“That’s who I represent”Jen Psaki Advocates for Non-Traditional Interviews to Help Biden Connect with Voters
PHOTO: CELESTINO ARCE/NURPHOTO VIA GETTY IMAGES; KEVIN DIETSCH/GETTY IMAGES
During a recent episode of The View, former White House press secretary Jen Psaki responded to a New York Times report highlighting that President Joe Biden has participated in fewer interviews and press interactions than any president since Ronald Reagan. Although Psaki no longer holds her former role, she remains willing to offer advice to Biden on how to effectively communicate his political message to the American public.
Psaki emphasized the importance of leveraging diverse media channels in today’s landscape. “The benefit of the media environment right now is that there are so many choices,” she said. “When you’re communicating from the White House, I mean, respect for freedom of speech and freedom of the press is important, but you’re also just trying to communicate with the American people. So my view is, he should come on The View before he does a press conference.”
Psaki also advocated for the president to appear in non-traditional media spaces, stating, “Press conferences are important, but I also think him doing Howard Stern — that’s an interview that reached a broader audience of people. Him talking to the guys from SmartLess, which is a great podcast.”
While Biden has held only three solo press conferences and participated in 89 interviews during his first three years in office, Psaki explained that the White House should prioritize reaching the American people directly over adhering to traditional interview metrics. “If you’re in the White House, you’re not thinking about: am I checking the box on doing the most interviews?” she said. “You’re thinking about: am I doing the most I can do to communicate my message to the American people? That’s who I represent.”
She further elaborated on Biden’s communication strategy, recommending that he engage in more conversations with popular media personalities to connect with everyday Americans. “I would say more Howard Stern. Come on The View. More SmartLess conversations where you’re having conversations about policy but they’re real ones that people have at their kitchen table,” she concluded.
The New York Times report suggested that the Biden administration deliberately employs this approach to bypass traditional news media and reach audiences directly, without the filter of investigative or political journalists. The report also noted that the White House aims to engage audiences through non-traditional channels such as podcasts and entertainment shows.
Brian Teta, executive producer of The View, hinted in an April interview with Deadline that efforts are underway to bring Biden to the show’s “Hot Topics” table. “I think he will be on. We’re in contact with the White House. We don’t have anything to announce yet, but my hope and really my expectation is that he’ll be here during the election,” Teta said.
Comparatively, former President Donald Trump participated in 300 interviews and held 54 press conferences in his first three years in office, starkly contrasting Biden’s 89 interviews and three press conferences. However, Psaki believes that conducting interviews in non-traditional settings could better resonate with the American public, enabling Biden to directly address the issues that matter most.
As the 2024 presidential election approaches, Biden’s communication strategy remains a focal point for his administration. Whether through traditional press conferences or innovative media appearances, the White House appears committed to finding the most effective ways to reach the American people.
