Former White House Press Secretary and MSNBC host Jen Psaki is under fire for her recent comments regarding former President Donald Trump’s health. This criticism comes after Psaki questioned Trump’s absence from public view over the Labor Day weekend, implying that he was “hiding” due to health issues.
During a segment on her show, Psaki remarked on a “wave of online speculation” surrounding Trump’s well-being. She referenced his lack of public appearances and a photograph of a bruise on his hand as contributing factors to the rampant rumors, despite Trump’s subsequent appearance at his golf club in Virginia.
When asked by Peter Doocy of Fox News about the rumors, Trump denied being aware of them, stating he had been “very active over the weekend.” He also pointed out that former presidents, including himself, often had periods of absence without speculation about their health.
Psaki noted the inconsistency in Trump’s statements, saying, “We went from Trump saying he hadn’t heard about the rumors of his death to Trump saying he did hear about them.” Her comments drew sharp criticism on social media, with some accusing her of hypocrisy given her previous role in defending President Joe Biden’s health.
Social Media Reaction and Network Dynamics
Critics highlighted the irony in Psaki’s questioning of Trump’s health, especially considering her past defense of Biden. Conservative activist Greg Price commented on X, stating, “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.” Others echoed similar sentiments, questioning her credibility as a journalist.
The backlash comes at a pivotal time for MSNBC, which is undergoing a transformation as it prepares to separate from NBC News, rebranding itself as MS NOW. This transition raises questions about the network’s future direction and its ability to retain viewership. Psaki’s show has struggled in the ratings, averaging only 1.1 million viewers from May to June, a significant drop from Rachel Maddow’s 1.8 million.
As MS NOW navigates its new identity, the network faces scrutiny over its editorial choices, including the future of its hosts. With Maddow reportedly earning $25 million annually for just one day of work a week, there are speculations about potential changes to her schedule that could affect Psaki’s time slot.
Contextual Background on Health Concerns
The discussion about Trump’s health coincides with ongoing concerns regarding Biden’s health, particularly following his announcement in May of being diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer. Questions arose regarding when Biden’s team became aware of his condition while he was still in office.
In her role as press secretary, Psaki consistently denied witnessing any signs of cognitive decline in Biden, despite a book published by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson alleging that advisors had concerns about Biden’s mental acuity as early as 2022. During an appearance on Semafor’s “Mixed Signals” podcast, Psaki stated, “I never saw” any evidence of a decline.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, both Psaki and MSNBC are positioned at the intersection of media, politics, and public perception. With the upcoming changes to the network and the ongoing debates about the health of public figures, the implications for their credibility and viewership will be closely monitored.
MSNBC did not respond to requests for comment by the time of publication.