Staff Reports
President Biden has been drawing attention from the media for his lack of interviews with journalists. Reporters are questioning why Biden has given fewer interviews than past presidents, with some speculating that it may be due to his age and potential memory issues. This has led to criticism from mainstream media outlets like The New York Times, who have expressed concern about Biden’s avoidance of press conferences and sit-down interviews with independent journalists.
The Times stated in a recent release that Biden’s avoidance of questions undermines the important norm of presidential transparency and accountability. They believe that future presidents could use Biden’s actions as a precedent to avoid scrutiny from the press. Despite endorsing Biden in the 2020 election, The Times has been vocal about their disappointment in his lack of transparency with the media.
— The Loedown (@bo_loe48694) May 7, 2024
Former President Donald Trump has also criticized Biden’s inability to sit down for interviews, questioning his mental acuity. Even typically supportive outlets like CNN have raised concerns about Biden’s ability to effectively communicate, pointing to recent gaffes and instances where Biden appeared to struggle with reading from a teleprompter.
In numbers provided by the White House Transition Project, Biden has given significantly fewer interviews than his predecessors during their first year in office. By late May 2022, Biden had gone 100 consecutive days without a sit-down media interview, indicating a trend of limited engagement with the press. Instead, Biden’s communication team has focused on utilizing social media and alternative mediums to reach the public.
Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki defended Biden’s approach to media interviews, suggesting that the quality of interviews is more important than the quantity. Psaki pointed to Biden’s appearances on shows like “The View” and podcasts like “Smartless” as examples of reaching a broad audience. Overall, Biden’s avoidance of traditional press conferences and interviews has raised concerns about transparency and communication in his administration.
