Biden waives Super Bowl interview for second year in a row

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by patrick riley

President Biden declined to do a pre-Super Bowl interview with CBS, marking the second year in a row that he is sitting out and avoiding traditional big game news.

Mr. Biden’s decision to skip what is typically the year’s most-watched television broadcast is puzzling, given the easy opportunity to speak directly to millions of voters in a close election year.

The 81-year-old president participated in interviews during the Super Bowl’s broadcasts on NBC and CBS during his first two years in office, but sat out when Fox News aired the big game last year.

CBS will broadcast this year’s championship game between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers on February 11th.

White House press secretary Ben LaBolt, who first reported Biden’s absence from the Super Bowl, told Variety: “I hope viewers enjoyed what they were watching, the game.” .

Presidential interviews have been featured on nearly every Super Bowl telecast since President Barack Obama started the tradition in 2009.

In 2018, then-President Donald Trump declined an interview request from NBC ahead of Super Bowl II after sparking controversy earlier in the season by criticizing players who refused to stand for the national anthem. .

It is noteworthy that Mr. Biden has not given many press interviews since taking office.

The Super Bowl draws tens of millions of fans each year.

Last year’s game drew about 115 million viewers, a record-breaking number.