How President Biden’s Age Impacts Media Coverage
As the White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre faced a barrage of questions regarding a viral video insinuating that President Joe Biden froze onstage during a recent campaign fundraiser with former President Barack Obama. The incident was just the tip of the iceberg as the Biden administration had been under fire from various sources casting doubts on his physical and cognitive abilities.
A 3,000-word article from The Wall Street Journal claimed Biden appeared “slower” and had both good and bad moments, relying solely on the testimonies of Republicans in Congress. This piece was then rehashed by the Sinclair Broadcast Group, sparking further controversy. Meanwhile, deepfake videos circulating online depicted Biden freezing in front of world leaders at the G7 Summit, adding fuel to the fire.
Despite the attacks, Jean-Pierre emphasized the friendship and camaraderie between President Obama and President Biden, downplaying the speculations. However, the onslaught of accusations and doubts about Biden’s fitness continued to grow, especially from right-wing media outlets like Fox, New York Post, and Sinclair.
The disinformation campaign aimed at portraying Biden as old and feeble contrasted with the leniency shown towards former President Trump, who faced minimal scrutiny over his cognitive and physical abilities. This biased treatment was evident in polling results showing that more Americans considered Biden too old to serve another term compared to Trump.
Although right-wing agitators were largely driving the narrative surrounding Biden’s age, the administration needed to be better prepared to address inevitable criticisms. As Biden stood stoic at a Juneteenth concert, Jean-Pierre dismissed concerns about his lack of dancing as trivial.
Amid growing concerns from senior Democrats about Biden’s age, the president remained confident in his reelection prospects, attributing it to voter priorities on democracy and character. However, questions arose about the risks of entrusting the fate of the republic to an octogenarian.
It is crucial for the mainstream press to engage in a more serious and balanced discussion about Biden’s age, focusing on health records and the implications of gerontocracies. Encouraging more interviews with Biden could help address uncertainties and provide transparency about his capabilities.
Ultimately, the dominance of right-wing influences in shaping the discourse on Biden’s age poses a threat not only to the president and his supporters but to all voters concerned about the future of the country. By allowing these forces to dictate the narrative, the broader implications for democracy and governance are at stake.
