Biden stumbles, but press still has his back
It pays to have the press and pundits on your side — especially when you’re a president who’s had a rough couple of days.
On Thursday, President Biden referred to his second-in-command as “President Harris” during a press conference on COVID-19 vaccines.
That “whoops” moment received a smattering of coverage, but nothing like the gotcha blasts aimed at former President Trump, for such gaffes as pronouncing Tanzania as Tan-zay-nia.
On Friday, Biden took a digger while walking up the steps to Air Force One.
That, too, has gotten coverage, and comments — but the nasty edge that defined Trump jokes was notably absent.
Chrissy Teigen tweeted, “We should all hope to one day trip on the way up to our personal jet.”
Another posted, “Did Jennifer Lawrence possess Biden’s body momentarily there?” evoking the actress’s wipeout on the Oscar ceremony steps.
Most tweets are in the spirit of fun: “No one is safe from the NFL’s rushing leader #Bidenfall,” posted the Pro Football Network, with an image of Tennessee Titans player Derrick Henry appearing to rush the president.
Of course, no one can pass up a chance to take a jab at Trump.
One person tweeted “Ok ok it makes sense now,” with a mashup clip of Trump hitting a golf ball that bonks Biden in the head, causing him to stumble.
Imagine if affable jocularity accompanied Trump’s now-infamous walk down a West Point incline last summer. A CNN reporter dolefully intoned “you see him walking very haltingly, one leg at a time” — something we’re pretty sure all bipeds do.
The late night talk show hosts had a field day with the clip.
Trump did not get the same sort of “that’s not so bad” collegiality being shown to Biden.
“The story ain’t about President Biden tripping as he entered Air Force One. It’s about how quickly he got back up,” tweeted DNC adviser Scott Dworkin.
The White House cited weather for Biden’s missteps.
“It’s pretty windy outside. It’s very windy. I almost fell coming up the steps myself,” White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters.
It’s par for the course that Biden gets a pass from the mainstream media for things his predecessor was mocked and excoriated for.
And not just being victim of life’s little stumbles.
This week, the president told potential immigrants “don’t come over” as the U.S. sorts out the surge at the southern border. “Don’t leave your town or city or community.”
No pushback from outraged critics decrying this call for migrants to stay in the countries from which they may seek asylum, nor are there any slams for a lack compassion in not opening our doors to those seeking a better life. Those were a steady drumbeat against Trump’s immigration policies, most notably his Remain in Mexico program.
There was a time when the mainstream press just reported the news. This predated the 24hour news cycle, where every moment must be filled — now by commentary and political screeds masquerading as analysis.
And it’s not lost on the 74 million people who voted for Donald Trump that the press and entertainment industry is treating Biden with kid gloves. If the aim is to stoke resentment of this double standard, it’s an unqualified success.