Former White House Press Secretary and MSNBC host Jen Psaki is under fire for comments questioning former President Donald Trump’s health following a holiday weekend when he made few public appearances. Psaki, who previously defended President Joe Biden against claims of cognitive decline, sparked outrage by suggesting that Trump was “hiding” from the public during the Labor Day weekend.
The controversy erupted as social media users speculated about Trump’s health, citing an empty public schedule and visible bruising on his hand as potential signs of a serious medical issue. Despite Trump’s subsequent appearance at his golf club in Virginia, the rumors persisted, leading to further scrutiny.
On Tuesday, Psaki opened her segment by addressing the “wave of online speculation about the president’s health and well-being.” She remarked, “Today, when he re-emerged from his absence for an event in the Oval Office, even my buddy from Fox News, Peter Doocy, couldn’t resist asking about it.” Trump responded to Doocy’s inquiry by stating he was unaware of any rumors and that he had been “very active over the weekend.”
Psaki navigated the conversation carefully, avoiding direct accusations but implying that Trump’s absence was unusual. “As I mentioned, Trump’s prolonged absence from the public eye sparked pretty widespread rumors, you probably saw them!” she noted. She pointed out the inconsistency in Trump’s statements about not hearing the rumors, remarking, “You really can’t make this stuff up sometimes.”
Critics quickly took to social media to express their disapproval of Psaki’s comments. Conservative activist Greg Price remarked on X, “Jen Psaki does an entire segment claiming that Donald Trump is hiding something about his health because he took a few days off on a holiday weekend. This is the same woman who was Joe Biden’s Press Secretary.”
The backlash highlights a significant tension in media narratives, particularly as Psaki’s show struggles with ratings. Reports indicate that her program averaged 1.1 million viewers from May to June, a stark contrast to Rachel Maddow’s 1.8 million in the same timeframe. This underperformance raises concerns regarding the future editorial direction of MSNBC, which is in the process of spinning off from NBCUniversal.
As this transition occurs, questions linger about the network’s approach to content and whether it will continue relying on established personalities. Discussions about Maddow’s contract have surfaced, with speculation around potential changes to her schedule that could affect Psaki’s time slot.
In a broader context, Psaki’s remarks also come amid heightened scrutiny of Biden’s health, particularly following the publication of a book by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’s Alex Thompson. The authors claim that Biden’s aides developed concerns about his mental acuity in 2022, a period during which Psaki was still serving as press secretary. Despite this, she maintained that she had not noticed any signs of decline.
During a recent podcast, Psaki was asked whether there was a “cover-up” regarding Biden’s health. She responded cautiously, stating that “cover-up” is a loaded term and insisted she never observed the troubling signs that some claim were evident. Critics argue that her defenses may not hold given the timeline of Biden’s recent health disclosures, including his diagnosis of Stage 4 prostate cancer.
As the situation develops, the dynamics of political discourse and media representation continue to evolve. The implications of Psaki’s comments and the ensuing criticism reflect the contentious atmosphere surrounding political figures and their health in the public eye. MSNBC has not provided comment on the criticism directed at Psaki by the time of publication, leaving questions about the network’s positioning as it enters a new chapter.
