A book about the media cover-up of Biden’s decline is a great idea… But should CNN’s Jake Tapper write it?

The Book and Its Claims: A Reckoning with Biden’s Decline

CNN anchor Jake Tapper, alongside Axios correspondent Alex Thompson, is set to release a controversial new book titled “Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again” on May 20th. The book promises to deliver an unflinching look at Joe Biden’s decision to seek re-election despite apparent signs of cognitive decline, as well as the alleged collusion between Democrats and the media to downplay or obscure these issues. While the premise of the book is explosive and timely, it raises eyebrows given Tapper’s own history of dismissing concerns about Biden’s mental acuity.

Tapper, a prominent figure in mainstream media, has often been accused of toeing the Democratic party line, particularly when it comes to defending Biden. His book’s press release describes Biden’s June 27th debate performance as “shocking and upsetting,” a characterization that contrasts sharply with the reality experienced by millions of Americans who have witnessed Biden’s erratic behavior, gaffes, and bizarre anecdotes for years. The book’s central claim—that Democrats and the media actively colluded to hide Biden’s decline—would carry more weight if Tapper himself hadn’t been complicit in this supposed cover-up. Instead, his book feels like an attempt to rewrite his own role in the narrative he now criticize.

Tapper’s Track Record: Dismissing Concerns and Chastising Critics

One of the most glaring examples of Tapper’s complicity in downplaying Biden’s cognitive issues came during a 2020 interview with Lara Trump, a then-spokesperson for the Trump campaign. When Trump gently pointed out Biden’s obvious cognitive slowing, Tapper became defensive, accusing her of making fun of his stutter. “I think you have absolutely no standing to diagnose somebody’s cognitive decline,” he snapped, repeatedly talking over her as she tried to voice her concerns. This exchange was emblematic of Tapper’s approach to critics of Biden: dismiss, deflect, and silence.

Tapper’s behavior didn’t change even as more evidence of Biden’s decline mounted. In early June 2024, he reported on a Wall Street Journal article titled “Behind Closed Doors, Biden Shows Signs of Slipping,” but instead of critically analyzing the piece, he parroted the White House Communications Director’s dismissive assessment, calling it a “complete and utter editorial fail.” When Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Delaware was interviewed on Tapper’s show to discuss the article, Tapper failed to press Coons on his dismissals of Biden’s gaffes as “minor slips.” Coons even accused the journalists of editing the piece to produce a specific narrative—a claim Tapper allowed to go unchallenged.

These episodes reveal a pattern of behavior that undermines Tapper’s credibility as an objective journalist. Rather than investigating legitimate concerns about Biden’s mental state, Tapper consistently acted as a gatekeeper for the Democratic party, silencing critics and shielding Biden from scrutiny. His new book, which purports to expose the collusion between Democrats and the media, feels less like a genuine reckoning and more like an attempt to rewrite his own role in enabling the very cover-up he now condemns.

Early Warning Signs: Biden’s Long History of Bizarre Behavior

The idea that Joe Biden’s cognitive decline is a recent development or a secret known only to insiders is a convenient narrative for those who wish to downplay the issue. The truth is that Biden’s strange behavior and verbal gaffes have been well-documented for years, long before his presidency. As far back as 2017, Biden was sharing bizarre anecdotes, such as his claims of encounters with “gang leaders” named Corn Pop and stories about children stroking his hairy legs during speeches. These tales, while often dismissed as harmless quirks, hinted at a larger issue: Biden’s tendency to blur the lines of reality and fantasy.

On the 2020 campaign trail, Biden’s behavior became increasingly erratic. He famously called a 21-year-old woman who asked him a tough question a “lying dog face pony soldier,” a nonsensical insult that left many scratching their heads. In another incident, when an Iowa farmer confronted him about his son Hunter’s dealings in Ukraine, Biden responded by insulting the man’s weight, saying, “Look, fat.” These moments were not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of behavior that raised serious questions about Biden’s fitness for office.

