In a striking rebuke of the American media establishment, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has accused the so-called “legacy media” of engaging in a deliberate cover-up regarding former President Joe Biden’s deteriorating mental and physical health. Speaking during a press briefing on April 28, Leavitt did not mince words, stating that the failure to accurately report Biden’s condition constituted “one of the greatest cover-ups and scandals that ever took place in American history.”

Leavitt’s comments come in the wake of Biden’s eventual withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race, following a disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump in June. Biden, who had long been shielded from intense public scrutiny regarding his cognitive fitness, struggled noticeably during the debate – appearing confused, losing his train of thought, and grappling to complete his sentences. The performance sent shockwaves through the Democratic Party and its donor base, prompting a tidal wave of calls for Biden to step aside. Within a month, he announced he would no longer seek re-election, and Vice President Kamala Harris stepped in as the Democratic nominee – only to lose to Trump in November.

“Millions of Americans watched our mentally incompetent president struggle with his day-to-day duties of this office,” Leavitt said. “We watched our country be run into the ground as a result. And nobody in the media wanted to write about that.”

The criticism reflects a broader sentiment of frustration and distrust toward mainstream news organizations. Throughout Biden’s presidency, concerns about his age and mental sharpness circulated widely among conservative commentators, Trump allies, and independent media outlets. However, major newspapers, cable networks, and political pundits largely dismissed or downplayed these warnings, often characterizing them as partisan attacks or misinformation.

Leavitt recounted her own experiences during Trump’s campaign, recalling how her public warnings about Biden’s cognitive struggles were met with accusations of spreading “deepfake” videos. “I was accused by people in this room [journalists] of manufacturing deepfake videos trying to persuade the public into not believing what they saw with their own eyes for many years,” she said.

The impact of the media’s refusal to report critically on Biden’s health has not been limited to political outcomes; it has also significantly eroded public trust in journalism itself. A Gallup poll conducted earlier this year revealed that American confidence in fair news reporting has dropped to its lowest level in five decades. Only 31% of Americans surveyed said they trust the media “a great deal” or “a fair amount,” while 36% expressed no trust “at all.”

Leavitt emphasized that this erosion of trust is directly tied to the media’s perceived role in shielding Biden from legitimate scrutiny. “The reluctance to report on Biden’s actual physical and mental condition certainly did contribute to the decline in the trust that Americans have for the legacy media,” she said.

Critics argue that the press, far from acting as a watchdog against government overreach and incompetence, instead became an extension of partisan interests – particularly when it came to Biden. Many commentators point out that media outlets which had spent four years aggressively questioning Trump’s fitness for office shifted abruptly to a defensive posture once Biden took power. Allegations of double standards abound, with accusations that concerns about Biden’s health were buried, dismissed, or outright censored.

Indeed, throughout Biden’s presidency, instances that might have warranted closer examination – such as numerous verbal gaffes, visible signs of disorientation during public events, and a tightly controlled schedule limiting his exposure to unscripted interactions – were often brushed aside. Only after Biden’s calamitous debate performance did the mainstream media begin openly questioning his viability, long after independent journalists and conservative media had raised the alarm.

This pattern has fueled growing resentment among Americans who feel they were deliberately misled. “The American people deserved to know the truth about their commander-in-chief,” Leavitt said. “Instead, they were lied to. They were told to ignore their own eyes and ears.”

As the dust settles on the 2024 election, the media’s handling of Biden’s health is likely to remain a defining controversy. Some analysts suggest that this scandal could lead to a long-overdue reckoning within the press, forcing media institutions to confront their biases and failures. Others are less optimistic, fearing that the damage to public trust may be irreversible.

The episode also raises uncomfortable questions about the responsibility of journalists during critical moments of national decision-making. If the media is unwilling – or unable – to report uncomfortable truths about political leaders, what other critical information might they be suppressing?

The Biden health cover-up, as framed by Leavitt and many others, is not just about one president’s decline; it’s about the systemic failures of institutions tasked with safeguarding democracy through transparency and accountability. And for millions of Americans who feel betrayed, rebuilding that trust will be an uphill battle for years to come.

As the country moves forward, it remains to be seen whether the lessons of the Biden presidency will lead to genuine reform in journalism – or whether distrust will become the new normal in American political life.

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Source: Weekly Blitz :: Writings