CNN host Jake Tapper raised doubts about the Biden campaign's assertion that the president possesses greater stamina than actor George Clooney, in response to the latter's critical op-ed calling for Biden to withdraw from the race.
Amidst growing scrutiny over President Biden's physical and mental fitness, CNN host Jake Tapper has questioned the validity of the Biden campaign's claim that the president enjoys better stamina than actor George Clooney. This comes after Clooney's scathing New York Times op-ed, in which he expressed concerns about Biden's declining cognitive abilities and urged him to step down from the race.
According to CNN White House correspondent Kayla Tausche, a Biden campaign official alleged that it was Clooney, not the president, who lacked stamina. The official pointed to Clooney's departure from a recent Hollywood fundraiser for Biden three hours before the president left as evidence of this.
Biden Campaign's 'Stamina' Claim Questioned After George Clooney's Op-Ed
However, Tapper expressed skepticism about this response, asking, "What does that mean, George Clooney left three hours earlier? What's the point?" Tausche responded that the implication was that Biden's stamina surpassed Clooney's and that Clooney did not witness the entire event.
This response raised eyebrows, considering that the fundraiser in question was the site of a now-viral video showing former President Barack Obama guiding Biden off the stage by the wrist. At the time, the White House and several media outlets dismissed the clip as a "cheap fake."
Biden Campaign's 'Stamina' Claim Questioned After George Clooney's Op-Ed
Clooney's op-ed adds to the chorus of criticism from Hollywood elites and major donors who have voiced their concerns about Biden's fitness to serve. Members of Biden's own party, political allies, and liberal media figures have also pressured him to withdraw from the race, warning that he lacks the stamina to defeat former President Donald Trump.
The Biden campaign's attempt to dismiss Clooney's criticism as a matter of stamina has been met with skepticism and derision. Some observers have questioned the campaign's judgment in engaging in such a petty attack on the actor.
Biden Campaign's 'Stamina' Claim Questioned After George Clooney's Op-Ed
Meanwhile, Biden continues to face mounting pressure to address concerns about his physical and mental fitness. As the election draws closer, the issue of his stamina is likely to remain a major topic of debate.