For those paying attention, the evidence of Biden’s decline was mounting. His stutter, which Tapper and other Biden apologists often cited as an excuse for his verbal stumbles, does not explain the president’s tendency to tell bizarre stories, wander off during speeches, or make nonsensical remarks. Nor does it explain his inappropriate behavior with women and children, such as his infamous habit of sniffing the hair of young girls, which earned him the nickname “Creepy Uncle Joe.” These issues were not fabrications of Republican propaganda but observable realities that were ignored or downplayed by much of the media.

Media Complicity: The Role of Journalists in Shielding Biden

Jake Tapper’s role in shielding Biden from scrutiny is part of a larger problem within the mainstream media. Rather than fulfilling their duty to hold power accountable, many journalists acted as cheerleaders for the Biden campaign, dismissing legitimate concerns about his mental and physical health as “conspiracy theories” or “right-wing smears.” This complicity was not limited to Tapper; it was a widespread phenomenon that permeated much of the media landscape.

The Wall Street Journal article “Behind Closed Doors, Biden Shows Signs of Slipping” is a case in point. The piece, which interviewed 45 individuals close to Biden, provided a damning assessment of his cognitive state. Yet, rather than investigating these claims, Tapper and other journalists dismissed the article as biased and unfair. Tapper even gave a platform to Senator Coons, who baselessly accused the journalists of selective editing, without challenging these claims. This kind of one-sided reporting is a disservice to the public and erodes trust in the media.

By consistently downplaying or ignoring the evidence of Biden’s decline, journalists like Tapper enabled the Democratic party to avoid accountability. This complicity had real-world consequences, as it allowed Biden to coast through his campaign and into the presidency without facing serious scrutiny. For ordinary citizens, it can be overwhelming to sift through the noise and uncover the truth. But for journalists, whose job it is to uncover and report the facts, there is no excuse for such dereliction of duty.

Tapper’s Late Acknowledgment: A Case of Too Little, Too Late

In the days leading up to Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race, Tapper finally began to acknowledged the reality of Biden’s decline. He aired a montage of Biden’s most incoherent moments, which, while long overdue, marked a rare instance of mainstream media criticism of the president. Tapper also accused the Biden family of being in “complete denial” about his condition, a criticism that carried some weight given the mountain of evidence.

However, this late acknowledgment does little to excuse Tapper’s earlier complicity in the cover-up. By the time he decided to speak out, the damage was already done. Biden had already secured the Democratic nomination and was well on his way to the presidency, despite clear signs that he was unfit for the office. Tapper’s belated criticism feels less like a genuine attempt to hold power accountable and more like a cynical effort to position himself as a truth-teller in hindsight.

Moreover, Tapper’s newfound willingness to criticize Biden does not absolve him of his role in gaslighting the American people. For years, he dismissed legitimate concerns about Biden’s cognitive state as partisan attacks, silencing critics and shielding the president from scrutiny. Now, with his book, Tapper is attempting to rewrite this history, framing himself as a brave truth-teller rather than a complicit enabler. This kind of revisionism is not only dishonest but also insults the intelligence of the public.

The Irony of Tapper’s Stance: A Historian of His Own Revisionism

The irony of Tapper’s new book is that it seeks to expose the very collusion he himself helped perpetuate. By framing himself as an outsider who dared to challenge the Democratic-media complex, Tapper is attempting to rehabilitate his image as a fearless journalist. However, this narrative is deeply flawed. Tapper was not a whistleblower or a truth-teller; he was an active participant in the cover-up, using his platform to silence critics and shield Biden from scrutiny.

The book’s release is also timing-rich in irony. After spending years dismissing concerns about Biden’s decline, Tapper is now profiting from a book that claims to expose the truth. This kind of opportunism undermines the very premise of his argument and raises questions about his motives. Is this book a genuine attempt to reckon with the consequences of Biden’s decline, or is it a cynical cash-grab by a journalist seeking to relevancy?

In the end, Tapper’s book is a missed opportunity. The collusion between Democrats and the media to obscure Biden’s decline is a scandal that needs to be exposed. However, it is a story that cannot be told honestly by someone who was complicit in the cover-up. Tapper’s book is less a reckoning with the truth and more a desperate attempt to rewrite his own role in the narrative. It is a reminder that, in the world of mainstream media, even the most glaring contradictions can be papered over with a well-timed book deal.