President Joe Biden delivered a speech on Tuesday touting the successes of his “Investing in America” agenda, but he remained silent when faced with questions from reporters, sparking criticism from both political opponents and some media outlets, Fox News reports.
In a rare public appearance, particularly since he stepped back from the spotlight following Vice President Kamala Harris’s nomination for the Democratic Party, Biden spoke about the strength of the U.S. economy at an event at the White House.
“COVID no longer controls our lives. We’ve gone from economic crisis to the strongest economy in the world, literally,” he said, citing record job growth, stock market highs, and a decline in inflation.
However, after concluding his remarks, Biden ignored reporters’ questions for a full minute, offering only a smile and slowly gathering his belongings before being ushered out of the room. Reporters pressed Biden on key issues, including the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, free IVF treatment, and high grocery prices, but their inquiries were met with silence.
The Trump War Room account, a social media platform run by supporters of former President Donald Trump, quickly criticized Biden’s actions.
“Crooked Joe Biden — completely cooked — spends a full minute ignoring questions as his handlers desperately attempt to remove them from the room. Warning: This is painful to watch,” they wrote.
Biden’s avoidance of press interaction has come under increasing scrutiny. The New York Times, in a public statement in April, criticized the president’s “active and effective avoidance” of questions from independent journalists.
“The president occupies the most important office in our nation, and the press plays a vital role in providing insights into his thinking and worldview, allowing the public to assess his record and hold him to account,” the statement said.
While acknowledging that Biden has the right to avoid specific news outlets, The Times stressed the importance of the president engaging with major media outlets in a transparent and accountable manner.
