NewsNation host Chris Cuomo has criticized CNN anchor Jake Tapper’s new book, Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, labeling it a self-serving attempt to deflect blame for the media’s role in concealing President Biden’s health issues. Cuomo contends that Tapper, who previously dismissed concerns about Biden’s cognitive decline, is now attempting to rewrite history to absolve himself and his network.
In a recent broadcast of his show CUOMO, the former CNN anchor argued that Tapper’s book serves as a “cover-up of a cover-up,” suggesting that Tapper is shifting responsibility onto others to avoid accountability for his own actions. Cuomo emphasized that Tapper and CNN were complicit in downplaying Biden’s health concerns during his presidency, only to now highlight them in a book for personal gain.
Tapper’s book, co-authored with Axios reporter Alex Thompson, alleges that Democratic insiders and the media collaborated to hide President Biden’s cognitive and physical decline from the public, fearing that acknowledging these issues would jeopardize his re-election bid. The book draws from over 200 interviews and claims that signs of Biden’s deterioration were evident as early as 2015, intensifying during his presidency.
Cuomo’s critique aligns with broader criticisms of Tapper and CNN’s handling of Biden’s health narrative. In a 2020 interview, Tapper accused Lara Trump of mocking Biden’s stutter when she raised concerns about his cognitive abilities. Tapper later admitted to Megyn Kelly that he had apologized to Lara Trump, acknowledging that she had been correct in her assessment.
The controversy surrounding Original Sin has sparked debates about media accountability and the ethical responsibilities of journalists. Critics argue that Tapper’s delayed acknowledgment of Biden’s health issues undermines his credibility and raises questions about the media’s role in shaping public perception.
