The New York Times, which President Donald Trump has criticized for its coverage of his physical condition, stated on Wednesday that it would not be discouraged by “false and inflammatory language” that misrepresents the function of an independent press.
TL;DR
- The New York Times will not be deterred by President Trump's "false and inflammatory language" regarding its reporting.
- Trump called The Times' coverage of his health "seditious" and "treasonous," labeling them "Enemies of the People."
- The Times has published articles analyzing Trump's public appearances and suggesting signs of aging and fatigue.
- Trump denies slowing down, stating he is history's hardest-working president and aced cognitive tests.
The commander-in-chief had shared on his Truth Social account his conviction that it was “seditious, perhaps even treasonous” for The Times and various other news organizations to produce “FAKE” coverage concerning his health.
“They are true Enemies of the People, and we should do something about it,” Trump wrote.
The 79-year-old commander-in-chief declined to provide details, but the publication has published several articles concerning his well-being over the past few weeks. In a piece dated November 25th, titled “Shorter Days, Signs of Fatigue: Trump Faces Realities of Aging in Office,”, journalists analyzed Trump’s public engagements and travel itineraries, determining that the public was observing him less frequently than before.
A story on Dec. 2, accompanied by a video, said that Trump “appeared to be fighting sleep” during a Cabinet meeting that day.
Trump says he hasn’t slowed down
Columnist Frank Bruni addressed these accounts in a December 8th editorial titled “Trump’s Approval Ratings Have Declined. So Has His Vigor.” Bruni stated that Americans “might want to brace ourselves for some presidential deja vu. He’s starting to give President Joe Biden vibes.” Biden, who was in his early eighties, dropped out of the 2024 race for the presidency following a calamitous debate with Trump that sparked concerns regarding the then-sitting president's capability for the role.
Trump, in his post, said he was history’s hardest-working president with a lengthy list of accomplishments. He said he went out of his way to do “long, thorough and very boring” medical examinations, including three cognitive tests that he “ACED.”
“The New York Times, and some others, like to pretend that I am ‘slowing up,’ and maybe not as sharp as I once was, or am in poor physical health, knowing that it is not true,” the Republican president said.
The well-being of U.S. Presidents has historically been a sensitive and occasionally contentious subject involving the Executive Mansion and the journalists who report on it — ranging from Grover Cleveland's concealed tumor operation to Woodrow Wilson's incapacitating stroke, Franklin D. Roosevelt's polio, and Dwight D. Eisenhower's cardiac event. Trump has often questioned the mental acuity of his predecessor, Biden.
Trump has fought back against some reports
Trump presently has a $15 billion defamation lawsuit ongoing actions against the Times. In the lawsuit, initiated in September, Trump named four Times reporters concerning three pieces that covered his financial dealings. He has likewise been engaged in legal disputes concerning The Associated Press and CBS News, in addition to others.
Nicole Taylor, a representative for The New York Times, stated that the publication's coverage of Trump's well-being is extensively documented, relying on discussions with individuals familiar with the president and with medical professionals.
“Americans deserve in-depth reporting and regular updates about the health of the leaders they elect,” Taylor said. “Mr. Trump welcomed our reporting on the age and fitness of his predecessors; we’re applying the same journalistic scrutiny to his vitality.”
Taylor said that “we won’t be deterred by false and inflammatory language that distorts the role of a free press.”
