The New York Times has defended its recent article examining Donald Trump's reduced public schedule and signs of fatigue, after the president accused the outlet of being 'seditious, perhaps even treasonous'. The newspaper's November 25 story noted that Trump, now 79, has fewer public events and less domestic travel compared to his first year in office, with most appearances between noon and 5 pm.
In a lengthy post on Tuesday evening, Trump denied any decline, stating he works harder than ever and calling the reports 'FAKE' and libellous. He described the coverage as 'seditious' and labelled journalists 'true Enemies of the People'. The Times story also referenced an Oval Office appearance where Trump's eyelids drooped, and he appeared to doze off for several seconds.
Nicole Taylor, a Times spokesperson, said in a statement: 'Americans deserve in-depth reporting about the health of the leaders they elect. Mr Trump welcomed our reporting on the age and fitness of his predecessors; we're applying the same journalistic scrutiny to his vitality. Our reporting is heavily sourced, based on interviews with people close to the president and with medical experts.'
The controversy comes as Trump, who made Joe Biden's age a central focus of his 2024 campaign, became the oldest person ever elected to the US presidency in November. Reporters have faced pressure to apply the same scrutiny to Trump's age as they did to Biden's, following the latter's poor debate performance that ultimately led to his withdrawal from the race.
