Ex-CNN pundit apologizes for ignoring Biden’s mental decline: ‘I should have pushed harder’

The former CNN analyst offered to allay concerns about President Biden’s mental decline.

Chris Cilizza, who served as CNN’s senior editor before leaving the network in 2022, has been outspoken about his reluctance to tell reporters about Biden’s performance following two negative reports this week from the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. that sheds light on the president’s diminished status.

“As a journalist, I have to confess,” Cillizza began “apologising” on his YouTube channel on Thursday. “I should have gone ahead earlier to get more information about Joe Biden’s mental and physical health and any signs of decline.”

BIDEN ADMIN OFFICIALS HEARD OF STAMINA PROBLEMS IN PRESIDENT’S FIRST FEW MONTHS IN OFFICE: REPORT

Cillizza acknowledged how Republicans would “always target me” during his time on CNN, asking him why he didn’t talk about Biden’s decline and how he would “destroy them” as he saw no “evidence” of the president’s decline.

And not only did he admit that he took the White House’s word for it, he admitted that he felt guilty for “shaming” Biden for years.

“The White House and people close to Joe Biden were of the opinion that to raise anything — to ask the question about whether he was physically, mentally or both, was offensive. ‘How can you do it? It’s embarrassing for years.’ And I think that affected me on some level,” Cillizza said. “Because when I asked the question from time to time … I didn’t really force it, to be honest. Now, when I left CNN and it dawned on me a little bit about Biden’s age, I think I was always writing and talking about how I wasn’t sure what this guy was going to do and obviously, after the June 27 debate, everybody, including me, was writing and talking about it.

The former CNN anchor went on to read excerpts from the Journal’s report about Biden’s limited cooperation with his cabinet members and Democratic lawmakers, as well as The Times’ assertion that it is “hard to imagine” Biden staying in office for another four years.

WHERE IS BIDEN? DUCK PRESIDENT CALLS FOR ‘QUIET SILENCE’ AMID GOVERNMENT’S BIG FUND FIGHT.

President Joe Biden is seen resting his eyes during a summit with African leaders in Lobito, Angola, on December 4, 2024. (Reuters)

“Maybe I should have been more specific about Biden’s age because, looking back, it’s clear that people close to him knew that he had good days and bad days. On June 27, the debate was clearly bad. But if the bad day was that bad, it’s as bad as he did in that category of the debate, the fact that he had been president without many questions being asked about his physical and mental decline, and I will add the fact that he continued to be president in June 27 until January 20, 2025, I think it’s about asking the question, when did the people around him know, what did they know, and why didn’t they share?” Cillizza said.

“I know reporters have asked, and I’m telling you, I know from my own experience, there was a scandal that went into that. People close to Biden worked to hurt you when you asked if he was ready to go to this party. The job of being president, and being president and being president for another four years. … And they did a very good job, at least until they couldn’t hide it anymore,” he continued. “But journalists, I put myself here, we should have pushed. I should have- I should have allowed the shame campaign to make you feel bad for asking this question to get to me because now it’s clear from both the Wall Street Journal. and a piece in the New York Times that there was a real meltdown… and a big meltdown for Joe Biden, and that it was managed by the people around him. and keeping him kind of bunked in.”

“And so I think it’s a lesson that we have to learn going forward. Because again, Donald Trump will be the oldest person to ever hold office if he serves four years, and I’m going to miss that. Because again, asking those questions is not something to do with asking those questions is a journalistic thing, and I had to push harder and less willing to accept the campaign of ‘Nah, you’re good added.

Cillizza said he loved the White House’s “campaign of shame” every time he brought up the issue of Biden’s sanity. (William B. Plowman/NBC/NBC Newswire/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST NEWS IN MEDIA AND CULTURE

Some critics took aim at Cillizza’s delayed apology. One of them, conservative podcast host Meghan McCain, scrutinized her integrity, using her late father’s past comments, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., during his 2008 presidency.

“When I say this is too late, I mean this is too late,” McCain said of X. “There was no bigger and more troubling ‘McCain truther’ about my father’s age when he ran in 2008 (when he was 71 years old) than Chris didn’t care about Biden because he’s a criminal.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM