President Biden greeted members of the media on his way to the White House on Wednesday and exchanged fists with some, in stark contrast to the former President TrumpDonald Way: Lil Wayne receives 11 o’clock Trump’s pardon Trump leniency more than 100 people, including Bannon Trump expects to forgive Bannon: reports MOREcontroversial relationship with the media.
The newly inaugurated president was filmed giving a punch to NBC’s “Today” personality, Al Roker, and allegedly told other members of the media “keep doing what you’re doing.”
And @alroker delivers again to the inaugural parade route -> pic.twitter.com/bKF6MEFiXG
– Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) January 20, 2021
SEE: Pres. Biden enters #InaugurationDay parade. https://t.co/qjeUynJUdz pic.twitter.com/t1OWTkKmXw
– ABC News (@ABC) January 20, 2021
The president’s comments to the press come from a predecessor who frequently spoke out against the press, attacking them as “the enemy of the people.”
Those in the media industry have harshly criticized this rhetoric, especially after many journalists and photographers were caught in the middle of the blockade imposed during the deadly riots on January 6 in the US Chapter.
Media members have also been critical of previous administrations for their lack of transparency and access to the press, which they hope the new administration can change.
This week, the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), in a letter to Biden, asked him to repeal the rules that began under Obama and said they had worsened under Trump, which restricts agency staff who can speak to the media.
“The SPJ believes that the nation is suffering the consequences of these controls during the COVID-19 pandemic. The agencies on which the public relies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration, have prevented reporting for years, ”the letter said. “The press is often not allowed in their facilities and reporters are forbidden to contact staff without the supervision of the authorities; In reality, reporters are often not allowed to talk to anyone. ”