On December 9th, President Trump criticized The New York Times for what he deemed as misleading reports regarding his health. He accused the publication of being “incendiary” in its coverage. Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to address the issue. He stated that The New York Times, along with other media outlets, falsely claimed that he was “slowing down” or not as sharp as before, alluding to potential health issues. Trump vehemently denied these claims, asserting that he is working harder than ever.
According to Trump, he is fully aware of his physical condition and emphasized that he is not slowing down at the moment. He mentioned undergoing various medical evaluations and cognitive tests, which gave him the confidence to debunk the allegations made by The New York Times and other media outlets. He condemned them for continuously publishing false reports to defame and undermine the position of the President of the United States, labeling their behavior as incendiary and even possibly treasonous.
The New York Times released an article on Monday titled “Trump’s Approval Ratings Have Declined. So Has His Vigor,” where the author, Frank Bruni, compared Trump to former President Biden, who faced pressure within the Democratic Party due to age-related issues and eventually withdrew from seeking re-election.
In late November, The New York Times also published an analysis of Trump’s schedule, noting a decrease in public appearances and domestic travel compared to his first term. The report even claimed that Trump appeared to have dozed off during an event held in the Oval Office.
Nicole Taylor, a spokesperson for The New York Times, responded to these accusations on December 10th, stating that they were conducting a similar scrutiny of Trump’s energy levels as he had welcomed reports on the health and age of his predecessors.
Trump has been vocal in his criticism of The New York Times, accusing them of spreading false information. In September of this year, he filed a defamation lawsuit against the publication, alleging that they had been reporting inaccurately on him, his family, and his political and business endeavors, seeking $15 billion in damages.
(This article contains information from a report by The Hill.)