President Joe Biden playfully mocked the New York Times (NYT) after they criticized him for allegedly dodging questions from the press. This incident occurred during Biden’s speech at the White House Correspondents Dinner at the Washington Hilton on Saturday evening. The NYT had issued a statement accusing Biden of setting a “dangerous precedent” by avoiding questions from independent journalists.
In response to the NYT’s statement, Biden humorously remarked during his speech, “The New York Times issued a statement blasting me for, quote, ‘active and effectively avoiding independent journalists.’ Hey, if that’s what it takes to get the New York Times to say I’m active and effective I’m for it.”
The tensions between the White House and the NYT reportedly began in March 2023, when a reporter mistakenly attributed a White House statement to the wrong person. Politico highlighted the NYT’s desire for a sit-down interview with Biden, as publisher A.G. Sulzberger viewed it as a top priority. Vice President Kamala Harris had even questioned why Biden was reluctant to grant the newspaper an interview during a previous meeting at the NYT headquarters.
Overall, the playful banter between Biden and the NYT showcased the ongoing dynamic between the President and the press.
