President Biden is gearing up for a crucial press conference Thursday evening, his first solo event since the APEC Summit in California eight months ago. This event comes amidst mounting pressure from both Democrats and the media who are increasingly concerned about his age and fitness for office. The president’s press conference for the summit in November lasted about 20 minutes, with Biden answering roughly five questions before leaving. However, throughout his presidency, Biden has held a significantly limited number of press conferences and interviews, a fact that has fueled concerns about transparency and accessibility. According to a Fox News count, Biden has gone 30 months without a solo news conference, 16 months without a TV news interview, and 10 months without either. The scarcity of these events has prompted calls for increased engagement from both the media and Democratic lawmakers. Some Democrats have even called for Biden to drop out of the race, while others have suggested that doing so could be in the best interests of defeating Donald Trump in November. The media has also criticized Biden’s previous interactions with reporters, alleging that several press conferences were scripted, with the president receiving pre-selected questions. Even interviews have been called into question, with allegations that questions were pre-selected by media executives, leaving no room for impromptu questions or follow-ups. Former ESPN host Sage Steele confirmed this, stating that every question during an interview with Biden in 2021 was scripted and that she was instructed not to deviate from the script. Thursday’s press conference marks Biden’s first interaction with reporters since debating Trump in June and his subsequent sit-down with ABC host George Stephanopoulos. These events were heavily anticipated, as Biden’s campaign has been actively trying to demonstrate his fitness for another term. The campaign has filled Biden’s schedule with appearances and rallies, and has even tapped surrogates like California Governor Gavin Newsom to headline events in an attempt to counter unfavorable media coverage of the president’s performance. Biden, however, has repeatedly dismissed calls to drop out of the race, reiterating his commitment to running and winning a second term. Despite the pressure and criticism, Biden’s press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, has stated that the president is looking forward to the press conference and will be taking questions from reporters. This event will be a pivotal moment for Biden as he navigates the challenges of his re-election campaign, facing scrutiny over his age and fitness for office. The press conference is expected to offer some insight into how he plans to address these concerns and maintain momentum for his campaign.
Biden Faces Scrutiny Ahead of Crucial Press Conference
