President Joe Biden, 79, fell off his bicycle Saturday while vacationing at a Delaware beach. The spill renewed credible fears about his ability to hang on until 2024.
After this tumble, Biden faced ridicule from the conservative media… but went unnoticed by more mainstream outlets. That didn’t sit well with one of Fox News’ biggest stars, who called out the administration and their media allies on Monday.
“The network Sunday news didn’t even show the leader of the free word going splat on the pavement,” Fox News host Jesse Watters said on air Monday.
Watters called for U.S. presidents to demonstrate a level of energy appropriate for the demanding job.
“Ronald Reagan was vigorous for his age. He could ride a horse like no one’s business,” Watters said. “Slick Willie didn’t just play the sax. He liked to throw on a sweatsuit and jog all around town. It was a secret service nightmare, but hey at least he wasn’t fooling around with the interns.”
Watters also aired footage of former President George W. Bush, a marathon runner, throwing the first pitch at Yankee Stadium. He also spoke about Barack Obama, who became president in his 40s.
According to the Fox News host, Biden isn’t living up to these past examples.
“We’ve seen Joe trip several times while walking up the stairs to Air Force One, and that’s just what we’ve seen on video,” Watters said. “Joe was on yet another vacation in Delaware, when he forgot how to do the one thing you’re not supposed to forget, which is ride a bike.”
Watch the video here —
Biden fell off his bike while stationary this morning pic.twitter.com/ZNh1wHlGI6
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) June 18, 2022
Biden on Saturday's bike accident: "I'm feeling great… I was getting off the bike, it got stuck on the right side. I fell, in case you didn't notice." pic.twitter.com/wtyhSo71uy
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) June 20, 2022
Watters took issue with press for failing to investigate Biden’s fall. In particular, he chided CNN for repeating the White House press release about the incident without demanding any medical records — a practice known as “reporting by press release.”
“Why are reporters just writing down what politicians tell them and calling it fact?” Watters asked. “Has Biden been evaluated by a doctor?”
In the past, presidents of both parties have faced the media’s ridicule for acts of physical clumsiness. For example, Gerald Ford was recurringly mocked on Saturday Night Live for tripping at the end of a speech.
Watters accused CNN of holding Biden to a lower standard than past presidents. During the 2020 campaign, Biden rode his bike on video, and CNN used the video to dismiss concerns about Biden’s health. Around the same time, Trump was caught slowly walking down a ramp, and CNN stoked health fears.
Some commentators remain skeptical of Watters’ argument.
Earlier this month, The New York Times columnist Ezra Klein pointed out that any reporter would receive a Pulitzer Prize for documenting a president’s health condition. In Klein’s view, the liberal media like shilling for Biden, but they like their own status even more. Sure enough, even the Times reported on Hillary Clinton’s medical records, acknowledging her history of concussions and blood clots.
Still, Watters is right to voice concerns about the fragile state of our 79-year-old president.
Biden, at his advanced age, could suffer a health scare or lose a loved one before the 2024 campaign… and that could damage the stability of our nation.
So why is the mainstream media largely ignoring the issue?
Watch the full video here —
The Horn editorial team