This low-key approach is one the White House has used before, with party insiders saying it's important to seize the opportunity to counter criticism that he's too old or not up to the job. This has caused some concerns at times.
“He has to make his case,” said Will Marshall, president of the Democratic think tank Progressive Policy Institute. “There is an opportunity to go on the offensive on the economy and even on immigration.”
But the administration says that's by design and that concerns overlook the nuances of the job, not just how much he interacts with the public. This is especially true, they say, regarding the airstrike that followed the deaths of three U.S. soldiers.
Since these attacks began four days ago, Biden has refused to address the public directly about his administration's attacks in the Middle East. He was asked to respond to concerns that giving a major speech could escalate tensions with Iran and spark a larger regional conflict, according to three senior government officials authorized to speak publicly about internal deliberations on condition of anonymity. He says he is being driven.
Officials were concerned that the Oval Office-style speech would signal that the United States was at war, one of the three officials said. And as Mr. Biden grapples with a range of foreign policy challenges, the White House is keen to emphasize that it has no intention of confronting Tehran.
Instead, Biden issued a written statement warning of further action. Despite the ongoing strike, he has no intention of addressing the nation at this time.
The modern perception of the presidency is that the man behind the desk is willing to use his bullish pulpit to shape public opinion. Mr. Biden has used his office to that end, but not to the same extent as his predecessor. His team, which often focuses on mainstream news outlets, limits the press conferences Biden holds, preferring shorter, more informal news conferences. The president himself has a relatively sparse public schedule, and when it comes to negotiating legislation, he often prefers private deliberations rather than external pressure.
“Different presidents respond differently. Part of that is a continuation of the reaction to former President Trump, who was always in the forefront — Biden is trying to do the opposite and focus on governing quietly.” said Julian Zelizer, a presidential historian at Princeton University.
“The danger is that instead of the perception that we have someone who is governing and careful, there is a perception that we have someone who is not in control,” Zelizer said.
Biden's political opponents took advantage of his silence. Former President Donald Trump, Biden's likely opponent in the general election, suggested in a radio interview on Monday that the incumbent skipped the Super Bowl interview because he couldn't answer basic questions. did.
But Biden officials dismissed speculation about their communications strategy, insisting that they are focused on the most effective efforts to reach voters, even if they don't fit the mold of past presidential campaigns. Biden spent much of last week campaigning in key states such as Michigan and Nevada. Aides say he has spent more time outside Washington in the past year than each of the previous two presidents.
“President Biden criss-crosses the country, often outpacing his predecessor's travel schedule, speaking to Americans about their lives and the issues that matter most to them,” Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates said in a statement. He called the approach “aggressive.” , all the above-mentioned community and digital strategies in modern times. ”
Biden has appeared in South Carolina several times in the run-up to Saturday's primary, speaking at a historic black church two weeks ago. Rather than planning a weekend campaign, Biden's aides scheduled a series of radio interviews in the state on stations with large black audiences ahead of the vote.
He wasn't there to celebrate when Biden won the primary after pushing to make South Carolina the first state on the calendar. Instead, he called his ally, Rep. James Clyburn, and put him on speakerphone so that victory party attendees could hear him.
As for the Super Bowl interview, officials and allies said the occasion just doesn't have the prestige it once did. Viewers don't want politicians to interfere with game day, aides argue, and what was once a light-hearted opportunity to humanize the president is now distinguishable from most other network shows. I can't stand it. CBS offered a 15-minute interview and planned to air selected three to four minutes during the Super Bowl broadcast, according to people familiar with the matter.
“If there's more unity in the country and things become less divisive, it could be a fun casual moment,” said Jennifer Palmieri, President Obama's former communications director. “It ended with Bill O'Reilly and Barack Obama, but that was over a decade ago.”
For a president struggling in the polls, this may seem like a missed opportunity. But Mr. Biden's aides are creating local media coverage, in-person encounters and viral moments that play to Mr. Biden's strengths without turning away voters who are quickly jaded by months of presidential campaign exposure. He said he is focusing on that.
So for now, less is more, even outside of a campaign.
On Monday, senators sparred over the fate of a high-stakes border deal, but Biden spoke privately about how he intends to help pass legislation that the White House called critical in a statement. showed little insight.
His public push for the bill, with the fate of funding for Ukraine and Israel at stake, comes as he made a series of stops in Nevada on Monday, including one at a store selling bubble tea. . Biden spent his final two days in Las Vegas holding campaign rallies and meeting with local union officials.
In a brief exchange with reporters, Biden expressed confidence that the bill would ultimately pass the Senate. But with Republicans exhausted by infighting over the merits of a bipartisan deal, the president seemed content to avoid another fight.
“Shit flew out,” said one Democrat close to immigration negotiations. “But he's not very well-liked.”
Alex Ward contributed to this report.
