Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki is facing backlash for her comments regarding former President Donald Trump’s health. During a segment on her show on MSNBC, Psaki questioned why Trump appeared to be “hiding” from the public over the Labor Day weekend, igniting accusations of hypocrisy and insensitivity.
The controversy began when Psaki discussed a wave of social media speculation about Trump’s health. This speculation intensified as Trump maintained a low public profile during the holiday weekend, leading some commentators to suggest that his absence was linked to serious medical issues. Social media users highlighted images of a bruise on Trump’s hand as evidence of a possible health crisis. Despite the rumors, Trump made a public appearance at his golf club in Virginia, where he responded to questions about his well-being.
In a segment aired on September 5, 2023, Psaki stated, “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 dismissed the rumors, asserting that he had not seen any reports regarding his health and described himself as “very active over the weekend.” He added, “Nobody ever said there was anything wrong with [my predecessor]…and we know he wasn’t in the greatest shape.”
While Psaki did not directly question Trump’s health, she suggested that his absence from public events was suspicious. “You probably saw them!” she remarked, referring to the rumors. She added that Trump’s claim of being unaware of the speculation about his health seemed inconsistent, saying, “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 tweeted, “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.” Republican Rhode Island state representative Brian Newberry remarked on the irony of Psaki’s role as a journalist, questioning her credibility.
As MSNBC prepares for a new chapter with its upcoming rebranding to MS NOW, the network faces scrutiny over its programming and content direction. Psaki’s show, which premiered in May 2023, has struggled in the ratings, averaging only 1.1 million viewers, a significant drop from top host Rachel Maddow’s 1.8 million viewers during the same period.
The looming financial pressures from a spinoff of MSNBC from NBCUniversal may affect content decisions and staffing, raising questions about the future of hosts like Psaki. Speculation surrounds whether executives will push Maddow to increase her work schedule or seek to restructure the network’s lineup to improve viewer engagement.
Psaki’s tenure as press secretary has been marked by controversies, particularly regarding her defense of President Joe Biden. In response to questions about Biden’s mental fitness, she has consistently denied observing any decline during her time in the White House. However, her comments have been called into question in light of a book published by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’s Alex Thompson, which alleges that concerns about Biden’s health were raised among his advisers.
In May 2023, Biden revealed his diagnosis of Stage 4 prostate cancer, prompting further inquiries into when he received this diagnosis and whether it was known while he served in office. Despite these developments, Psaki has maintained that she did not observe any signs of decline during her service.
MSNBC did not respond to requests for comment regarding the ongoing discussions about its programming and Psaki’s future with the network. As the landscape of political commentary continues to evolve, the impact of these public discussions about health and transparency remains a critical subject for both viewers and commentators alike.
