Biden's Astonishing Move Sends Shockwaves Through TV News Channels, Leaving Them in a Frenzied Scramble

byRoxaine July 22, 2024

Producers, anchors, correspondents, and executives had spent days strategizing their plan should President Joe Biden decide to end his 2024 campaign.

President Joe Biden KEVIN DIETSCH/GETTY IMAGES

“We were planning for the news to leak out, followed by an address to the nation,” one producer says.

Instead, the president caught the media off guard.

“Enjoying a Wolf Spritzer at El Presidente restaurant here in DC,” CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer posted on Instagram around 9:45 a.m. PT, holding a cocktail in one hand and a menu in the other.

An hour later, Biden officially announced the end of his campaign through a PDF letter, keeping it leak-free. Blitzer swapped his cocktail for a suit and tie, appearing on air at noon PT. CNN, airing a replay of Fareed Zakaria’s program, interrupted to broadcast the breaking news.

A week after the stunning assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, TV news divisions sprang into action once more.

On ABC, Rachel Scott, who had been in Butler, Pennsylvania for Trump’s rally a week prior, led the network’s coverage with a special report at 11:04 a.m., joined by the full slate of ABC anchors, correspondents, and contributors.

Hallie Jackson anchored NBC’s special report at 11:02 a.m. Lester Holt later joined the coverage and will host NBC Nightly News, along with a two-hour special report starting at 4 p.m.

Kristine Johnson led CBS’ special report, with Norah O’Donnell joining later in the hour. The network plans to air a special from 3-5 p.m.

On cable, MSNBC and Fox News both seemed caught off guard by the announcement.

Mike Emanuel anchored on Fox News, which was the first channel to break the news at 10:50 a.m. Fox News chief political anchor Bret Baier called in, describing the move as “a tectonic shift in politics.” John Roberts and Sandra Smith took over at 11, with Baier joining them in the studio.

Fox News quickly expanded its usual Sunday special, incorporating most of its primetime opinion hosts, including Laura Ingraham, Jesse Watters, Sean Hannity, and Mark Levin.

MSNBC had Biden’s former press secretary, Jen Psaki, deliver the news to viewers.

“I’m going to speak personally here, just taking this in myself,” Psaki said. “I worked with him for a year and a half, and he is truly a remarkable person and president. He has had a phenomenal presidency, overcoming obstacles and surpassing expectations.”

Rachel Maddow joined the coverage shortly after, expressing similar sentiments: “This is history in the making. We’ll all remember where we were and what we were doing at this moment,” Maddow said. “Just thinking about the President now, what a man. What a patriot. Such selfless devotion to the country.”

MSNBC will have Maddow, Psaki, and Nicolle Wallace hosting starting at 4 p.m.

Notably, after being pulled from the schedule following the Trump assassination attempt, Morning Joe will return to MSNBC on Monday morning.
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