President Joe Biden has expressed his belief that his popularity among Americans would be higher if the media represented the state of the economy more accurately.
He made these remarks on Saturday, ahead of his trip to Camp David for the Christmas holidays, in response to a question about his economic outlook and plans for the 2024 re-election campaign.
The President’s comments were made amid growing concern about his approval ratings, particularly in relation to his handling of the economy. A recent poll suggested that President Biden is struggling to gain traction, even within his own party. As Fox Business host David Asman commented, “61% of Democrats joining the 93% of Republicans and 85% of independents who say the economy is in bad condition… and Biden’s blaming the media.”
Talk about shooting the messenger…61% of Democrats joining the 93% of Republicans and 85% of independents who say the economy is in bad condition…and Biden’s blaming the media. https://t.co/H9nv0sVhN4
— David Asman (@DavidAsmanfox) December 25, 2023
The poll referenced by Asman, conducted by Fox News, revealed that only 14% of Americans feel they have benefitted from Biden’s economic policies. Almost half (46%) of the respondents claimed that these policies had negatively impacted their personal finances. A significant 78% of those polled believed the economy was in a dire state.
Furthermore, the poll indicated a general dissatisfaction with the country’s direction, with 68% of respondents expressing discontent — a sharp increase from 53% shortly after Biden assumed office in 2021. Notably, dissatisfaction among Democrats surged from 20% in 2021 to 47% in the recent poll.
Concerns about the future are also prevalent, with just 22% of respondents optimistic that the economy will improve in the next year. Conversely, 44% fear that the economic situation will worsen in 2024. As the 2024 presidential campaigns loom, these economic concerns top the list of voters’ worries, closely followed by issues related to illegal immigration.
President Biden asserts that his approval ratings are suffering due to the media’s representation of the economy. This comes at a time when polls reveal widespread dissatisfaction with the state of the economy and the country’s direction, along with apprehension about what the future holds.
