Dozens of influential media figures were asked what they got wrong in 2024 for a retrospective report, and several of the respondents admitted to eating crow over President Biden's mental acuity.
"While last year’s list varied, one of 2024’s most consequential news events, Joe Biden’s failure on the debate stage and subsequent decision to leave the presidential race, was clearly top of mind for many of our respondents this year," Semafor's Max Tani wrote.
Throughout the 2024 presidential race, many media pundits and commentators ran to Biden’s defense when there was speculation about his mental decline, including after Special Counsel Robert Hur's report about him being well-meaning but forgetful, viral videos of him looking confused, and a Wall Street Journal report about his faltering behind-the-scenes demeanor.
