Tapper is facing a firestorm of criticism online following the announcement of his upcoming book, "Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again." The book, co-authored with Axios journalist Alex Thompson, promises an in-depth investigation into President Joe Biden’s perceived mental decline and the alleged efforts to conceal it by members of the Democratic Party and the media.
However, the unveiling of the book has been met with accusations of hypocrisy, with many social media users accusing Tapper of actively participating in the very cover-up he now claims to expose. Critics are pointing to past instances where Tapper seemingly downplayed or dismissed concerns about Biden’s cognitive abilities, particularly during the 2020 presidential campaign.
One viral example is a 2020 video clip of Tapper lecturing Lara Trump, then an advisor to the Trump campaign, for raising questions about Biden’s mental fitness. This clip has been widely circulated alongside the book’s cover, with commentators highlighting the apparent contradiction between Tapper’s past statements and his current endeavor. The conservative account "End Wokeness" encapsulated the sentiment, stating: "Tapper then: It’s a conspiracy theory to say Biden has cognitive decline. It’s a stutter. Tapper now: A book on the cover up."
During a recent segment on his CNN show, "The Lead," Tapper defended his coverage, asserting that he has consistently addressed concerns about Biden’s age and health. "As viewers of ‘The Lead’ know, I’ve been covering the concerns about President Biden’s age and health for years," he stated. "I literally asked him about it in October 2022, and we’ve challenged Democrats and White House officials about it."
Indeed, records show that Tapper did raise the issue of age with Biden in a 2022 interview. He also reported on polls showing public concern about Biden’s "mental sharpness" in 2023 and questioned then-White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre about the public perception of Biden’s age.
Despite these instances, Tapper’s critics argue that his coverage has been insufficient and lacks the necessary scrutiny. They contend that he consistently gave Biden and his administration the benefit of the doubt, while simultaneously attacking those who voiced similar concerns from the right.
The Federalist editor-in-chief Mollie Hemingway delivered a particularly scathing critique, expressing outrage at what she perceived as Tapper’s blatant hypocrisy. "The mother bleeping AUDACITY of you to do this after running 24-7 interference on behalf of him and mocking and attacking every single person who noticed Biden’s decline," she wrote. "Have you no decency? Have you NO shame?"
RealClearPolitics co-founder Tom Bevan echoed this sentiment, commenting on the overwhelmingly negative reception Tapper received online. "Jake Tapper getting ratioed into oblivion promoting his new book on ‘the real story’ of Biden’s mental decline," Bevan wrote. "He really does have utter contempt for his viewers and thinks they’re all morons."
The Libs of TikTok account also weighed in, sarcastically quoting Tapper’s announcement of the book. "JAKE TAPPER: As viewers know I’ve been covering concerns about Biden’s age and health for years… we spent several months talking to people… you will not believe what was really going on," the account posted, adding, "I can’t believe this is real and he said this with a straight face. Jake Tapper and CNN covered up for Biden’s decline for years. He’s trying to rewrite history."
Stephen L. Miller, a contributing editor at The Spectator, highlighted the stark contrast between Tapper’s past pronouncements and his current project. "Here’s Jake Tapper incensed over Joe Biden’s ‘stutter’ and outraged over claims of Biden’s cognitive decline," Miller wrote. "Now he’s cashing in on a book about Biden’s cognitive decline and media cover up. There is no bottom for these people."
Conservative actor James Woods went even further, unleashing a vitriolic attack on Tapper’s character. "If there were a bottom for these people, and indeed there is not, this slug would be feeding there for sure," Woods wrote. "If there were illustrated dictionaries, Tapper’s mewling face would be next to ‘hypocrite.’"
The intense backlash underscores the highly polarized political climate and the deep distrust that many conservatives harbor towards mainstream media outlets like CNN. Tapper’s book, rather than being seen as an act of journalistic integrity, is being interpreted by many as a cynical attempt to profit from a narrative he previously sought to suppress.
The controversy surrounding "Original Sin" raises important questions about the role of media in covering political figures’ health and cognitive abilities. It also highlights the challenges journalists face in navigating partisan divides while striving to maintain credibility. Whether Tapper can successfully defend his past coverage and convince critics of his sincerity remains to be seen. For now, he faces a significant hurdle in overcoming the perception that he is, at best, a latecomer to the story and, at worst, a hypocrite exploiting a sensitive issue for personal gain.
CNN declined to comment on the matter, leaving Tapper’s book to continue stirring debate and controversy in the lead up to its release. The controversy surrounding the book highlights the highly charged political environment and the distrust many feel towards mainstream media. Whether the book will ultimately be seen as a valuable contribution to the discussion of Biden’s fitness for office, or as a cynical attempt to capitalize on a sensitive issue, remains to be seen.
