CNN anchor Jake Tapper's upcoming book reveals a stark departure from his previous defense of President Joe Biden's verbal stumbles and apparent cognitive challenges.
According to Free Beacon, Tapper's new book, co-authored with Alex Thompson, argues that the concealment of Biden's mental decline 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," represents a significant shift from Tapper's previous stance, where he consistently attributed Biden's speech issues to his childhood stutter.
This dramatic change in perspective follows Biden's widely criticized debate performance in June 2024, which Tapper and Thompson now describe as symptomatic of a broader pattern of cognitive decline.
Throughout Biden's presidency, Tapper maintained a defensive position regarding the president's verbal missteps. In 2020, he confronted Lara Trump for suggesting Biden showed signs of cognitive decline, accusing her of mocking his stutter. During that confrontation, Tapper emphasized the impact such comments could have on children who stutter.
Following Biden's 2022 State of the Union address, where the president mistakenly referenced Iranians instead of Ukrainians, Tapper continued his supportive stance. He praised Biden's overall delivery despite the error, highlighting the president's speaking challenges.
Biden himself addressed the stutter narrative in 2019, denying that his childhood speech impediment was responsible for his verbal mistakes. This statement preceded a series of public speaking incidents that fueled ongoing discussions about his mental fitness for office.
Tapper explained his motivation for writing the book, quoting Toni Morrison:
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.
The publisher, Penguin Press, describes the book's portrayal of Biden's reelection campaign behavior as "shockingly narcissistic, self-delusional, and reckless." The investigation, based on over 200 interviews, promises to provide comprehensive insights into the administration's handling of Biden's declining cognitive state.
Tapper's credibility recently faced scrutiny during a defamation trial involving CNN. Navy Veteran Zachary Young successfully sued the network over a segment that allegedly mischaracterized his involvement in Afghan evacuations.
Despite Tapper's insistence that CNN shouldn't have apologized for the coverage, the network was ordered to pay Young $5 million in damages, plus additional punitive damages.
Jake Tapper's forthcoming book about President Biden's mental decline and its alleged cover-up marks a significant reversal from his previous public statements defending the president's verbal difficulties.
Set for release on May 20, the publication promises to detail how the concealment of Biden's cognitive challenges influenced the 2024 election outcome, leading to Trump's victory. This dramatic shift in narrative from a prominent CNN anchor adds another layer to the ongoing discussion about media coverage of political figures and their fitness for office.
