Biden will not conduct Super Bowl interview with Fox, White House says
President Biden will not conduct an interview with Fox prior to Super Bowl LVII, the White House said Friday. The confirmation comes following a back-and-forth between the Biden administration and the right-wing news network.
The White House previously said that it had arranged an interview with Biden on Fox Soul, a live-streaming service aimed at African-Americans. White House Press Secretary Karine-Jean Pierre tweeted that Biden was "looking forward to an interview ... to discuss the Super Bowl, the State of the Union, and critical issues impacting the everyday lives of Black Americans."
However, Pierre added, "We've been informed that Fox Corp has asked for the interview to be canceled."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Fox pushed back, saying that the interview had simply been rescheduled. However, Biden administration officials decried this, telling Variety that "Fox has since put out a statement indicating the interview was rescheduled, which is inaccurate."
The news provided an insider's look into an interview that has become somewhat of a tradition for the presidency, including Biden.
"Presidents traditionally grant an interview to the network that's broadcasting the football game — in this case, Fox," The Associated Press noted, adding that Biden "spoke to CBS News anchor Norah O'Donnell prior to the game [in 2021], and last year he spoke with NBC News' Lester Holt."
Pre-Super Bowl interviews were also held multiple times by both former President Barack Obama and former President Donald Trump.
However, amidst ongoing tensions between a Fox News network that has been highly critical of Biden, the White House "attempted to circumvent Fox News by trying to set up an interview with Fox Soul," CNN reported, but negotiations eventually fell apart.
While Fox News has asked Biden for a number of interviews, the president has repeatedly turned the network down.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other Hollywood news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
-
7 beautiful towns to visit in Switzerland during the holidays
The Week Recommends Find bliss in these charming Swiss locales that blend the traditional with the modern
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Werewolf bill
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
'This needs to be a bigger deal'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
GOP's Mace seeks federal anti-trans bathroom ban
Speed Read Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina has introduced legislation to ban transgender people from using federal facilities
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine fires ATACMS, Russia ups hybrid war
Speed Read Ukraine shot U.S.-provided long-range missiles and Russia threatened retaliation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
New York DA floats 4-year Trump sentencing freeze
Speed Read President-elect Donald Trump's sentencing is on hold, and his lawyers are pushing to dismiss the case while he's in office
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Wyoming judge strikes down abortion, pill bans
Speed Read The judge said the laws — one of which was a first-in-the-nation prohibition on the use of medication to end pregnancy — violated the state's constitution
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US sanctions Israeli West Bank settler group
Speed Read The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on Amana, Israel's largest settlement development organization
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Gaetz ethics report in limbo as sex allegations emerge
Speed Read A lawyer representing two women alleges that Matt Gaetz paid them for sex, and one witnessed him having sex with minor
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden allows Ukraine to hit deep in Russia
Speed Read The U.S. gave Ukraine the green light to use ATACMS missiles supplied by Washington, a decision influenced by Russia's escalation of the war with North Korean troops
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
What does the G20 summit say about the new global order?
Today's Big Question Donald Trump's election ushers in era of 'transactional' geopolitics that threatens to undermine international consensus
By Elliott Goat, The Week UK Published