Republican leaders, conservative commentators, and others are unleashing a torrent of criticism following CNN anchor Jake Tapper’s admission that the White House deceived the public about President Joe Biden’s physical and cognitive deterioration — a deception many say was obvious and intentionally suppressed for political gain.
On Tuesday, CNN host Jake Tapper, citing findings from his forthcoming book, revealed that aides, staff, and even Cabinet members were misled about the extent of President Joe Biden’s decline — a revelation that many say confirms what they’ve warned about for years.
Blame the "aides," not the journalists... https://t.co/prWJaWhzUJ via @BreitbartNews
— Joel Pollak (@joelpollak) May 13, 2025
The reaction was swift and scathing.
Lawmakers and commentators accused the Biden administration and its media allies of orchestrating a multi-year deception campaign to protect a failing presidency — at the expense of transparency, accountability, and national trust.
‘You didn’t need a medical degree to know’
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) framed the situation bluntly, calling it a “cover-up for the history books.”
“You didn’t need a medical degree to know Joe Biden’s health was declining,” he stated. “Democrats aimed to bury the truth. The media handed them the shovel.”
You didn’t need a medical degree to know Joe Biden’s health was declining.
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) May 13, 2025
Democrats aimed to bury the truth. The media handed them the shovel.
A cover-up for the history books. https://t.co/RMdLsk7iev
The Committee’s official account posted archived video and transcripts of journalists and officials insisting Biden was “sharp,” adding, “Democrats and Legacy Media LIED… Now they act like the COVER-UP never happened.”
Democrats and Legacy Media LIED, saying Biden was “fine” and “sharp.”
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) May 13, 2025
Now they act like the COVER-UP never happened.
Here’s what they don’t want you to remember. 👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/wmOYMBKK8K
“Raise your hand if you knew the Biden admin spent four years lying to our faces,” wrote Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL).
Raise your hand if you knew the Biden admin spent four years lying to our faces.
— Coach Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) May 13, 2025
🙋♂️ https://t.co/9Mse7Q50NG
‘It was so much worse than everyone thought’
Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) captured the mood of betrayal, stating, “It was so much worse than everyone thought. And we thought it was pretty bad.”
It was so much worse than everyone thought.
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) May 13, 2025
And we thought it was pretty bad. pic.twitter.com/FARXj7yiHl
Many pointed to the fact that those charged with informing the public either looked the other way or actively participated in misleading the nation.
“Never forget how the media treated anyone who suggested Biden’s physical and mental condition might be declining. Not well,” Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) wrote, pointing to the treatment of skeptics.
Never forget how the media treated anyone who suggested Biden’s physical and mental condition might be declining
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) May 13, 2025
Not well https://t.co/HWcPbvSi2Y
“The media ignored it. Dr. Kevin O’Connor covered it up. Biden’s White House staff outright lied about it,” wrote former Trump senior adviser Jason Miller, referencing a report that Biden’s team discussed delaying wheelchair use until after the 2024 election.
The media ignored it.
— Jason Miller (@JasonMiller) May 13, 2025
Dr. Kevin O’Connor covered it up.
Biden’s WH staff outright lied about it. ⏬
“1 big thing: Exclusive — Biden aides discussed wheelchair” https://t.co/axene8nsEf #axiosam
‘Time for Congressional oversight?’
Tapper’s reporting claimed even members of Biden’s own Cabinet were kept in the dark about the president’s condition, leading to officials such as Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis to ask if the 25th Amendment should have been invoked, and why unelected staffers were effectively running the Executive Branch while hiding the truth.
“Should Congress hold hearings on Biden’s cognition cover-up?” he asked. “A sitting President who couldn’t function. Unelected staff running the White House and working to hide the truth. A Cabinet derelict in its duty of exercising the 25th Amendment. Time for Congressional oversight?”
Should Congress hold hearings on Biden’s cognition coverup?
— Jimmy Patronis (@JimmyPatronis) May 13, 2025
A sitting President who couldn’t function.
Unelected staff running the White House and working to hide the truth.
A Cabinet derelict in its duty of exercising the 25th Amendment.
Time for Congressional oversight?
Others focused on the consequences abroad, with political analyst Scott Jennings pointing to geopolitical fallout.
“China saw Joe Biden as so weak, they made the decision to simply ignore him on trade… Meanwhile, President Trump just dragged them to the table… All we needed was a new President,” he wrote.
China saw Joe Biden as so weak, they made the decision to simply ignore him on trade. They admitted this!
— Scott Jennings (@ScottJenningsKY) May 13, 2025
Meanwhile, President Trump just dragged them to the table and is on the brink of the biggest trade win in a generation.
Turns out, all we needed was a new President. pic.twitter.com/E0vGOSGOLz
At home, Biden’s cognitive decline reportedly became so pronounced that he failed to recognize Hollywood actor George Clooney during a 2023 fundraiser. As relayed by writer Richard Hanania, one attendee described the scene as “like watching someone who was not alive.”
