President Joe Biden became visibly irritated with a journalist who inquired about whether the White House had reached an agreement with Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy regarding particular aspects of the federal budget that involve reducing expenditures.
“He’s got a specific answer, he got a specific answer. You didn’t listen either, so why should I answer the question? We cut the deficit by $160 billion. Billion, B-I-L-L-I-O-N. Dollars,” Biden stated.
In the midst of his third year as president, Biden has actively avoided engaging with the media, prompting the editorial board of the Washington Post to openly question him on Tuesday, stating, “What are you afraid of?”
President Biden, who has not conducted any press conferences on his own this year, seemed to acknowledge his strained rapport with the media while making a lighthearted remark at the White House Correspondents Dinner. He said, “In a lot of ways, this dinner sums up my first two years in office. I’ll talk for 10 minutes, take zero questions and cheerfully walk away.”
In various recent instances, the president has allowed his staff to escort journalists out of the room after delivering meticulously prepared statements alongside world leaders or attempting to redirect the political discourse during a time of uncertainty for the White House.
Amid a declining relationship with the Washington press, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has faced the challenge of defending President Biden’s interactions with reporters. At one instance, she made an incredulous claim that Biden had fielded more questions from the media than Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump combined. However, after being called out, the White House communications office silently revised the statement, clarifying that it included “question-and-answer” sessions in their tally.
President Biden has experienced a decline in his popularity among voters in recent weeks, as indicated by the latest poll, which reveals that he is seven points behind President Trump in a direct competition. Essential voting groups such as independent voters and Black voters have become less supportive of his reelection campaign, attributing the nation’s high inflation and interest rates to Biden’s policies.
