Fox News criticised for starting rumours about Joe Biden's health
Two Fox News presenters have speculated on air on at least four different occasions that the Democratic frontrunner is dealing with health issues
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Fox News has been criticised for pushing unfounded rumours that Joe Biden is in poor health.
A month after the 2020 Democratic candidate, who is 76, launched his presidential campaign, the news channel has started speculating about Mr Biden's health in a similar manner it did about Hillary Clinton in 2016.
Two Fox News presenters, Lisa Kennedy and Sean Hannity, have speculated on air on at least four different occasions that the frontrunner is dealing with health issues.
Kennedy drew a link between Bernie Sanders' comments about the lack of enthusiasm around his candidacy to his health situation: "You go, ‘You know we haven’t seen Joe a lot, maybe he has hidden health issues, is always wearing an overcoat,’” Kennedy said on Fox.
Hannity, who also spread rumours about Hillary Clinton's health in the 2016 election campaign, claimed that the Democratic party was "hiding" Mr Biden.
Mr Biden's campaign dismissed the rumours, calling them "baseless lies meant to stoke fear”.
CNN's politics reporter and editor-at-large Chris Cillizza wrote an analysis on Tuesday accusing Fox News of "crossing the line" by raising unfounded questions about Mr Biden's health.
However in August 2017, CNN's Reliable Sources host Brian Stelter opened up his show echoing similar questions about Donald Trump's health situation. "Questions that feel out of bounds, off limits, too hot for TV. Questions like these: Is the President of the United States a racist? Is he suffering from some kind of illness? Is he fit for office? And if he’s unfit, then what?"
This was months before Mr Trump underwent his official health checkup in January 2018. Meanwhile CNN's White House chief correspondent Jim Acosta said Mr Trump was "crazy like a fox" on Reliable Sources earlier this week.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments