Media

CNN’s John King after MS revelation: Had ‘trouble functioning’ during 2020 election coverage

by Dominick Mastrangelo - 10/20/21 10:13 AM ET

CNN anchor John King revealed that he “was having a lot of trouble functioning” working to cover the 2020 election as he dealt with multiple sclerosis.

“I hope nobody noticed it, but election week in America was probably one of my worst weeks last year,” King said Wednesday morning. “I was having a lot of trouble functioning.”

King manned CNN’s electoral map for days after Election Day last November, as results slowly came in across the country until President Biden was projected as the winner the following Saturday. He at times provided insight and analysis on the vote totals and state of the race on an hourly basis.

King, who has worked as a reporter, anchor and analyst for CNN since the late 1990s, revealed on Tuesday he has multiple sclerosis during an intense discussion on his daytime program about vaccine misinformation.

“I’m going to share a secret I have never shared before,” King said. “I have multiple sclerosis. So I’m grateful you’re all vaccinated.”

“I hope nobody noticed it, but election week in America was probably one of my worst weeks last year. I was having a lot of trouble functioning.”@JohnKingCNN discusses his 13-year-long battle with multiple sclerosis.https://t.co/IiuDVGFOCD pic.twitter.com/32U771H76k

— New Day (@NewDay) October 20, 2021

King said on Wednesday his 13-year battle with the degenerative disease has taught him how to better “focus” at work and in life.

“You learn to rewire how you do things, and you learn to be much more aware of what you’re going through,” he said. “And I hope that gives me a lot more empathy for other people.”

King drew on his own experiences of being immunocompromised to urge all people to get a coronavirus vaccine and wear a mask if requested.

“This helps them,” King said, holding his face covering up. “It helps save them … what is the harm? I don’t get it.”

Tags Joe Biden