CNN anchor Jake Tapper is under intense scrutiny for his new book, Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, co-authored with Axios reporter Alex Thompson, which releases today, May 20. The book alleges that President Joe Biden’s aides actively concealed his cognitive and physical decline during his presidency, raising questions about media complicity and journalistic ethics.
Drawing from over 200 interviews with mostly Democratic insiders, the book details instances of Biden forgetting names of key allies and aides, and describes how staffers implemented strategies to prevent public falls, including providing him with trainers and shortened walking paths. One particularly alarming account involves Biden allegedly failing to recognize actor George Clooney at a fundraiser. The authors argue that these efforts to mask Biden’s decline ultimately led to chaos within the Democratic Party and diminished their chances against Donald Trump in the 2024 election.
Critics have accused Tapper of hypocrisy, noting that during Biden’s presidency, he often dismissed concerns about the president’s mental fitness, attributing gaffes to a childhood stutter. Now, with the release of Original Sin, Tapper faces allegations of profiting from a narrative he previously downplayed. Meghan McCain likened Tapper’s actions to O.J. Simpson’s infamous book If I Did It, calling it “journalistic malfeasance.”
In response to the backlash, Tapper has acknowledged that he could have reported more on the issue, expressing humility about past coverage. He and Thompson have enlisted crisis communications expert Risa Heller to manage the book’s controversial rollout.
Despite the controversy, the book has climbed to the top of Amazon’s sales charts, indicating significant public interest. However, this has only fueled criticism from those who have accused the CNN host of cashing in on a cover-up he chose to ignore when politically convenient.
The release of Original Sin has reignited debates about media responsibility and the ethical obligations of journalists. The book’s revelations suggest that key figures in the administration and Biden’s family, referred to as “the Politburo,” created an insular environment to protect Biden from criticism and dissent, sidelining those who questioned his fitness for office.
