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.
-
Today's political cartoons - November 2, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - anti-fascism, early voter turnout, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Geoff Capes obituary: shot-putter who became the World’s Strongest Man
In the Spotlight The 'mighty figure' was a two-time Commonwealth Champion and world-record holder
By The Week UK Published
-
Israel attacks Iran: a 'limited' retaliation
Talking Point Iran's humiliated leaders must decide how to respond to Netanyahu's measured strike
By The Week UK Published
-
North Korea tests ICBM, readies troops in Ukraine
Speed Read Thousands of North Korean troops are likely to join Russian action against Ukraine
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Women take center stage in campaign finale
Speed Read Harris and Trump are trading gender attacks in the final days before the election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Supreme Court allows purge of Virginia voter rolls
Speed Read Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) is purging some 1,600 people from state voter rolls days before the election
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Empowered' Steve Bannon released from prison
Speed Read Bannon was set free a week before Election Day and quickly returned to his right-wing podcast to promote Trump
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Canada accuses top Modi ally of directing Sikh attacks
Speed Read Indian Home Minister Amit Shah was allegedly behind a campaign of violence and intimidation targeting Sikh separatists
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Harris makes closing case in huge rally at DC's Ellipse
Speed Read The Democratic nominee asked voters to "turn the page" on Trump's "division" and "chaos"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'I am not a Nazi,' Trump says amid MSG rally fallout
Speed Read Trump and his campaign are attempting to stem the fallout from comments made by speakers at Sunday's rally
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Ballot drop boxes set on fire in Oregon, Washington
Speed Read Hundreds of submitted ballots were destroyed in Vancouver, Washington
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published