A former CNN pundit has offered a mea culpa for brushing off concerns President BidenThe mental decline.
Chris Cilizza, who served as CNN’s editor-in-chief before leaving the network in 2022, spoke openly about his lack of journalistic interest in Biden’s term after the New York Times and Wall Street Journal published two damning reports this week that sheds light on Light on the president’s weakened condition.
“As a reporter, I have a confession to make,” Cillizza began his “apology” on his YouTube channel on Thursday. “I should have pushed harder sooner for more information about Joe Biden’s mental and physical well-being and any signs of decline.”
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Former CNN editor-in-chief Chris Cillizza apologized for not pushing hard enough about President Biden’s mental decline. (Screenshot/CNN)
Cillizza admitted that during his time at CNN, Republicans “pinged me regularly” asking him why he hadn’t addressed Biden’s decline and how he would “dismiss” them since he had seen no “evidence” of the president’s decline .
And in addition to admitting that he relied on the White House’s word, he also acknowledged that he felt guilty about “age-shaming” Biden.
“The White House and the people around Joe Biden were adamant that it was offensive to suggest anything – to ask whether he was in a physical state, a mental state, or both. “How could you? It’s age-shaming.’ And I think that influenced me in some ways,” Cillizza said. “Because even though I’ve asked the question from time to time, I haven’t really pushed it, if I’m honest.” When I left CNN and Biden’s age became a little clearer to me, I think I was writing about it pretty regularly and pretty regularly I talked about how I wasn’t sure this guy was up to it. And then after the June 27 debate, obviously everyone, including me, was writing and talking about it.”
The former CNN pundit went on to read excerpts from the Journal report about Biden’s limited interactions with his own Cabinet members and Democratic lawmakers, as well as the Times’ assertion that it was “hard to imagine” Biden remaining in office for another four years.
President Joe Biden appears to rest his eyes during the summit with African leaders in Lobito, Angola, December 4, 2024. (Reuters)
“I probably should have focused more on the question of Biden’s age, because in retrospect it’s clear that people around him knew that he had, at best, some good days and some bad days. June 27th, the debate, was clearly a bad one.” But if the bad day was so bad, as bad as he performed on that debate stage, it’s the fact that he was president without many questions about his physical health and mental deterioration, and I add the fact that he continued to be president from June 27th until January 20th, 2025 is, in my opinion, a little worrying and begs the question: when did the people close to him know about this? what did they know and why didn’t they pass it on?” said Cillizza.
“I know journalists have asked, and I can tell you, I know from my experience that there was a shame factor involved. The people around Biden have made you feel bad when you ask whether he’s up to the task of being president, running for president again and serving as president for another four years. … And they did a very good job, at least until they couldn’t hide it anymore,” he continued. “But journalists, and I represent myself here, we should have been more forceful. We should have – I shouldn’t have allowed the shaming campaign to make you feel bad for asking the question get to me, because it’s now clear from both the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times it says that there has been a real deterioration… and a significant decline in Joe Biden, and that the people around him have isolated him. and keeping him locked up somehow.
“And that’s why I think it’s a lesson we need to learn in the future. Because again: Donald Trump will be the oldest person ever to hold office when he serves four years, and I will be aware of that. Because here too, asking these questions is not a partisan matter. Asking these questions is a journalism thing, and I should have pushed harder and not been so willing to accept the “No, he’s fine.” Look at him when he is campaigning publicly,” Cillizza added.
Cillizza said he fell for the White House’s “shame campaign” whenever he brought up the subject of Biden’s mental acuity. (William B. Plowman/NBC/NBC Newswire/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
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Some critics took aim at Cillizza’s delayed apology. One of them, conservative podcast host Meghan McCain, questioned his sincerity by citing his previous comments about her late father, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., during his 2008 presidential run.
“When I say this is too little, too late, I mean this is absolutely pathetic, too little, too late,” McCain responded to Chris. He ignored Biden because he is a hack.
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