WASHINGTON, DC: An uproar sparked online after White House officials made a mockery out of a Fox News reporter for 'astroturfing' on President Joe Biden's age.
In a segment featured on 'Fox News Sunday', correspondent Lucas Tomlinson stated that the 81-year-old "continues to face questions about his age, even here in Nantucket."
Tomlinson then played a clip, where a person was captured asking “Mr. President, are you too old to be running for reelection?”
“That’s stupid,” replied Biden, whose age previously sparked debates as he holds the status of the oldest president to hold office in US history.
However, what the correspondent failed to note in the package was that he was the reporter who shouted that question.
After the segment aired on Sunday, Fox News anchor Sean Hannity also shared the report on X, along with remarks from Rep. Ronny Jackson, who said in the interview that “JACKSON: ‘It’s a grueling job, mentally and physically. This man can’t do the job...It’s unbelievable how much he’s degenerated just during his time in office…he’s already putting us at great risk.’”
What did White House officials say about the report?
Following the release of Tomlinson's story, the president's senior press aides made fun of the reporter for calling attention to his own line of inquiry.
“[A]re you able to speculate on whose voice that is shouting?” Andrew Bates, an aide to Biden wrote on Twitter, adding “It sounds familiar to me but I’m having difficulty placing it.”
“Amazing: Fox News correspondent @LucasFoxNews reports that Biden "continues to face questions about his age, even here in Nantucket" -- citing nothing more than a question @LucasFoxNews himself shouted at Biden on Saturday. The epitome of astroturfing a political attack,” journalist Aaron Ruper said.
“Lol that reporter was… you,” deputy press secretary Olivia Dalton slammed.
Internet reacts to Lucas Tomlinson’s remarks
Following Bates' response to Tomlison's comments, his segment surfaced on the internet, with many users slamming him for airing the lie.
“Liar Lucas gonna lie!” one user said. “Does his first name begin with a Lucas and his last name begin with a Tomlinson?” another user mocked.
While one use quipped, “Maybe give Lucas a break. Shoe polish can have a neurotoxic effect when it’s used to color your hair,” another one wrote “You know...I'm thinking they just don't have ANYTHING else so this is their focus. Age? Seriously? So transparent!”
“With all the traveling and negotiations he has done in the last couple of weeks, months and they’re still questioning his ability to govern and age? I doubt very much Trump could have had this kind of stamina,” another user said.
“I’m trying to understand the point of showing this. Let's put Trump in this situation and he shouts the same thing !!! The media would be blasting him .. another media player pushing the democratic narrative for them ?” one more chimed.
