According to PolitiFact, a self-proclaimed neutral arbiter of truth in politics, the “Lie of the Year” for 2024 was Donald Trump suggesting that Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating cats and dogs.
However, a much bigger lie looms large: the notion that Joe Biden, at 80 years old, was fit to serve as president.
During the June 27th presidential debate, Biden’s faltering performance shattered the years-long narrative promoted by his supporters and the White House. The president, visibly struggling, revealed the reality behind the facade. For years, we were assured by the White House that behind closed doors, Biden exhibited the stamina of a 20-year-old, even reciting Aquinas’ proofs of God in Latin while doing jumping jacks.
But during the debate, those assurances unraveled. Years of hiding Biden’s cognitive decline could no longer be ignored. His frailty became undeniable, and the long-standing assertion that “Biden is fine” crumbled.
On the Mount Rushmore of political lies, “Biden is fine” deserves a spot alongside Richard Nixon’s “I am not a crook” and Bill Clinton’s “I did not have sexual relations with that woman.”
Earlier this year, Fox News’ Peter Doocy pressed White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre about Biden’s fitness, citing an incident where Biden mentioned speaking with French President François Mitterrand, who died in 1996. Jean-Pierre deflected, pointing to Biden’s travel schedule. Her evasions only deepened skepticism about the president’s capacity to lead.
Even when videos surfaced showing Biden struggling, the White House dismissed them as “cheapfakes,” despite no evidence of manipulation. These dismissals painted skeptics as conspiracy theorists.
Meanwhile, PolitiFact chose Trump’s comments about migrants eating pets in Springfield as the “Lie of the Year.” Yet the claim, even if unsubstantiated, drew attention to real issues in Springfield, a city overwhelmed by an influx of 15,000 migrants in just two years. Residents have reported overcrowded schools, skyrocketing rents, and strained public resources.
During a visit to Springfield, I found no evidence of racism or hostility toward migrants. Instead, I encountered frustration and anger directed at the Biden administration and local officials for neglecting their community.
Trump’s alleged “lie” highlighted these struggles, but the White House’s prolonged deception about Biden’s fitness served no one but Biden himself and his inner circle.
Ultimately, Biden’s inability to perform the duties of his office became a defining aspect of his presidency, overshadowing his accomplishments and leaving a lasting mark on history.
In contrast, Trump, fresh from his victory in November, appears ready to address the concerns of struggling communities like Springfield. Whether or not that includes saving pets, his focus on real issues resonates more than the White House’s dismissive narrative about Biden.
Years from now, the “Lie of the Year” about Springfield’s pets will be forgotten. But Biden’s “lie of the century” about his ability to lead will remain a cautionary tale in history books.
