In the wake of President Joe Biden's recent shaky debate performance, questions are being raised about the media's coverage of his age and potential limitations. While the White House has repeatedly dismissed such reports, some journalists in the White House press corps are now expressing regret over not pushing harder to tell the full story.

Last June, the Wall Street Journal faced criticism for publishing an article on President Biden's mental state, with accusations that it quoted mostly Republican political opponents who had a clear political motive to damage Biden's image. The Journal defended its reporting, but the backlash highlighted the challenges faced by journalists in covering this topic.

The concerns raised by the Journal's report were brought to the forefront during a recent debate on CNN, where President Biden appeared to struggle in articulating his points. A subsequent New York Times report echoed these concerns, noting that Biden experiences more frequent "lapses" while also appearing sharp at other times.

This has led some to question whether the White House press corps missed an opportunity to thoroughly cover Biden's limitations. While it is well-known that Biden is the oldest president in American history, some argue that the media has been hesitant to delve into his physical and mental state for fear of political motivations and potential blowback from the White House and Democrats.

The prevalence of coverage on Biden's age is not new, with many media outlets reporting on concerns about his age long before the debate. However, the White House has complained about the disproportionate focus on Biden's age in comparison to his accomplishments as president. Some have accused the media of propping up the campaign by not aggressively covering Biden's mental fitness; an allegation that the White House reporters deny.

Several anonymous White House reporters speaking to CNN acknowledged the difficulties in pursuing this line of reporting, including political motivations of sources and concerns about turning off serious investigation due to right-wing talking points. They argue that the press corps could have done a better job in covering Biden's physical and mental state, particularly after the release of the Robert Hurr report in February, which referred to Biden as a "well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory."

The White House's approach to press interactions has also contributed to the challenges faced by journalists. Reporters have noted that Biden engages in fewer interviews and planned press conferences compared to his predecessors. While he has had numerous informal interactions with the press, these are not equivalent to extended press conferences where his abilities can be assessed on the spot.

The White House press shop has also been described as aggressive in mitigating concerns about Biden's age, berating reporters who bring up these concerns and attacking articles after they are published. This behavior has led some to conclude that reporting on age-related issues may be too painful or necessitates choosing opportune moments.

The media's handling of Biden's age is a nuanced matter, as aging is not a sudden moment but a gradual process that can be challenging to define. However, some reporters argue that there has been a noticeable change in Biden's demeanor over the past year, and the press corps should have reported more aggressively on the accommodations made for the president.

In the face of these questions, ABC News has announced that President Biden will sit down for an interview with George Stephanopoulos, his first since the debate. This may offer an opportunity to address concerns directly.

As the debate on President Biden's age and mental stamina continues, it remains to be seen how the media will navigate the delicate balance between thorough reporting and fair coverage of the oldest president in American history.

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