President Joe Biden is gearing up to hold a highly anticipated news conference on Thursday, following a critical NATO summit. This will be a key opportunity for the president to showcase his ability to handle unscripted questions and demonstrate his leadership on the global stage. Despite only holding a total of 36 news conferences, including 14 solo conferences, Biden’s team has been emphasizing the importance of more spontaneous engagements for the president. This shift in strategy comes after last month’s debate performance, where Biden’s advisors encouraged him to embrace more off-the-cuff moments. The president’s solo news conferences have averaged around 37 minutes in duration, with the most recent one occurring in November 2023.
Criticism of Biden’s handling of unscripted moments has intensified since the debate, with his responses drawing scrutiny from both media and his allies. At a joint news conference on June 13 with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Biden lashed out at a reporter for asking a question outside of the agreed-upon topics, leading to backlash from the White House Correspondents Association. Despite this, Biden is expected to deliver brief remarks before fielding questions from reporters at Thursday’s news conference.
Comparisons have been drawn between Biden and past presidents in terms of their engagement with the media. Former President Donald Trump held a total of 88 news conferences during his tenure, while President Biden has held significantly fewer. Observers have noted that Biden’s speech and delivery have exhibited signs of aging, prompting concerns about his ability to effectively lead the country. Despite these challenges, Biden has remained defiant, dismissing suggestions that he may not be the most qualified candidate to face Trump in the upcoming election.
As Biden prepares to address the media on Thursday, all eyes will be on him as he navigates a high-stakes moment in his presidency.
