CNN Panelists Question Trump’s Fitness, Scott Jennings Says Not So Fast [WATCH]

CNN senior political commentator Scott Jennings pushed back sharply Sunday after fellow panelists on “State of the Union” suggested that President Donald Trump is experiencing cognitive decline, arguing that such attacks ring hollow after years of Democratic and media efforts to downplay concerns about former President Joe Biden’s health.

The exchange followed a wave of corporate media coverage highlighting moments from Trump’s Friday speech in North Carolina, where he briefly went off topic from affordability issues to discuss personal anecdotes involving his wife’s lingerie drawer, furniture, and other unrelated subjects.

Several outlets framed the remarks as evidence of age-related decline.

During Sunday’s broadcast, CNN commentator Bakari Sellers and former Biden communications director Kate Bedingfield suggested Trump’s age was a factor.

Sellers explicitly compared Trump to what he described as an elderly relative, prompting an immediate response from Jennings.

“Like he’s extremely old, and he is burgeoning on senility, and we can see that. And the fact that we just went through a president who went through that, and Scott and Kristen, they can’t … They are not going to say anything without mentioning Joe Biden,” Sellers said.

Jennings interrupted, challenging the premise of the argument.

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“Are you really going to try this today?” Jennings said.

“Come on. Come on, Bakari. Unbelievable.”

Sellers continued his criticism, saying, “I mean, he’s talking about undergarments, panties. He’s talking about— it’s not a weave. That’s not what we’re seeing. We’re seeing somebody’s old uncle. I mean, let’s just call it what it is. Yes, yes, the American public saw Joe Biden get old and decrepit in the White House.”

Bakari Sellers: “I don’t know. I love my panelists that are here on this holiday season, but nobody acknowledged the fact that Donald Trump’s old. Like, he’s extremely old. And he is burgeoning on senility, and we can see that.”

Scott Jennings: “Are you really going to try this… pic.twitter.com/gGnOPONWS4

— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) December 22, 2025

Jennings’ response reflected broader criticism from conservatives who argue that Democrats and legacy media outlets lack credibility on the issue of presidential fitness after years of dismissing concerns about Biden’s physical and cognitive condition.

Before Biden’s widely criticized performance at the June 27, 2024 presidential debate, Democrats and major media organizations repeatedly brushed off questions about his mental acuity.

During that period, Biden appeared in public less frequently and suffered several highly publicized falls.

Those raising concerns were often dismissed as promoting a “right-wing conspiracy,” a label that persisted until the debate performance forced a shift in coverage.

Subsequent reporting has provided more detail about the extent of those concerns inside the White House. CNN anchor Jake Tapper and Axios reporter Alex Thompson detailed those accounts in their 2025 book, “Original Sin.”

The book includes statements from former White House aides, Democratic members of Congress, and others with direct knowledge of Biden’s condition.

According to the authors, Biden’s family and senior aides took steps to limit his public exposure and even restricted access from members of his own cabinet as he pursued reelection.

The book also recounts warnings from Biden’s longtime physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor. According to Axios reporting citing the book, O’Connor warned aides that Biden might need to be placed in a wheelchair following a fall in June 2023, when the president tripped over a sandbag at a public event.

Additional reporting has described incidents that raised alarms among Democratic donors and supporters.

Biden reportedly failed to recognize longtime friend George Clooney during a June 2024 fundraiser, an encounter that left the actor “shaken,” according to accounts included in the book.

Despite those revelations, some media outlets have recently turned renewed scrutiny toward Trump.

The New York Times published a report on Dec. 1 claiming that Trump has made fewer public appearances and appeared more tired compared to his first term in office.

The article was written by reporter Katie Rogers, who previously authored a March 2021 piece asserting that Biden fell while boarding Air Force One due to strong wind conditions.

Jennings’ pushback on CNN underscored ongoing tensions within political media coverage as comparisons between Trump and Biden continue to shape discussions about leadership, transparency, and credibility heading into future election cycles.