At the recent White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Axios reporter Alex Thompson made headlines by calling out the media for not adequately covering President Biden’s mental decline. During his acceptance speech for the Aldo Beckman Award for Overall Excellence in White House Coverage, Thompson highlighted the responsibility journalists have to report on the health of public figures, especially those in high office.
Thompson pointed out that the press, including himself, had overlooked significant aspects of Biden’s cognitive health. He stated, "Being truth tellers also means telling the truth about ourselves. We, myself included, missed a lot of this story." His remarks were made in front of an audience filled with journalists from major news outlets, emphasizing the need for accountability within the media.
The conversation around Biden’s health gained traction following a notably poor debate performance against former President Donald Trump. Many viewers expressed concern over Biden’s rambling answers and unclear speech during that event, which eventually led to his withdrawal from the race. In his speech, Thompson admitted that the media’s failure to scrutinize Biden’s health contributed to a growing distrust among the public.
Thompson further noted that the lack of rigorous reporting on Biden’s condition has hurt the media’s credibility. He remarked, "Some people trust us less because of it. We bear some responsibility for faith in the media being at such lows." He emphasized that acknowledging mistakes is crucial to rebuilding trust, saying, "We should have done better."
The discussion of media accountability is timely, as it reflects broader concerns about how news organizations cover significant stories. Earlier this year, NPR’s CEO acknowledged that the organization mishandled its coverage of the Hunter Biden laptop story during the 2020 election, admitting it was a mistake not to cover it more aggressively.
Thompson’s comments come as a reminder of the importance of thorough journalism, especially regarding the health of leaders. As public trust in the media continues to wane—only 31% of Americans reported having confidence in the media to report news accurately—reporters are reminded of their crucial role in ensuring transparency and accountability in government.