President-elect Joe Biden may continue the theme of the past four years – the White House’s antagonistic relationship with the media – if his exchange with a reporter is any indication.
Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris were wrapping up a meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Friday in Wilmington, Delaware. Bo Erickson, a CBS News reporter with whom Biden had a confrontation last month, then asked a question.
“Mr. Biden, the COVID Task Force said it’s safe for children to be back in class,” Erickson said, as other reporters were leaving the room. He followed up by asking whether Biden will encourage teachers’ unions, hesitant to resume in-person teaching, to cooperate in returning students to classrooms.
“Why are you the only guy that always shouts out questions?” Biden said, offering no answer.
A clash on this scale didn’t escape Twitter, of course.
“It’s a great question that deserves an answer from Biden,” Washington Examiner reporter Jerry Dunleavy tweeted.
“Good for Bo, also the idea that this was a ‘shouted’ question is hilarious,” ABC News’ Will Steakin tweeted.
“As we see many other reporters throw softballs at Biden, reporters that ask tough questions of both sides (like Bo) are going to be far more important over the next 4 years,” conservative writer A.G. Hamilton tweeted.
Last month, after a campaign stop in Michigan and two days after the New York Post story broke, Erickson asked Biden about his son Hunter’s foreign dealings.
“Mr. Biden, what is your response to the New York Post story about your son, sir?” Erickson asked.
“I know you’d ask it,” Biden replied. “I have no response, it’s another smear campaign, right up your alley, those are the questions you always ask.”
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