A spokesperson for President Biden’s reelection campaign criticized the news media on Wednesday, accusing them of devoting excessive coverage to Donald Trump’s legal proceedings at the expense of Biden’s initiatives.
T.J. Ducklo, representing the campaign, singled out CNN and MSNBC for neglecting Biden’s recent outreach efforts to black voters, a crucial demographic for Democrats.
In a post on X, Ducklo lamented, “The President just spoke to approx 1,000 mostly black voters in Philly about the massive stakes in this election. @MSNBC @CNN & others did not show it. Instead, more coverage about a trial that impacts one person: Trump. Then they’ll ask, why isn’t your message getting out?”
The President just spoke to approx 1,000 mostly black voters in Philly about the massive stakes in this election. @MSNBC @CNN & others did not show it.
Instead, more coverage about a trial that impacts one person: Trump.
Then they'll ask, why isn't your message getting out?
— TJ Ducklo (@TDucklo) May 29, 2024
This complaint follows Ducklo’s previous criticism in February, where he accused the media of insufficiently covering Trump’s legal challenges, orchestrated in part by the Biden White House. He argued that media attention should focus on Trump with “the seriousness and ferocity this moment requires,” rather than fixating on Biden’s age and mental state.
On Wednesday, Biden and Vice President Harris visited Philadelphia to bolster support among black voters at Girard College, a majority-black private preparatory school. The campaign event aimed to address concerns among black voters, who polls indicate are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the Biden-Harris administration. Some surveys suggest Trump’s support among black voters is nearing 20 percent.
While TV coverage showed a spirited crowd at Girard, the venue was only partially filled. This contrasts with President Trump’s recent rally in the Bronx, where photographs depicted thousands of attendees.
Janiyah Thomas, the Trump campaign’s director of black media, emphasized Trump’s direct outreach to minority voters, highlighting his commitment to listening and making a case for his presidency. Thomas noted Trump’s rising support among black voters, reaching levels unseen in decades.
