The New York Times defended a recent story that examined Donald Trump‘s reduced public schedule and “signs of fatigue,” as the president has claimed that the outlet was being “seditious, perhaps even treasonous” in their reporting on him.”
On Tuesday evening, Trump poste a lengthy defense of his stamina and broadside at the Times, writing that the media “like to pretend that I am ‘slowing up,’ am maybe not as sharp as I once was, or am in poor physical health, knowing that it is not true, and knowing that I work very hard, probably harder than I have ever worked before. I will know when I am ‘slowing up,’ but it’s not now! After all of the work I have done with Medical Exams, Cognitive Exams, and everything else, I actually believe it’s seditious, perhaps even treasonous, for The New York Times, and others, to consistently do FAKE reports in order to libel and demean ‘THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.’ They are true Enemies of the People, and we should do something about it.”
The Times appeared to hit a trip wire with Trump with its Nov. 25 story, which reported that Trump, 79, “has fewer public events on his schedule and is traveling domestically much less than he did by this point during his first year in office, in 2017, although he is taking more foreign trips. He also keeps a shorter public schedule than he used to. Most of his public appearances fall between noon and 5 p.m., on average.”
The Times also noted an Oval Office appearance where his “eyelids drooped until his eyes were almost closed, and he appeared to doze on and off for several seconds.” Since then, journalists have pointed out moments when Trump’s eyelids appeared to be closed as cabinet members spoke at a lengthy meeting.
Nicole Taylor, a spokesperson for the Times, said in a statement, “Americans deserve in-depth reporting about the health of the leaders they elect. Mr. Trump welcomed our reporting on the age and fitness of his predecessors; we’re applying the same journalistic scrutiny to his vitality. Our reporting is heavily sourced, based on interviews with people close to the president and with medical experts. We won’t be deterred by false and inflammatory language that distorts the role of a free press.”
Trump made Joe Biden‘s age a central focus of his 2024 campaign for reelection, branding his rival “sleepy Joe.” While reporters covered Biden’s age issue extensively, there has been plenty of consternation among journalists that they took his administration’s assurances at face value. Biden’s feebleness was on full display at the CNN presidential debate, alarming Democrats and leading to his decision to exit the race weeks later.
White House reporters have since been under some pressure to apply the same scrutiny to Trump’s aging that they did to his predecessor. Last November, Trump became the oldest person ever elected to the presidency.
Trump’s post from Tuesday: