In a surprising turn of events, President Joe Biden has declined an interview with CBS News ahead of the Super Bowl on February 11th. This marks the second consecutive year that Biden will not sit down for a conversation with the network hosting the big game. Last year, the Biden administration declined Fox News' request for an interview as well.
Traditionally, it has become a tradition for the president to take part in an interview with the network hosting the Super Bowl. This interview provides an opportunity to reach a massive audience, as the game itself consistently draws over 100 million viewers. However, it seems that this tradition may be fizzling out.
It is unclear who CBS News had in mind as an alternative for this year's game. The decision to skip the interview is all the more surprising considering that it is an election year. In the past, an interview with the president ahead of the Super Bowl has been seen as an important moment to address the nation and showcase their administration's priorities.
The tradition of a formal sit-down conversation with the network hosting the Super Bowl began in 2009 with then-President Barack Obama. Prior to that, President George W. Bush engaged in a more casual interaction when he participated in the Super Bowl coin toss in 2002 and chatted with CBS Sports' Jim Nantz in 2004 before the network's broadcast of the event.
President Biden did participate in interviews during the first two years of his term, sitting down with CBS News' Norah O'Donnell in 2021 and NBC News' Lester Holt in 2022. It's unclear why the White House declined CBS News' request this year, especially considering the significant platform the Super Bowl interview provides.
With the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers set to face off in this year's Super Bowl, the absence of a presidential interview adds an interesting twist to the event. The Super Bowl remains a cultural phenomenon, with millions of viewers tuning in for both the game itself and the surrounding festivities.
While we may not see a presidential interview before this year's Super Bowl, it remains to be seen if this tradition will make a comeback in future years. As with many things, traditions have a way of evolving and changing over time, and it seems that the interview with the president prior to the big game may be experiencing a transition of its own.
As we eagerly await the kickoff of this year's Super Bowl, we can only wonder what impact the absence of a presidential interview will have on the overall viewing experience. Regardless, the game promises to be an exciting event that captures the attention of millions of fans around the world.
