Millions watch Joe Biden's press conference: 'Like a reality show'

More than 23 million people watched Biden’s live news conference on the NATO meeting last Thursday. It is, apart from sporting events, one of the most-watched television programs of the year in the United States. Those who streamed the news conference online were also not included in the viewership figure.

The fact that so many people watched the press conference probably had nothing to do with the sudden and unexpected surge of interest in NATO issues. Rather, viewers wanted to see how Biden would perform, after weeks of criticism that he was unfit to lead Democrats to victory in the fall presidential election.

– Those who like Biden watched and crossed their fingers that he would show his old self. Andreas Otterström says that those who don't like him were keen to take advantage of the fact that the person they don't like is setting a hook for himself.

“Elections are about people and drama.”

For nearly an hour, viewers watched Biden answer reporters' questions, many of which revolved around his health. They also watched Biden accidentally call his running mate Kamala Harris “Trump.”

In connection with the NATO meeting, he also introduced Ukrainian President Zelensky as “President Putin.” Two widely publicized errors that only served to fuel the fiery debate that has been raging recently.

Right now, almost all of the presidential election coverage is about Biden’s health, and very little about substantive policy, says Andreas Otterström. This is typical of US election campaigns, and Otterström describes them as typically entertaining and serious.

– Trump gave the entertainment part a turbocharger when he was president and even now after, with the indictments. It's more about people and drama, and very little about the core issues of American politics. And he says that will be the case until November 5.

However, many people chose to spend the evening watching a press conference with a politician. Could all this hype around the election ultimately lead to increased voter turnout?

– No, I don't think so. If Biden doesn't step down, it's going to be a choice between two candidates that a lot of people don't like, which means voter turnout is going to be pretty low. It's going to be a choice between Biden, Trump, and a couch potato – who's going to get their voters to go out and vote?