'This man hates the truth': Internet shreds Joe Biden as he rips media for economy coverage

WASHINGTON, DC: Ahead of his Christmas holiday journey to Camp David, President Joe Biden seized the opportunity to address reporters outside the White House on Saturday, December 23.

Faced with slumping approval ratings and a persistent narrative of economic discontent, Biden expressed frustration with the media, urging them to provide more favorable coverage of the nation's economy.

Pushback against economic perceptions

Flanked by family members as he boarded a helicopter bound for the presidential retreat in Virginia, Biden responded to questions about the 2024 outlook for the US economy with a simple yet pointed statement, "All good. Take a look. Start reporting it the right way."

The eyebrow-raising remark comes as the President continues to grapple with negative public perceptions of his economic policies, despite statistical reports showcasing low unemployment and a slowdown in inflation.

The President and his Democratic allies have consistently blamed media outlets and Republican critics for shaping a narrative that exaggerates recession fears and downplays record-setting job growth.

The frustration reached a pinnacle after the September jobs report far exceeded economists' expectations. Biden, in response, criticized reporters, referring to them as "not the happiest people in the world" and accused them of hyper-focusing on inflation and recession speculation.

Despite the administration's efforts to highlight the resilience of the economy and gain an advantage over former President Trump's economic record, critics argue that Biden and his team must acknowledge the lingering economic scars from the pandemic.

Inflation remains a persistent concern, driving up the cost of goods and services that have already seen significant price hikes over the past three years. Additionally, pandemic-related stimulus measures and restrictions have contributed to a surge in home prices and rents, exacerbating an affordable housing crisis that predates the COVID-19 pandemic.

A recent Monmouth University poll released last week painted a grim picture for the President, with only 28% of Americans believing Biden is effectively taming inflation, and a mere 12% reporting improvement in their personal financial situations.

Biden's overall approval rating has plummeted to 34%, marking a ten-percentage-point drop in the past five months and the lowest level since assuming office in January 2021.

Patrick Murray issued cautionary note

Polling director Patrick Murray issued a cautionary note, suggesting that the President's emphasis on economic statistics might alienate voters, particularly as they grapple with the aftermath of pandemic-induced inflation. "There is a political danger in pushing a message that basically tells people their take on their own situation is wrong," Murray warned.

Adding to Biden's challenges is the fact that the top-polling Republican candidate, former President Donald Trump, holds a six-percentage-point lead in the 2024 race, according to a Wall Street Journal survey.

A New York Times poll further underscores Trump's advantage, showing him favored over Biden by four to 11 percentage points in the crucial 'swing states' expected to decide the election.

Critics of President Biden have seized on his complaints about press coverage, arguing that legacy media outlets have shielded him while relentlessly attacking Trump.

Independent journalist Glenn Greenwald went so far as to assert that major news networks like NBC, CNN, and MSNBC function as 'activist outlets', producing pro-Biden content for the Democratic National Committee.

The President's call for more favorable media coverage comes at a time when public sentiment toward media bias is at an all-time high.

According to a Rasmussen Reports poll released last week, about 60% of US voters believe that media bias has worsened in recent months, reaching the highest level on record. Notably, 51% of respondents felt that the press was providing too little coverage to scandals involving Biden's son, while only 24% believed the issue received too much attention.

Social media reactions

Despite the President's appeal for a shift in media coverage, he faced quite a backlash on social media.

"This man hates the truth," one posted on X (formerly Twitter).

"That's how dictators act," another wrote.

"LMAOOOOOOO @POTUS you know we can all see how much our grocery bill is. You don't have to keep gaslighting us," a comment read.

"'Start reporting it the way the government tells you to.' Fixed it for him," someone else offered.

"The reality for most Americans doesn't reflect 'a good economy.' The metrics they use may be outdated or willfully deceptive," another chimed in.