Democratic strategist: 'Biden loves talking but the people around him want to keep him under wraps'

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Biden has only given 10 interviews in his first nine months in office, far fewer than his two immediate predecessors, Donald Trump and Barack Obama, who did 57 and 131, respectively, according to Mark Knoller, a former CBS News White House correspondent who keeps track,

And the number of interviews has reduced in recent months, with only five in Biden's first two months in office.

Even as he approaches a critical time in pushing his enormous spending plans through Congress, critics within his own party see a president with a siege mentality.

'The guy has always been a gaffe machine. He loves talking but the people around him want to keep him under wraps,' said a Democratic strategist who asked speak on background in order to freely discuss White House strategy.

'This is one way to do it but you lose a bit of what makes Joe tick.'

President Biden left the White House with the first lady for the short trip to Baltimore on Thursday evening for a CNN town hall. It is his third appearance at such an event since taking office but he trails his predecessors for number of interviews

This will be Biden's third CNN town hall since taking office

Biden found himself in familiar territory on Thursday.

Cooper, who was also master of ceremonies at his first town hall as president in February, presided over the meeting.

His last one-on-one interview was with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos, an alumnus of the Clinton White House, more than two months ago.

However, it was followed by days of fact-checking false claims, ranging from the number of Afghan forces to the presence of US troops in Syria.

Officials at the White House downplay the importance of interviews, pointing out that the president has routinely accepted a few questions from media at events.

But that gives him the ability to pick and choose what he answers, say presidential observers, and allow him to simply walk away when he wants to.

Thursday's town hall will be held before an invited audience.

'Joe Biden can sometimes get off message so putting him in unscripted environments might not be the best way of Joe Biden communicating,' Democratic strategist Jamal Simmons told The Hill.

Biden's last one-on-one interview was with ABC's George Stephanopoulos on August 18

Even so Biden himself has joked about the way his aides prefer him not to get chatty.

'I'm not suppose to take any questions,' he said, during a visit to FEMA headquarters in August, 'but go ahead.'

On that occasion he quickly brushed off a question about trouble in Afghanistan and walked away from reporters.

In May, he took a couple of questions after a COVID-19 update but said: 'I’m not supposed to be answering all these questions.'

White House press secretary Jen Psaki admitted that was how officials wanted him to play it.

'This is not something we recommend,' she told David Axelrod, the former Obama adviser, during an interview for his podcast.

'In fact, a lot of times we say, "Don't take questions."'

Republicans have used Biden's lack of interviews against him, saying the president lacks stamina or mental energy to fulfil the duties of the office. Some have dubbed him 'Sleepy Joe.'