Former NBC host Chuck Todd has dismissed claims that the mainstream media overlooked former President Joe Biden’s cognitive decline, labeling it a narrative fabricated by right-wing groups to undermine journalism.
In a conversation with former CNN commentator Chris Cillizza on his Substack on Monday, April 28, 2025, Todd stated that any perceived cover-up of Biden’s cognitive state should be attributed to the Democratic Party’s leadership and not journalists.
The ex-“Meet the Press” host acknowledged that some MSNBC and CNN pundits “absolutely carried water” for Biden but differentiated them from what he considers true journalists. Todd argued that these commentators were former strategists rather than genuine press members.
Todd’s remarks follow Axios reporter Alex Thompson’s criticism of media colleagues at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C., for what he described as insufficient coverage of Biden’s cognitive concerns. Thompson, co-authoring a book on the topic with CNN’s Jake Tapper, used his acceptance speech to highlight what he views as a significant journalistic shortcoming.
Defending the media, Todd cited examples of substantive coverage of Biden’s condition during his presidency. He referenced Washington Post columnist David Ignatius, who wrote a column in October 2023 questioning Biden’s suitability for a second term.
Todd mentioned his support for Democratic presidential candidate Dean Phillips during the primaries because Phillips was running a campaign that “made a lot of sense” regarding Biden’s fitness issues.
The experienced broadcaster highlighted a difference between media coverage of Biden’s decline and what he considers a true media failure: reporting on weapons of mass destruction under the Bush administration. Todd asserted that the current situation does not represent a similar institutional failure of journalism.
“This was not that failure,” Todd said. He described current media criticism as “virtue signaling” and an attempt to create discord among news organizations, deflecting blame from the Democratic Party leadership.
Todd specifically identified Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, former First Lady Jill Biden, former President Biden himself, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and Democratic members of Congress as those responsible for what he termed a “disaster.”
“There were water carriers, but they’re not real journalists!” Todd exclaimed, particularly mentioning former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, now an MSNBC commentator.
This discussion over media coverage arises as several journalists are set to release books about Biden’s cognitive decline and alleged concealment efforts. The controversy intensified after Biden withdrew from the 2024 presidential race, leading to increased scrutiny of how his condition was reported during his tenure.
In a recent appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored, Todd provided a somewhat contradictory view, acknowledging that mainstream media were hesitant to directly address questions about Biden’s mental acuity during the 2024 presidential campaign. Todd told Morgan that journalists were reluctant to push harder on Biden’s age out of concern that doing so would benefit then-presidential candidate Donald Trump.
Todd explained that the media approached the subject indirectly. He told Morgan they covered Biden’s decline by noting behaviors like the president using back staircases instead of front staircases and avoiding interviews, but stopped short of drawing explicit conclusions about his fitness.
“Look, we were subtle,” Todd said to Morgan. He admitted there was reluctance among mainstream journalists to directly question Biden’s capabilities.
Meanwhile, former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany has called for a thorough investigation into what she describes as a cover-up of Biden’s decline. Appearing on “Jesse Watters Primetime,” McEnany argued that such an investigation needs to be pursued “fervently” over the next four years.
Public trust in media has fallen to a five-decade low according to recent polling, with the Biden coverage controversy potentially exacerbating this trend. Multiple journalists have acknowledged missing or downplaying signs of Biden’s cognitive issues during his presidency.
The debate highlights ongoing tensions between the press, political parties, and the public regarding expectations of journalistic accountability and transparency in covering high-profile political figures. As books and firsthand accounts continue to emerge about the Biden presidency, the question of whether the media adequately informed the public about his condition remains contentious.
