Biden slams media, says president isn't immune from prosecution as his popularity is below Trump's

Biden's comments on the economy and the former president come as Donald Trump's popularity rises.

Published: December 25, 2023 2:02pm

President Joe Biden criticized the news media for its coverage of the U.S. economy and said that he does not think a president can be immune from criminal prosecution as former President Donald Trump's popularity rises.

Before departing the White House Saturday on Marine One, a reporter asked the president for his outlook on the economy for 2024. 

"All good. Take a look. Start reporting it the right way," Biden responded, according to the official White House transcript released Sunday. 

After four-decade-high inflation during his presidency, Biden's handling of the economy is a major issue with voters, polls show.

Another reporter asked Biden on Saturday: "Do you think that the president — any president is absolutely immune from criminal prosecution — any president at all?"

"I can't think of one," Biden responded.

Trump is not arguing that he has absolute immunity, but rather that he is immune from prosecution for activities within the bounds of his official responsibilities as president. He is arguing that this immunity extends to the actions he took related to the 2020 presidential election for which he faces criminal charges.

Biden's comments on the economy and the former president come as his popularity is lower than Trump's. 

While 55% of people on average view Biden unfavorably and 39.8% view him favorably, 52.8% of people view Trump unfavorably and 42.1% view him favorably, according to an average of major polls from the outlet FiveThirtyEight. 

Follow Madeleine Hubbard on X or Instagram.

Unlock unlimited access

  • No Ads Within Stories
  • No Autoplay Videos
  • VIP access to exclusive Just the News newsmaker events hosted by John Solomon and his team.
  • Support the investigative reporting and honest news presentation you've come to enjoy from Just the News.
  • Just the News Spotlight

    Support Just the News