The Biden administration has been playing Fox News all week on whether Joe Biden will do a traditional Super Bowl interview with the network this Sunday. The White House toured Fox News on Thursday and arranged a softball interview with two personalities for Fox Soul, a little-known digital broadcast and streaming service. Fox Corp. initially shot down that deal, prompting a statement from the White House on Friday. A few hours later Fox Corp. relented, announcing that Fox Soul would interview Biden and that two Fox Soul personalities, Vivica A. Fox and Michael Hill, had flown to Washington to do the interview.
“The President looked forward to an interview with Fox Soul to discuss the Super Bowl, the State of the Union and critical issues affecting the daily lives of Black Americans. We have been informed that Fox Corp has requested that the interview be cancelled.”
The president was looking forward to an interview with Fox Soul to discuss the Super Bowl, the State of the Union and critical issues affecting the daily lives of black Americans. We have been informed that Fox Corp has requested the cancellation of the interview.
— Karine Jean-Pierre (@PressSec) February 10, 2023
Fox Corp. then issued a statement: “After the White House contacted Fox Soul on Thursday night, there was some initial confusion. Fox Soul can’t wait to interview the president for Super Bowl Sunday.”
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On Friday night, the White House issued a statement saying the interview had not yet been terminated (via Variety):
“As we said earlier, we had scheduled an interview with Fox Sports host Mike Hill and Vivica A. Fox with the president ahead of the Super Bowl and Fox Corp canceled the interview. FOX has since released a statement saying the interview has been postponed, which is incorrect,” a White House spokesman said.”
…But Fox’s original intention was to give Biden an interview on Fox News. The idea doesn’t seem to have gone down well with the White House. Earlier Friday, a Fox News executive told Variety, “We have offered a no-strings-attached interview with our top news anchors. They’re walking away from a huge audience and it’s a huge missed opportunity.” Within minutes, the White House press secretary announced on Twitter that Fox Corp had canceled the Fox Soul interview contract.
Fox Corp. later he tried to accept the new idea. “After the White House addressed Fox Soul on Thursday night, there was some initial confusion. Fox Soul looks forward to speaking with the president for Super Bowl Sunday,” said Fox Corp. in the statement. The Fox television network is expected to air Super Bowl LVII on Sunday, February 13.
Earlier this week, Fox News anchor Bret Baier reported on the failure to secure an interview deal with Biden:
WATCH: Fox’s @BretBaier: “Every year, traditionally, the network that broadcasts the SuperBowl gets an interview with @POTUS. We have formally requested that conversation, but have not yet received an answer as to whether or not they will do so. We are running out of days.” #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/ptEgkA5IA6
— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) February 8, 2023