New York Times reporters and CNN political analyst report in a forthcoming book that United States President Joe Biden made an assessment that Fox News is among "the most destructive forces" in the country.
The President allegedly gave the scathing judgment to an unidentified individual, according to the book "This Will Not Pass: Trump, Biden, and the Battle for America's Future" authored by New York Times reporters Jonathan Martin and Alex Burns.
As per The Independent report, the book defines Fox as a "torrent of anti-Biden programming." It says that the media company fuels skepticism about COVID-19 vaccines and spreads "wild conspiracy theories" about the January 6 attack on the nation's capital.
The authors claimed in the book that Biden "assessed" Fox as "one of the most destructive forces in the United States" and told an associate "midway through 2021" that mogul Rupert Mordoch, the company's chairman, "was even more toxic than that," as per CNN.
A White House spokesperson has declined to comment on the book's claims, which is scheduled to be released in the first week of May.
The Biden-Murdoch Conflict
Mr. Murdoch, 91, and his eldest son Lachlan Murdoch, 50, the CEO of Fox News, are accused by Biden supporters of encouraging right-wing anchors like Tucker Carlson, known for racist remarks.
Murdoch owns the Fox News Channel, The Times of London, and The Wall Street Journal, and according to Bloomberg's billionaire index, his net worth is $9.2 billion.
Many expect the comment in the book would draw reactions as Biden never publicly spoke about Murdoch based on his speeches, interviews, social media posts, and other public statements.
Biden, however, occasionally clashes with Fox White House correspondent Peter Doocy and was caught by the reporter "a stupid son of a bitch," on a hot mic in January, for which Biden apologized.
More Work To Do for Economic Recovery
Meanwhile, seven months before the midterm elections, President Biden is struggling to take credit for the country's economic recovery, prompting him to shift focus to the everyday concerns of Americans.
Job growth has been strong and consistent since Biden assumed office last year, as he addressed the country on Friday after the March jobs report revealed a substantial boost of 431,000 jobs and a low unemployment rate of 3.6 percent, AP News reported.
However, he acknowledged that food and gas costs are too high, and inflation is at its highest level in a generation, tempering his statements.
"Our economy has gone from being on the mend to being on the move," Biden said, even as he acknowledged Americans are not ready for a victory lap. "I know that this job is not finished: We need to do more to get prices under control."
Biden's polling numbers mirror the public's dissatisfaction with the economy.
According to a March poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, nearly two-thirds of Americans believe the economy is in bad shape, and nearly two-thirds disapprove of Biden's economic leadership.
Administration officials and supporters are pleased with the job creation figures, but they are concerned about the ongoing economic crisis, which threatens Biden with a historically hostile atmosphere for a president's party in a midterm election year.
