On September 3, 2024, at the White House, President Biden gave a speech highlighting the accomplishments of his Investing in America agenda. The event, however, ended with the President not engaging with questions from the press, an incident that sparked considerable online conversation and raised questions about media access and transparency.
In his speech, Biden underlined the nation’s economic growth, stating, “COVID no longer controls our lives. We’ve gone from economic crisis to the strongest economy in the world, literally. Record 16 million new jobs, record small business growth, record stock market, record high 401Ks, wages are up, inflation is down, way down and continuing to come down, and the smallest racial wealth gap in 20 years.”
His speech, delivered during the Investing in America Content Series Kickoff Event, featured accounts from community members and local leaders who have seen the benefits of the administration’s investments in areas like infrastructure, healthcare, clean energy, and manufacturing. Mayor Woodfin from Birmingham, Alabama, spoke about the growth in wages, innovation, and employment his city experienced due to support from the administration. Chairwoman Flores of the Colorado River Indian Tribes discussed how the American Rescue Plan and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding has helped the Tribe tackle water infrastructure problems and promote community development.
Following his speech, which ended with “May God protect our troops,” the President did not engage with reporters’ questions for about 60 seconds. He was seen smiling at the desk, slowly packing up before being led out of the room. Reporters could be heard asking questions about the Israel-Hamas war, free IVF treatment, and high grocery prices even as staffers ushered them out, saying, “Thank you, press.”
This apparent lack of interaction with the press has caused a resurgence of concerns about the President’s engagement with the media. News outlets such as The New York Times have previously criticized Biden’s limited direct interaction with the press.
The Times reiterated that although Biden may choose to avoid their publication, he should, in principle, engage with major news outlets.
Based on an analysis by presidential scholar Martha Joynt Kumar, compared to the last seven presidents at this stage of their terms, Biden has participated in fewer media interviews and press conferences. The President has held just 36 press conferences and 125 media interviews, substantially fewer than his predecessors. However, it has been noted that Biden has participated in more informal question-and-answer sessions with the press corps, with 588 such interactions recorded.
The White House has defended the President’s media engagement level, stating that he has conducted 45 interviews this year and has been reaching out to Americans through digital strategies and local media. However, Biden’s limited media visibility has increased concerns about his age and acuity and led to allegations that his team has been concealing his true condition from the public.
The administration’s approach to media interactions has led to growing friction and distrust between the White House press corps and the administration. The press corps has been pushing for more information and access, which has led to tense moments between the press secretary and reporters in the White House briefing room. The White House has justified its communication strategy, arguing that it is playing to Biden’s strengths and prioritizing direct communication with the public.
However, critics assert that this approach compromises accountability and transparency, which are crucial for a healthy democracy. The growing suspicion that the administration is not being transparent about Biden’s condition has led to what some are calling a “credibility crisis” for the White House.