Just before heading off to Camp David to relax on his Christmas vacation, President Joe Biden told the press to “start reporting it the right way” in reference to the strength of the economy. A reporter had asked him for his thoughts on the economic “outlook” of the country headed into 2024. “All good. Take a look,” Biden replied.
This is not the first time Biden has blamed the media for the negative perception voters have of his administration. In October, he attributed Americans’ dismal opinion on the national economy to the “negative” press. “You all are not the happiest people in the world, what you report,” he said. “And I mean this sincerely. It gets — you get more legs when you’re reporting something that’s negative. I don’t mean you’re picking on me. It’s just the nature of things.” He went onto claim that Americans are enjoying financial success and a surplus of employment opportunities.
"What's your outlook on the economy next year?"
BIDEN: "All good. Take a look! Start reporting it the right way." pic.twitter.com/dpRcDiq16S
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) December 23, 2023
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And in May, Biden said low national sentiment was due to “negative news for three years,” ever since he assumed office. “I’m not being critical of the press,” he said, “but you turn on the television — the only way you’re gonna get a hit is if there’s something negative, you know. You don’t — anyway, that’s number one.” He later claimed in the interview that a massive second wind for the administration was under way, with a new “second Cabinet” being formed in his White House to carry out the grand plans of Bidenomics.
Yet the media has routinely come to Biden’s defense on the issue, with outlets like the New York Times calling it “The Great Disconnect” between voters and their own reality and Axios writing: “Majority of Americans say the economy’s bad, but their own finances are good.”
They are correct about one thing, however: Americans continue to have a poor view of Biden’s performance. As of Dec. 28th, an aggregate of national polls showed 55.4 percent of Americans disapproving of Biden, and only 39.1 percent with a favorable opinion.
American consumers continue to have a negative view of inflation and pricing, according to a survey data from the University of Michigan. And a recent Fox News poll found only 14 percent of the public say Biden’s economic policies have helped them. About half, or 46 percent, say his administration’s financial agenda has hurt them. The disappointment is bipartisan, with 61 percent of Democrats being among the 93 percent of Republicans and 85 percent of Independents with a negative opinion of the economy.
An averaging by RealClearPolitics of recent polls reveals Biden trails Trump by more than two points.
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