Pramila Jayapal Has A Sharp Rebuke For The Media

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) offered a sharp retort when questioned about President Joe Biden’s mental fitness by a Fox business reporter on Capitol Hill. The exchange took place on the evening of July 17 as Jayapal was approached by a reporter.

The New Republic said she was asked, “Do you think it’s OK to have a president, though, where there’s this open question about whether or not he’s in cognitive decline?” Jayapal, without hesitation, responded, “Do you think it was OK to have President Trump in cognitive decline for his entire four years?”

Jayapal’s response highlights a longstanding critique of former President Donald Trump’s mental acuity. Reports, including one from The New Republic, have pointed to instances where Trump has displayed signs of cognitive decline, such as incoherent rambling, slurring words, and forgetting names, including those of lawmakers, his doctor, and even his own son. These concerns are not new; a 2019 petition signed by 733 health professionals urged Congress to consider Trump’s deteriorating psychological state, warning of the potential danger he posed to national safety.

In a statement released on July 15, Jayapal underscored the high stakes of another Trump term but refrained from explicitly endorsing Biden’s candidacy or suggesting that Biden should step down. She did, however, direct a pointed message at the media.

“Any reporter or pundit who is asking about or talking about the aftermath of President Biden’s debate performance and health should also be spending at least the same amount of time and energy talking to Republicans about why they are still supporting a convicted felon who incited an insurrection and wants to be Dictator on Day 1,” Jayapal stated.

Jayapal’s comments reflect ongoing tensions and partisan divisions surrounding the mental fitness of both the current president and his predecessor as the nation heads towards another crucial election cycle.