Staff Reports
President Biden’s celebrity exploration continues as the year-end press conference gets the cold shoulder in favor of chatting it up with friendly faces. Since taking office, Mr. Biden has maintained an ironclad grip on the reins of information, showing fewer signs of opening the information floodgates than any president before him.
Biden skips traditional year-end press conference in favor of celebrity softball interviewshttps://t.co/s8WNW3K3Yd pic.twitter.com/VE7gxv9BBd
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) December 26, 2023
The absence of a year-end press conference raises red flags for some political experts who believe that Mr. Biden might be missing an opportunity to dispel doubts about his mental acuity and effectiveness. With his approval ratings taking a nose-dive, his decision to steer clear of largely unscripted media settings may be a strategic move aimed at preventing potential stumbles that could stir up more doubt.
White House officials argue that their goal is to reach the American people in every way possible, steering clear of the traditional news media landscape to ensure Mr. Biden’s message is unfiltered by reporters with a predetermined political agenda. But by doing so, it conveniently keeps the President from being hounded about lingering issues plaguing his administration, such as the Ukraine and Israel conflicts, the border crisis, and his son Hunter Biden’s defiance of a congressional subpoena.
While President Biden made time to briefly field a couple of questions from reporters on a recent trip to Milwaukee, the absence of a comprehensive year-end press conference is glaring. The decision has sparked concerns about the President’s accessibility, especially given that he has held significantly fewer press conferences than his predecessors.
In his attempt to avoid mainstream media scrutiny, Mr. Biden has gravitated towards more celebrity-approved platforms, from appearances on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” to sitting down for a chat with Conan O’Brien. While these interviews may offer a lighter and more amicable setting, critics argue that politicians’ appearances on such shows lack the substance required in holding the highest office in the land.
As President Biden skirts traditional press conferences in favor of softer interviews, the crux of the issue remains, leaving concerned citizens and critics alike to ponder how much longer this lack of transparency will persist.
