Mainstream media has been accused of fawning over President Joe Biden during a trip to Cleveland. The 78-year-old made a quick detour during his visit to buy ice cream for himself and his staff members. This might have seemed like an opportunity for the press to ask POTUS questions on acute issues such as his order to probe the origins of COVID-19 or the migrant crisis at the US border with Mexico. But instead, journalists decided to find out what ice cream he had bought.
"Chocolate chocolate chip", Biden said, making the crowd cheer.
The media’s delight over the president’s taste preferences continued on social media, with several White House reporters writing on the issue.
Biden’s ice cream pit stop was covered by the mainstream media, which caused anger among conservatives, who thought the media was being obsequious to the Democrat.
Others berated the journalists for not grilling the official on important issues.
Still others drew attention to the way the press treated Biden’s predecessor when he stopped to buy ice cream.
One journalist did ask POTUS if he had a message for Republicans who voiced opposition to a bill that would create a commission to investigate the storming of the US Capitol on 6 January 2020.
"Eat some chocolate chocolate chip", Biden joked before saying: "I can’t imagine anyone voting against the establishment of a commission on the greatest assault since the Civil War on the Capitol".