Lara Trump, the daughter-in-law of former President Donald Trump, has joined the growing list of critics targeting CNN host Jake Tapper after he announced his upcoming book on Joe Biden’s health.
Tapper’s new project, titled Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, has sparked controversy, particularly after Trump reminded the public of a tense moment between her and Tapper back in 2020.
Lara Trump Slams Tapper’s Hypocrisy Over Biden’s Health
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Lara Trump recalled a June 2024 exchange with Jake Tapper during which she had warned about Biden’s cognitive decline.
This moment occurred after Tapper had criticized her comments about Biden’s speech patterns, particularly his stutter.
Trump reminded followers that Tapper had accused her of mocking individuals with stutters, a claim she denied.
She added that Tapper had shut down the conversation when she tried to bring attention to Biden’s mental decline.
Trump Rehashes the 2020 Interview to Critique Tapper’s New Book
Trump’s re-share included a video of the 2020 interview where she discussed Biden’s struggles with speech.
In the clip, Trump remarked, “Joe, can ya get it out, let’s get the words out, Joe,” which Tapper quickly condemned as mocking.
Trump then clarified that she didn’t know Biden had a stutter, but noted that his cognitive issues were quite apparent.
Tapper dismissed her statement, accusing her of mocking Biden’s stutter and shutting her down before the interview could continue.
Public Backlash Grows as Tapper’s Book Is Announced
As soon as the book was announced, Tapper faced heavy criticism, particularly from those who accused him of complicity in covering up Biden’s cognitive decline while he was in office.
Critics flooded social media with posts accusing Tapper and CNN of participating in a public deception.
One comment on CNN’s post about the book release called out the network for being “complicit in the fraud.”
The Hypocrisy of a Media Insider Writing About the Cover-Up
Many commenters directed their ire toward Tapper, questioning whether he would address his role in the media’s failure to openly discuss Biden’s health during his campaign.
Some skeptics even joked about Tapper’s motivations for writing the book, suggesting that it was a “shameless attempt to deflect” from his own involvement in the cover-up.
One user sarcastically wondered, “If Biden had won, would this book still be published?”
Tapper’s Book Faces Hard Questions From Critics
Some social media users were more supportive, but still demanded that Tapper address his role in the situation.
One commenter wrote, “If the book includes the role @jaketapper himself played, critically, I’ll buy it.”
However, many others were unconvinced, feeling that Tapper was simply trying to cover his own tracks rather than offering a genuine critique of Biden’s health.
A Synopsis of Tapper’s Upcoming Book Sparks Debate
In a press release announcing the book, the publisher, Penguin, presented the book as a deeper look into Biden’s decision to run for re-election despite his deteriorating health.
The synopsis describes Biden’s determination to run as “shockingly narcissistic, self-delusional, and reckless,” framing it as a desperate gamble that ultimately failed.
The book suggests that Biden and his team were so confident in their ability to defeat Trump that they deceived themselves and the public about the president’s health.
Tapper Defends His Book and Explains His Motivation
Jake Tapper, in a statement about his book, cited a quote from Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison, saying, “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”
Tapper explained that his desire to understand what had happened during Biden’s presidency led to the creation of the book.
He expressed that he felt it was a story worth telling, given the events of the last few years.
Critics Are Demanding Accountability From Both Tapper and the Media
While Tapper stands behind his new project, many critics are calling for more accountability from both him and the media at large.
They argue that the media’s failure to address Biden’s health during the 2020 campaign had serious implications, and some feel that Tapper is now trying to distance himself from the very issue he helped obscure.
As the book release approaches, the debate around Biden’s health and the media’s role in handling it continues to divide public opinion.