Former CNN critic apologizes for ignoring Biden’s mental decline: ‘I should have pushed harder’

A former CNN critic has offered up his mistake in ignoring concerns about it President BidenMental deterioration.

Chris Cillizza, who served as CNN’s editor-at-large before leaving the network in 2022, spoke candidly about his lack of journalistic curiosity about Biden’s case for the service after two damning reports this week from the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. Which highlights the president’s diminished condition.

Cillizza began his “apology” on his YouTube channel on Thursday, saying: “As a journalist, I have a confession to make.” “I should have done my best earlier to obtain more information about Joe Biden’s mental and physical health and any signs of deterioration.”

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Cillizza admitted how Republicans were “regularly reaching out to me” during his time at CNN, asking him why he didn’t address Biden’s decline and how he was “going to ignore them” because he saw “no evidence” of the president’s decline.

Not only did he admit to receiving the White House speech, he admitted that he felt guilty for “shaming” Biden.

“the The white house And the people around Joe Biden were quite adamant that suggesting anything, such as asking a question about whether he was in a state of physical or mental decline or both, was offensive. How can you? It’s a disgrace to age. “And I think that affected me on some level,” Cillizza said. “Because while I would ask the question from time to time… I didn’t really press it, if I’m honest. Now, once I left CNN and once it became clearer to me about Omar “Biden, I think I’ve been writing very regularly and talking very regularly about how I wasn’t sure this guy was capable of it and obviously after the June 27 debate, everyone, including me, was writing and talking about it.”

The former CNN critic went on to read excerpts from the newspaper’s report on Biden’s limited interactions with members of his Cabinet and Democratic lawmakers, as well as the Times’ assertion that it is “hard to imagine” Biden remaining in office for another four years.

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“Maybe I should have pushed harder on matters related to Biden’s age, because, in retrospect, obviously people close to him knew that, at best, he had some good days and some bad days. On June 27, he “It’s clear that the debate was bad.” But if the bad day was as bad as that, as bad as his performance on that debate stage was, the fact that he was president without asking too many questions about his physical and mental decline, I’ll add the truth. That he continued as president from June 27 until January 20, 2025, I think is a little concerning and begs the question, like when did the people close to him know, what did they know, and why didn’t they get involved?’” Cillizza said.

“I know reporters did ask, and I can tell you, I mean, I know from my experience, there was a shame factor to it. The people around Biden worked to make you feel bad when you asked if he was up to the job of president, to run for president again and serve as president.” For another four years. “How could you?” “They did a very good job, at least until they couldn’t hide it anymore,” he continued. “But journalists, and I’m putting myself here, we should have been more urgent.” We should have – I shouldn’t have let the shame campaign that makes you feel bad for asking the question get to me, because now it’s clear from all of the Wall Street Journal. And an article by the New York Times: There was a real deterioration…and a major decline in Joe Biden, and that the people around him were isolating him, and they were isolating him from the political world. And kind of keeping him hidden.”

“So I think it’s a lesson we have to learn moving forward. Because again, Donald Trump He would be the oldest person ever to hold that position if he serves for four years, and I will keep that in mind. Because again, asking these questions is not a partisan thing. Asking these questions is a matter of journalism, and I should have pushed harder and not been so willing to accept, “No, he’s fine.” Look at him when he’s on the general election campaign, Cillizza added.

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Some critics targeted Cillizza’s belated apology. One of them, conservative host Meghan McCain, has drawn scrutiny of his honesty, citing his past comments to her late father, Sen. John McCain, Republican of Arizona, during his 2008 presidential bid.

“When I say this is too little and too late, I mean this is pathetically too little and too late,” McCain responded to X. “There was no ‘honest McCain’ bigger and more obsessive about my father’s age when he ran in 2008 (when he was 71) ignoring Chris Biden because he’s a hack.”

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