Biden did not recognize George Clooney (!) during their fundraiser last summer. One Hollywood VIP who was there: “It was like watching someone who was not alive.” pic.twitter.com/cwuuoVUIft
— Richard Hanania (@RichardHanania) May 13, 2025
Former Democratic National Committee (DNC) fundraiser Evan Barker compared the episode to past internal DNC power plays.
“[The] DNC is trying to coup David Hogg and Malcolm Kenyatta the same way they did Bernie, Biden, etc… They just can’t let the will of the people be reflected,” he stated.
“It really is the definition of insanity,” she added.
DNC is trying to coup David Hogg and Malcom Kenyatta the same way they did Bernie, Biden, etc.
— Evan Barker (@evanwch) May 13, 2025
No matter what they just can't let the will of the people be reflected, they just can't put up with dissenting voices
It really is the definition of insanity
Author and columnist Batya Ungar-Sargon emphasized the opportunism of Biden’s backers.
“The same people who lied about Biden for as long as it was politically expedient, then knifed him and ritually humiliated him when he could no longer give them the power they crave now want kudos for this fake reckoning so they can start amassing power again,” she wrote. “It’s repulsive.”
The same people who lied about Biden for as long as it was politically expedient, then knifed him and ritually humiliated him when he could no longer give them the power they crave now want kudos for this fake reckoning so they can start amassing power again. It's repulsive. https://t.co/kGQNWKRHQF
— Batya Ungar-Sargon (@bungarsargon) May 13, 2025
‘The Biden era lies and betrayals continue to mount’
Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk explained that “for years we were told Biden was on the top of his game, hadn’t lost a step! Now we find out that the White House physician said he would need to literally be put in a wheelchair if he fell one more time.”
“The Biden era lies and betrayals continue to mount,” he added.
For years we were told Biden was on the top of his game, hadn’t lost a step! Now we find out that the White House physician said he would need to literally be put in a wheelchair if he fell one more time. The Biden era lies and betrayals continue to mount. pic.twitter.com/tTywKkwsic
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) May 13, 2025
Political strategist Chris LaCivita posted sarcastically, “Nothing to see here…” alongside the wheelchair revelations, while Sean Spicer quipped, “If you need to read a book to know Biden was declining then I have a bridge to sell you.”
Nothing to see here ….Biden aides discussed requiring a wheelchair if re-elected: new book https://t.co/CpoD4GvnLR
— Chris LaCivita (@ChrisLaCivita) May 13, 2025
Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) didn’t mince words. posting, “Wild how the first true statements from the Biden Administration are about how they lied to the American people. Every one of these people still hold power in D.C. and are an enemy of truth.”
Wild how the first true statements from the Biden Administration are about how they lied to the American people.
— Rep. Mike Collins (@RepMikeCollins) May 13, 2025
Every one of these people still hold power in D.C. and are an enemy of truth. pic.twitter.com/Kd8PDHAnUB
Some described the sudden reversal by corporate media outlets as a strategy to preserve credibility now that the truth is undeniable.
According to The Federalist’s Sean Davis, this isn’t about Biden anymore.
“They’re not actually out for Biden. This is a reputation rescue operation for corrupt corporate media… so they can gaslight everyone down the road by claiming they were the ones who exposed Biden’s obvious mental issues,” he noted.
They’re not actually out for Biden.
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) May 13, 2025
This is a reputation rescue operation for corrupt corporate media. They’re only doing this now, after covering it up for years, because there’s no political cost. And to superficially absolve themselves of blame for being co-conspirators in… https://t.co/QyD1hFHL11
Jesse Kelly, radio host and former Marine, urged Americans not to be fooled.
“Do NOT now accept a plea deal from them that they were ‘fooled’ or ‘lied to.’ Cause that’s exactly what that is. A plea deal,” he wrote.
The media covered up Joe Biden’s decline and because of that, we had communist savages around Biden putting this country to the torch for four years.
— Jesse Kelly (@JesseKellyDC) May 13, 2025
Do NOT now accept a plea deal from them that they were “fooled” or “lied to.”
Cause that’s exactly what that is. A plea deal.
‘The worst cover-up in American political history’
Long-time conservative commentator Mark Levin echoed the charge.
“Any so-called journalist who authored a book about the decline of Biden, as if they were not part of the worst cover-up in American political history, should be condemned and shamed,” he stated.
Any so-called journalist who authored a book about the decline of Biden, as if they were not part of the worst coverup in American political history, should be condemned and shamed. If Biden had not publicly humiliated himself in the debate with President Trump, the entire DC…
— Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) May 13, 2025
The matter comes as House Republicans signal interest in oversight hearings, with scrutiny growing over the roles of Biden’s staff, physician, and the press. Fallout from the revelations remains ongoing.
Joshua Klein is a reporter for Breitbart News. Email him at