Jake Tapper, a prominent CNN anchor known for defending President Joe Biden's verbal stumbles, makes a surprising revelation about the former president's cognitive state.
According to the Free Beacon, Tapper's upcoming book with CNN contributor Alex Thompson exposes what they describe as a deliberate concealment of Biden's declining mental state, which they argue contributed to Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 presidential election.
The book, titled "Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, And His Disastrous Decision to Run Again," presents a stark contrast to Tapper's previous stance on Biden's cognitive abilities. During Biden's presidency, Tapper consistently attributed the president's verbal miscues to his childhood stutter, even challenging critics who suggested otherwise. The book is scheduled for release on May 20 through Penguin Press.
Tapper's previous defense of Biden's speech patterns and verbal missteps was particularly evident during a 2020 interview with Lara Trump. When she expressed concerns about Biden's cognitive decline, Tapper accused her of mocking the president's stutter and questioned her authority to make such assessments.
Following Biden's 2022 State of the Union address, where he mistakenly referenced Iranians instead of Ukrainians during discussions about the Russian invasion, Tapper maintained his supportive stance. He praised the president's delivery, describing it as "a fairly solid performance" despite Biden's speaking challenges.
The transformation in Tapper's perspective became apparent after Biden's problematic debate performance in June 2024. This event marked a turning point in public discourse about the president's mental acuity, making the issue increasingly difficult to ignore.
Tapper and Thompson conducted over 200 interviews for their book, aiming to provide a comprehensive examination of Biden's cognitive state during his presidency. Their investigation revealed that Biden's June 2024 debate performance was not an isolated incident but rather indicative of a longer-term decline.
According to the publisher's statement, the book will expose Biden's behavior during his reelection campaign as "shockingly narcissistic, self-delusional, and reckless." This characterization stands in stark contrast to the public image previously promoted by Biden's supporters and some media outlets.
The authors note that Biden himself had rejected claims that his childhood stutter was responsible for his verbal difficulties. This admission from 2019 adds weight to their investigation's findings about his declining mental state.
Beyond his upcoming book release, Tapper recently faced legal difficulties at CNN. He was involved in a defamation trial brought by Navy Veteran Zachary Young, who accused the network and Tapper of false portrayal regarding Afghan evacuation efforts.
During his deposition, Tapper maintained that CNN should not have apologized for the controversial segment. However, the network was ultimately ordered to pay Young $5 million in damages, plus an undisclosed amount in punitive damages.
The book's announcement represents a significant shift in mainstream media's coverage of Biden's cognitive abilities. Tapper explains his motivation for writing the book, stating:
Toni Morrison once said, 'If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.' That's what inspired this book: we wanted to know more about what we all just lived through. More than 200 interviews later, Alex and I have a much better idea. And soon you all will too.
Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson's book about Joe Biden's mental decline during his presidency will be released on May 20. The investigation, based on more than 200 interviews, reveals what the authors describe as a systematic effort to conceal the former president's diminishing cognitive abilities from the public. The revelation marks a significant departure from mainstream media's previous coverage of Biden's verbal difficulties and raises questions about the responsibility of journalists in reporting on presidential fitness for office.
