Yesterday we told you how the White House is carefully managing President Joe Biden’s appearances while he is out on the West Coast for the Summit of the Americas:
White House again allows only still photos and not video of President Joe Biden https://t.co/qS5u9mz3r4
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) June 9, 2022
It’s not a good look!
For the 2nd time this week, the WH will only allow still cameras into a Biden event – no video. Tonight, only stills for a spray of the Biden/Kimmel taping. Earlier this week, only stills were brought to the South Lawn for his mtg with Sen Murphy – TV was told about it afterward.
— Jacqui Heinrich (@JacquiHeinrich) June 8, 2022
But even worse for the White House is that President Joe Biden is bitching to journos on how they’re covering him while this is going on. He took a stroll back to the press section of Air Force One on his way to California and let’s just say it was not well received:
“New. When Biden came to the AF1 press cabin during a recent West Coast trip for an off-the-record session, he used much of his time with reporters to criticize the quality and tenor of press coverage of his administration.”
New: when Biden came to the AF1 press cabin during a recent West coast trip for an off the record session, he used much of his time with reporters to criticize the quality and tenor of press coverage of his administration@maxwelltani and mehttps://t.co/Tdn3Bm28bN
— Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) June 9, 2022
If Biden and his family really believe this, then *that* is the problem. It’s totally tone-deaf.
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“Deserves”? The coverage he “deserves”? Wow:
“[P]resident & his family are increasingly frustrated that he is not receiving generally more positive coverage they believe he deserves — that too often attn is focused on staff turnover and poor poll numbers and not a robust jobs market & relatively strong economic recovery.”
president & his family are increasingly frustrated that he is not receiving generally more positive coverage they believe he deserves — that too often attn is focused on staff turnover and poor poll numbers and not a robust jobs market & relatively strong economic recovery.
— Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) June 9, 2022
The president is making this complaint, mind you, while NOT giving interviews.
From the New York Times’ Peter Baker: “I can’t think of a parallel situation – it’s the 5th president I’ve covered and the first one I haven’t interviewed…They feel neither the obligation nor the opportunity.”
Biden hasn't done an interview w/ NYT, WSJ, WaPo, Reuters, or the AP.
NYT's Peter Baker: “I can’t think of a parallel situation – it’s the 5th president I’ve covered and the first one I haven’t interviewed…They feel neither the obligation nor the opportunity.” pic.twitter.com/PlQNj8J7gC
— Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) June 9, 2022
And: “Reporters whining about not getting interviews is one of the least attractive elements of White House press corps…But the president talks about defending democracy and that’s part of democracy too – answering questions from people not on your side.”
Baker added: “Reporters whining about not getting interviews is one of the least attractive elements of White House press corps…But the president talks about defending democracy and that’s part of democracy too – answering questions from people not on your side.”
— Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) June 9, 2022
It’s almost as if they miss the bad orange man:
It’s more about norms and accountability, Baker said.
The best White House reporting often isn’t the result of interviews with the president but extended sit-downs remain an important function of accountability.
— Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) June 9, 2022
Note: The Tom Friedman interview was off the record and we learned more about the White House tuna fish sandwich than anything else:
Biden does have a thing for NYT columnists though.
Friedman wrote about his otr lunch w/ Biden and David Brooks tells Max that he’s had “a couple brief calls with Biden,” but “nothing major” in recent months.— Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) June 9, 2022
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