During his final Thanksgiving as president, Joe Biden expressed concerns about the media’s focus on negative news, suggesting it contributes to public pessimism. Speaking in Nantucket, Massachusetts, Biden remarked, “You turn on the television, you don’t see a lot of good news… If you turn on the TV, everything looks bad.”
Biden emphasized that his comments were not a critique of journalists, acknowledging their challenging role. He noted that even positive developments often receive limited coverage, leading to a predominantly bleak media landscape. This, he implied, affects public perception, especially given the declining viewership of mainstream news outlets.
These remarks come amid reports that a majority of Americans believe the country is on the wrong track, a sentiment Biden attributes partly to media portrayals. He highlighted the difficulty in discerning accurate information in an era where traditional news consumption is waning.
As he prepares to leave office following Vice President Kamala Harris’s electoral defeat to President-elect Donald Trump, Biden expressed his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition. He also voiced hope that the incoming administration would reconsider certain policies, such as proposed tariffs on Canada and Mexico, which he views as “counterproductive.”
In contrast, President-elect Trump, in a Thanksgiving message, criticized “Radical Left Lunatics” and assured supporters of a forthcoming period where the country will be “respected, productive, fair, and strong.”
Biden’s reflections underscore the complex relationship between media narratives and public sentiment, highlighting the challenges leaders face in addressing national concerns amid evolving information landscapes.
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“You turn on the television you don’t see a lot of good news. Even if something is good news it doesn’t seem to to sell very well. If you turn on TV everything looks bad. Exceedingly small number of people watching mainstream television & reading newspapers”
– Biden in Nantucket pic.twitter.com/73cnfMrLeG
— Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) November 28, 2024