As the year 2022 came to a close, it was clear that President Joe Biden and his administration had no intention of repairing their strained relationship with the media. Throughout 2021, Biden had consistently displayed hostility towards reporters who asked tough questions, and this trend only continued into the new year.
In January, Biden belittled Fox News White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich when she inquired about the administration’s stance on Ukraine, and he scolded RealClearNews reporter Philip Wegmann for questioning his comparisons of political opponents to historical figures.
But perhaps the most infamous moment of the year came when Biden referred to Fox News’ Peter Doocy as a “stupid son of a b—-” in response to a question about inflation. Despite later apologizing to Doocy, Biden’s hostility towards the media only seemed to escalate as the year went on.
In June, he accused reporters of “making things up” when they questioned him about economists’ warnings of a potential recession, and in November, he snapped at NBC’s Peter Alexander for asking about abortion rights, declaring, “I shouldn’t have even answered your question.” It was also revealed that Biden had a pre-planned list of reporters to call on, causing many to accuse him of avoiding tough questions and limiting media access.
But it wasn’t just Biden who had a contentious relationship with the press. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who took office in May, quickly gained a reputation for her combative attitude towards reporters.
In November, she shouted down reporters who attempted to ask Dr. Anthony Fauci questions about the origins of the coronavirus, stating, “We have a process here. I’m not calling out on people who yell.”
As Democrats continue to attack and dismiss conservative media outlets, it’s clear that they have no interest in transparency or accountability. The Biden administration’s treatment of the media is a clear attack on the First Amendment and a blatant attempt to silence those who dare to hold them accountable.
It’s no wonder that so many passionate Republican voters are fed up with the Democrats’ blatant disregard for the freedom of the press. It’s time for the Biden administration to start respecting the role of the media in holding our government accountable and start engaging in open and honest dialogue with reporters.