Chris Cillizza Becomes Exasperated When Viewer Suggests Focus On Biden Is Just ‘Republicans Deflecting’

NewsNation political contributor Chris Cillizza on Friday became exasperated with a viewer who suggested that renewed focus on former President Joe Biden was merely a Republican deflection effort.

Biden’s decline and its cover-up have been in the news ahead of the official release of a book on the topic titled “Original Sin” by CNN anchor Jake Tapper and Axios reporter Alex Thompson. During Cillizza’s YouTube livestream, a viewer asked why people are “still talking about Biden,” answering his own question by saying the reason was that “Republicans [were] deflecting” — a premise Cillizza vehemently rejected. (RELATED: After Democratic Panic, Harris Lines Up Softball Interview Tour)

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“No! no! It’s not just Republicans deflecting. This guy was the president of the United States for four years and thought he could run and be president for four more years!” Cillizza exclaimed. “You can think Donald Trump is terrible and doing terrible things as president, but you can also think that this is a story worthy of covering — that there appears to me, at least, to have been an active cover-up from people close to Joe Biden about his condition.”

“From the media, from the public and even from people in the White House. Go read ‘Original Sin’ when it comes out on Tuesday. Trust me, this is not a Republican-created issue. Joe Biden should not have sought reelection. There were signs he was deteriorating as far back as late 2022,” he added, sighing.

Moreover, Biden recently sat down for two interviews, which have also kept his name in the news.

The former president claimed in a May 7 BBC interview it was difficult for him to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race because his one term in office was “so successful” and that he did not think dropping out earlier would have affected the outcome of the election.

Moreover, on “The View,” Biden faced a question on May 8 about the books reporting that he was in cognitive decline. He denied the allegations, but then rambled randomly and trailed off before former first lady Jill Biden had to step in to defend him.

Liberal columnist Al Hunt said on a Thursday episode of his podcast “Politics War Room” that Democrats should be telling Biden that his public appearances are harmful.

“Well, one thing they ought to say, and then I’ll say right now is, ‘Joe, go to Rehoboth in Wilmington. Get off of television. You are making a fool of yourself. You’re planning some kind of counter to this Tapper book,’” Hunt said. “‘That is the worst thing in the world because, you know what, you’re not up to it right now, Joe. You once were; you’re not now. Please just go and, you know, take comfort in your friends and your family and stay out of the limelight.’”

Certain members of Biden’s cabinet thought the former president was not dependable at 2 a.m. in an emergency by the last year of his term, CNN reported, based on “Original Sin.”

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