President Joe Biden has avoided a prime-time Super Bowl interview for the second year in a row, CBS News tells Variety.
The White House reportedly declined to grant an interview ahead of CBS News' broadcast of Super Bowl LVIII on February 11, despite weeks of discussions with the Paramount Global Press Office. Yes (CBS News) Said variety. Biden also declined the opportunity to participate in a 2023 pre-Super Bowl interview with Fox News Channel. (Related: Biden disparages administration at year-end press conference, ends vacation in 2023)
“We hope our viewers enjoyed what they saw, which is the game,” White House press secretary Ben LaBolt said.
The Super Bowl typically draws millions of viewers each year. The 2023 Super Bowl LVII became the most-watched television broadcast in history, drawing 115.1 million viewers across all platforms. according to to rating agency Nielson.
Biden has opted to decline high-profile interviews and faces volatile polling numbers. Former President Donald Trump leads Biden by up to 9 points in key battleground states such as Arizona, Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Nevada and North Carolina. according to I responded to a Morning Consult/Bloomberg survey.
Throughout his administration, President Biden has eschewed traditional sit-down interviews with the press. The White House instead chose to use social media and influencers to spread Biden's message. As of Oct. 17, Biden has held 13 solo press conferences and 17 joint press conferences, fewer than any other president during his presidential term. according to to the Washington Post. As of Oct. 17, Biden has given the fewest interviews with reporters since former President Ronald Reagan, the Washington Post reported.
A person watches television broadcasting U.S. President Joe Biden delivering the State of the Union address to a joint session of the U.S. Congress on February 7, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo courtesy of Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Some, such as former CNN Washington bureau chief Frank Sesno, have speculated that Biden's reliance on social media is meant to protect him from failure.
“For a president who is so gaffe-prone and who sounds like he slurs and mumbles his words, less may be more,” Sesno told The Washington Post. “It's advantageous to control his access.”
