President Joe Biden has expressed frustration over the media's portrayal of the US economy, as he faces mounting backlash from voters over his handling of inflation and a decline in his approval ratings.
According to The Hill, in brief remarks before leaving the White House on Saturday to spend his Christmas at Camp David, Biden expressed confidence in the economy and took a swipe at the media for how the US economy was negatively portrayed.
Joe Biden to Media: 'Start Reporting it the Right Way'
Before boarding the presidential helicopter on Saturday, Joe Biden responded to a question about his "outlook" of the economy for 2024, and he said, "All good. Take a look."
And then he added with a smirk, "Start reporting it the right way." This statement was released in a transcript by the White House on Sunday. Biden's criticism reflects his ongoing frustration with the public perception of the US economy under his leadership.
The president has enacted legislation for substantial economic relief and investments, contributing to the economy's recovery from the COVID-19 recession.
As of November, the US unemployment rate stood at 3.7 percent, only slightly above the pre-pandemic level of 3.5 percent, which was considered a five-decade low.
Annual inflation, which peaked at 9.1 percent in June 2022, had also fallen to 3.1 percent in November. These positive economic indicators contradicted earlier predictions of a recession.
Public Sentiment on Joe Biden
However, despite these improvements, public sentiment toward Joe Biden's handling of the economy has soured over the year. The president's approval rating hit a record low of 34 percent in a recent Monmouth University poll, with almost 70 percent of respondents expressing disapproval of his management of inflation.
The disconnect between positive economic indicators and public dissatisfaction highlights Biden's challenges in communicating the successes of his administration's economic policies.
The president has been critical of the media, which he accuses of focusing more on negative news than positive things from his administration. Thus, his call for the media to "start reporting it the right way" underscores his desire for a more favorable narrative surrounding the US economy.
As Joe Biden grapples with declining approval ratings and criticism over inflation, the economic landscape remains a central focus of the president, who wants to reshape the narrative around his administration's economic achievements.
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