Jake Tapper Faces Backlash Over Trump Health Coverage

CNN news personality Jake Tapper has ignited controversy once again, this time for his comments regarding the health coverage of former President Donald Trump. During a recent appearance on the "Pod Save America" podcast, Tapper claimed that he frequently discusses Trump’s health due to what he perceives as an insufficient examination of President Joe Biden’s health by the mainstream media.

Background on Tapper’s Comments

In a conversation with Tommy Vietor, a former spokesman for President Obama, Tapper stated, “It’s a great question. We cover [Trump’s health] all the time on my show.” He elaborated on his reasoning, suggesting that past media coverage of Biden’s health was lacking, especially during significant events like presidential debates.

Key Points Made by Tapper:

• He argues it is valid to scrutinize the health of any president, particularly one nearing octogenarian status.
• Tapper emphasized that his book, “Original Sin,” co-written with Axios’ Alex Thompson, was not solely about Biden’s missteps but aimed to address a notable event: Biden’s debate performance.

Tapper also noted recent instances involving Trump’s health, referencing the former president’s "crazy Truth Social rant" addressing New York Times’ coverage and questioning the White House’s narrative regarding Trump’s condition.

Health Concerns Surrounding Trump

Amid mounting discussions about Trump’s health, Tapper expressed skepticism about the official explanations provided by the White House. He voiced concern over bruises visible on Trump’s hands and questioned the necessity of an MRI if the former president’s health was indeed fine.

Key Quotes from Tapper:

• “There’s something going on with his health that they’re not telling us.”
• “A lot of extraordinary things have happened when the president of the United States has an MRI and can’t remember or name what part of the body the MRI was about.”

Trump has stated that the results of his recent MRI were “perfect,” while claiming he had “no idea” what area of his body was examined. The White House has maintained that this MRI was part of a routine physical examination.

Social Media Reaction

Criticism of Tapper has not been limited to traditional media. On social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), various commentators have lambasted him for allegedly failing to scrutinize Biden’s health in the same manner.

Notable Responses

• Joe Concha, a conservative media columnist, stated, “Tapper didn’t drop the ball. He purposely ignored an obvious story for years because he’s not a journalist.”
• Ian Miller, a conservative writer, commented that Tapper and his colleagues at CNN had previously dismissed concerns about Biden’s cognitive health, branding critics as conspiracy theorists.
• Mike Hahn, a conservative strategist, declared, “‘We’re hard on President Trump because we weren’t hard on Biden’ is the most @jaketapper thing ever.”

Tapper’s Previous Controversies

Jake Tapper has faced accusations of hypocrisy, especially regarding his co-written book that critiques Biden. Critics argue that he profited from a narrative after being complicit in downplaying concerns about Biden’s health during the 2020 elections. Tapper himself acknowledged this, stating he apologized to Lara Trump for dismissing her concerns during a 2020 interview, declaring, “I think you have absolutely no standing to diagnose somebody’s cognitive decline.”

In an interview with Megyn Kelly, Tapper admitted to recognizing that he overlooked certain issues concerning Biden’s health, saying that Lara Trump “saw something that I did not see at the time.”

Conclusion

The recent spotlight on Jake Tapper from both supporters and critics reflects broader conversations about media accountability and health scrutiny regarding political leaders. As discussions about both Trump and Biden’s health continue to evolve, the implications of Tapper’s remarks may resonate throughout the political landscape.

For further insights into media coverage of political health issues, consider exploring reputable news sources such as The New York Times and Axios.