President Biden’s recent news conference at the NATO summit in Washington has garnered a lot of attention from the American public. With swirling questions about his age and mental fitness for office, over 23 million viewers tuned in to watch the president speak for nearly an hour, surpassing the viewership of this year’s Academy Awards.
The event, which was one of the most-watched telecasts of the year outside of sporting events, was broadcasted on major TV networks such as ABC, CBS, and NBC. Additionally, many more may have watched the conference on digital news sites and social media platforms, which are not accounted for in Nielsen’s data.
Compared to his predecessors, President Biden does not often hold solo news conferences, making Thursday’s event even more novel. Fox News attracted the largest audience with 5.7 million viewers, while ABC was the highest-rated broadcaster with five million viewers, possibly benefiting from its lead-in from “Jeopardy!” immediately before the news conference.
Nielsen reported that roughly four out of five viewers were 55 or older, with ABC drawing the largest audience among adults aged 25 to 54, a key demographic for advertisers in cable news. President Biden’s recent interview with George Stephanopoulos on ABC was also well-received, with 8.5 million viewers tuning in.
The president’s performance during the news conference was closely watched by many, especially following a lackluster showing in a previous debate with former President Donald J. Trump. The high viewership numbers indicate a strong public interest in the president’s actions and statements, particularly in light of ongoing speculation about his ability to effectively lead the country.
Overall, the significant viewership of President Biden’s news conference highlights the public’s keen interest in his presidency and the issues facing the nation. As the political landscape continues to evolve, the American people are closely following the president’s actions and decisions, shaping the national dialogue and discourse.