CBS News reporter Jan Crawford has slammed news outlets for not thoroughly covering US President Joe Biden’s “obvious cognitive decline” until it became undeniable during his troubling presidential debate with Donald Trump earlier this year, New York Post reports.
Appearing on Face the Nation, Crawford responded to a question from host Major Garrett about the most ‘underreported’ story of 2024. She pointed to Biden’s mental state, which, according to her, should have been reported more before it became widely apparent during the summer debate.
“Undercovered and underreported, that would be, to me, Joe Biden’s obvious cognitive decline that became undeniable in the televised debate,” Crawford said on the show.
She also referred to a Wall Street Journal report that revealed how White House aides allegedly concealed Biden’s struggles. The report claims that his staff had formed a protective circle around the 82-year-old president, limiting his interactions with the public.
“And yet he insisted that he could still run for president. We should have much more forcefully questioned whether he was fit for office for another four years, which could have led to a primary for the Democrats,” Crawford said. “It could have changed the scope of the entire election.”
As Biden’s first term continued, more people questioned his mental fitness. News outlets, including The Post, highlighted his frequent mistakes and mishaps. His struggles peaked during the June 27 debate, raising more concerns about his ability to lead. In July, Biden dropped out of the race and was replaced by vice president Kamala Harris, who lost to Trump in the December election.
Despite the backlash, Crawford expressed disbelief at claims by Biden’s advisers that he regretted withdrawing from the race and believed he could have beaten Trump. “Yet still, incredibly, we read in The Washington Post that his advisers are saying that he regrets that he dropped out of the race, that he thinks he could have beaten Trump,” Crawford said. “And I think that is either delusional or they’re gaslighting the American people.”
CBS News’ Robert Costa added that Biden and many of his top aides continue to insist he was simply unwell during the debate and has always been “fine.”
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