Former NBC host Chuck Todd has dismissed claims that mainstream media neglected to cover former President Joe Biden’s mental decline, labeling it a “right-wing manufactured” storyline aimed at undermining journalists.
In a conversation with former CNN commentator Chris Cillizza on his Substack on Monday, Todd asserted that any alleged concealment of Biden’s cognitive challenges should be attributed to Democratic Party leadership, not journalists.
The former “Meet the Press” host acknowledged that certain pundits on MSNBC and CNN “absolutely carried water” for Biden but differentiated them from what he considers true journalists. Todd contended that these commentators were former strategists, not genuine members of the press.
Todd’s remarks followed criticism from Axios reporter Alex Thompson, who called out media colleagues during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C., for insufficient coverage of Biden’s cognitive issues. Thompson, co-authoring a book on the topic with CNN’s Jake Tapper, used his acceptance speech to highlight what he views as a significant journalistic shortcoming.
In defense of journalism, Todd cited several instances of what he views as meaningful coverage of Biden’s condition during his presidency. He mentioned Washington Post columnist David Ignatius, who wrote a column in October 2023 questioning Biden’s suitability for a second term.
Todd stated he personally backed Democratic presidential candidate Dean Phillips during the primaries because Phillips ran a campaign that “made a lot of sense” regarding concerns about Biden’s fitness.
The veteran broadcaster distinguished between coverage of Biden’s decline and what he sees as a true media failure: the reporting on weapons of mass destruction during President George W. Bush’s administration. According to Todd, the current situation does not reflect a comparable institutional failure of journalism.
“This was not that failure,” Todd stated. He described current criticism of media coverage as “virtue signaling” and an effort to create conflict among news organizations, deflecting blame from Democratic Party leadership.
Todd specifically identified Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, First Lady Jill Biden, President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Democratic members of Congress as responsible for what he described as a “disaster.”
“There were water carriers, but they’re not real journalists!” Todd exclaimed, mentioning former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, now a commentator for MSNBC.
This discussion over media coverage arises as several journalists prepare books about Biden’s cognitive decline and the alleged efforts to hide it. The controversy intensified following Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race, leading to increased scrutiny of how his condition was portrayed during his tenure.
In a recent appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored, Todd offered a somewhat contradictory view, acknowledging that mainstream media were hesitant to directly address questions about Biden’s mental acuity during the 2024 presidential campaign. Todd told Morgan that journalists were reluctant to press harder on Biden’s age due to concerns that doing so would benefit then-presidential candidate Donald Trump.
Todd explained that the media approached the subject indirectly. He told Morgan they covered Biden’s decline by noting behaviors like the president using back staircases instead of front staircases and avoiding interviews but stopped short of drawing explicit conclusions about his fitness.
“Look, we were subtle,” Todd said to Morgan. He admitted there was reluctance among mainstream journalists to directly question Biden’s capabilities.
Meanwhile, former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany has called for a thorough investigation into what she describes as a cover-up of Biden’s decline. Appearing on “Jesse Watters Primetime,” McEnany argued that such an investigation needs to be pursued “fervently” over the next four years.
Public trust in media has fallen to a five-decade low according to recent polling, with the Biden coverage controversy potentially exacerbating this trend. Multiple journalists have acknowledged missing or downplaying signs of Biden’s cognitive issues during his presidency.
The debate highlights ongoing tensions between the press, political parties, and the public regarding expectations of journalistic accountability and transparency in covering high-profile political figures. As books and firsthand accounts continue to emerge about the Biden presidency, the question of whether the media adequately informed the public about his condition remains contentious.
