Several major news networks opted not to air President Joe Biden’s “soul of the nation” address on Thursday night, due in part to the contents of the speech and for how close the speech was given ahead of the midterm elections.
CBS, NBC, ABC, and Fox News did not air the speech, in which Biden criticized former President Donald Trump and “MAGA Republicans” for trying to take the country backward, live. The networks instead chose to air reruns of their shows, while Fox aired the most recent episode of Tucker Carlson Tonight and MSNBC and CNN aired the speech live, according to the Washington Post.
“MAGA Republicans do not respect the Constitution,” Biden said during his address. “They do not believe in the rule of law. They do not recognize the will of the people. They refuse to accept the results of a free election.”
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It is uncommon for U.S. presidents to deliver speeches during prime-time TV hours, though networks will typically air them when the situation arises. Media outlets will, at times, not air the speech if it is deemed too political, such as when NBC and CBS did not air then-President Barack Obama’s 2014 prime-time speech over immigration reform, according to the outlet.
At least one White House official tried to convince the outlets to air the speech live, telling NBC News that the speech was not about “a particular politician or even about a particular political party,” the outlet reported.
On Friday, Biden attempted to backtrack his comments on Trump supporters, stating that he does not consider “any Trump supporter a threat to the country.”
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The former president harshly criticized Biden’s speech and accused Biden of threatening the United States with his “awkward and angry” speech. Trump also alleged that the president is “suffering from late stage dementia,” he wrote on Truth Social.
Other Republicans have spoken out against Biden and his speech, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who called Biden the “American Nero” during a Friday interview.
