When Kamala Harris realized that her efforts to win over the public were failing, she pivoted to the most desperate narrative yet of her short campaign: Donald Trump is exhausted and senile. I remember when Democrats were making similar claims about Trump's physical and mental health during his presidency. Those attacks fell flat then and fell flat again when Joe Biden's campaign tried the same thing. The public just isn't buying it. And, once again, it's not just Trump's political opponent trying to push this narrative; the mainstream media is trying it again too.
"If he wins next month’s election, Donald Trump would be the oldest person in U.S. history to be elected president," warned the Associated Press last week. "Yet the 78-year-old Republican nominee refuses to disclose new details about his physical or mental well-being, breaking decades of precedent."
The AP report tries to raise concerns about Trump’s health, but it’s all based on speculation. Despite surviving an assassination attempt, Trump’s doctors, including former White House physician Ronny Jackson, have clearly stated he’s in excellent health, with normal cardiovascular tests and a reduction in weight. The AP report attempts to dismiss Jackson's assessment of Trump's health, despite the fact he previously served as Obama's White House physician, and imply that Jackson can't be trusted.
This is quite amusing when you remember that in 2023, White House Physician Kevin O'Connor infamously described Biden as a "healthy, vigorous 80-year-old male who is fit to successfully execute the duties of the presidency." While many of us on the right raised serious questions about a cover-up of Biden's health issues, the mainstream media ate it up, calling the report proof that concerns about Biden's age were misguided. The mainstream media didn't even blink when in his February 2024 health report, Biden was given "an extremely detailed neurologic exam," and O'Connor claimed he found nothing "consistent with any cerebellar or other central neurological disorder, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, or ascending lateral sclerosis, nor are there any signs of cervical myelopathy."
Heck, here's how the Associated Press covered Biden mere months ago.
"President Joe Biden’s conduct behind closed doors, in the Oval Office, on Air Force One and in meetings around the world is described in the same dual way by those who regularly see him in action," the report began. "He is often sharp and focused. But he also has moments, particularly later in the evening, when his thoughts seem jumbled and he trails off mid-sentence or seems confused. Sometimes he doesn’t grasp the finer points of policy details. He occasionally forgets people’s names, stares blankly and moves slowly around the room."
Related: After Questioning Trump's Stamina, Kamala Harris Leaves Her Own Rally Early
I should point out that this report came after his debate with Donald Trump. How did they explain his disastrous performance? Oh, he was just "off his game."
Biden’s occasional struggles with focus may not be unusual for someone his age. But at 81 years old and seeking another four years in the White House, the moments when he’s off his game have taken on a fresh resonance following his disastrous debate performance against Republican Donald Trump. The president appeared pale, gave nonsensical answers, stared blankly and lost his train of thought.
The Harris-Walz campaign and the media know that Trump is just fine, but they're pushing this narrative anyway because Kamala Harris appears to be dropping in the polls and they have nothing else in their arsenal.
