Incumbent presidents typically want all the airtime they can get in front of the public during an election year. But that does not seem to be the approach that current United States President Joe Biden is taking. For the second year in a row, Biden is declining to take part in the traditional presidential interview ahead of the Super Bow.
Before the Super Bowl every year, the sitting president traditionally takes part in an interview with the network broadcasting the game. This year, CBS has the broadcast right to the game. But according to a report from Variety, Joe Biden has declined to take part in the interview this year.
“President Joe Biden will not take part in an exchange during the pre-game festivities leading up to CBS’ broadcast of Super Bowl LVIII on February 11,” Variety wrote. “The Paramount Global news operation had been in discussions with the White House in recent weeks and had invited President Biden to take part in a traditional conversation.”
Obviously, many people saw this as a horrible move from Biden and blasted him for it as a result.
In an election year to turn down an interview with that size audience by a reputable news network (in which you'd likely have a lot of control over the ground rules) is extremely unusual and telling. https://t.co/A1bs79Mwz5
— CaineComms (@CaineComms) February 3, 2024
If Biden loses in November, this strategy to have Biden avoid TV interviews whenever possible will be viewed as one of the top culpritshttps://t.co/01FWKubkF5
— Nick Field (@nick_field90) February 3, 2024
There has to be a reason behind this clearly. Hope President Biden & the team reconsider here.
It’s not a super huge deal but it gets a great spot to get the message of the campaign out en masse. https://t.co/nHlvCbMmv7
— Randall Barnes (@AuthorRandallB) February 3, 2024
Not cool. It's been a long tradition.
— BroncosBonkers (@BonkersBroncos) February 3, 2024
Oh, huh… https://t.co/X2neNXsR8z
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) February 3, 2024
This is a mistake by the Biden Campaign. He has to start doing more one on one interviews with the MSM and Black media. Interviews are good way to combat age and competency ?'s https://t.co/iU60j7W1LI
— RJ (@ryc30078) February 3, 2024
This marks the second consecutive time that Biden has declined to take part in the traditional interview.
[Variety]