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."
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.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
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.
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 news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
-
Youth revolts rattle Morocco as calls against corruption grow louder
THE EXPLAINER Snowballing controversy over World Cup construction and civic services has become a serious threat to Morocco’s political stability
-
Israel intercepts 2nd Gaza aid flotilla in a week
Speed Read The Israeli military intercepted a flotilla of nine boats with 145 activists aboard along with medical and food aid
-
Gold tops $4K per ounce, signaling financial unease
Speed Read Investors are worried about President Donald Trump’s trade war
-
Bondi stonewalls on Epstein, Comey in Senate face-off
Speed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi denied charges of using the Justice Department in service of Trump’s personal vendettas
-
Court allows Trump’s Texas troops to head to Chicago
Speed Read Trump is ‘using our service members as pawns in his illegal effort to militarize our nation’s cities,’ said Gov. J.B. Pritzker
-
Judge bars Trump’s National Guard moves in Oregon
Speed Read In an emergency hearing, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops into Portland
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denial
Speed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
speed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats
-
Supreme Court rules for Fed’s Cook in Trump feud
Speed Read Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can remain in her role following Trump’s attempts to oust her
-
Judge rules Trump illegally targeted Gaza protesters
Speed Read The Trump administration’s push to arrest and deport international students for supporting Palestine is deemed illegal
-
Trump: US cities should be military ‘training grounds’
Speed Read In a hastily assembled summit, Trump said he wants the military to fight the ‘enemy within’ the US