Joe Biden over the weekend broke his foot while playing with his dog. Despite being obsessed with even the most minor aspect of Donald Trump's presidency, the networks on Sunday night and Monday morning showed very little interest in the health of the 78-year-old president-elect. CBS This Morning allowed a meager 36 seconds of coverage in the two hour program. ABC managed just 48 seconds and NBC provided the most at 96 seconds. The total was a mere three minutes.
On CBS This Morning, co-host Anthony Mason explained, "Mr. Biden broke his foot over Thanksgiving weekend." Reporter Nikole Killion briefly noted, “The President-Elect's office says that he was playing with his dog, Major, and slipped. A CT scan later revealed he suffered hairline fractures, but he did flash a thumb's up as he left the doctor's office Sunday night. His physician says he will likely wear a walking boot for several weeks.”
On Good Morning America, co-host George Stephanopoulos was more interested in Biden’s all female communications team as he opened the show: “Breaking overnight, President-Elect Biden breaking barriers with more announcements about key members of his new administration.” He blandly teased of the incoming president: “Also, President-Elect Biden suffering a fracture in his foot. How it happened.”
On Sunday’s World News Tonight, reporter Rachel Scott showed no outrage at how Biden’s team obstructed information on the broken foot: “Reporters who were traveling with the President-elect were held back and not allowed to see him enter that doctor's office.”
On NBC’s Today, Geoff Bennett lead with Biden’s female staffers before getting to the dog:
President-Elect Biden is set to name another team, he's unveiled an all-female senior communications team and tomorrow is set to introduce the officials who will lead his economic team. But today, he’s dealing with the more pressing issue, that fractured foot he suffered while playing with one of his German Shepherds. This morning, President-elect Joe Biden is on the mend, spending Sunday night at the doctor’s office after twisting his ankle while playing with his dog Major.
Here’s the totals: ABC managed 24 seconds on Sunday night and another 24 seconds on Monday morning. CBS had football on Sunday night and totaled 36 seconds on Monday morning. NBC offered the most, 39 seconds on Sunday night and 57 on Monday morning.
The scant coverage on CBS This Morning was sponsored by Volkswagen and Walgreens. Click on the links to let them know what you think.
Partial transcripts are below. Click “expand” to read more.
CBS This Morning
11/30/2020
7:14 AM ET36 seconds
ANTHONY MASON: The next president is facing an unexpected new difficulty as he assembles his new administration. Mr. Biden broke his foot over Thanksgiving weekend. Nikole Killion is covering the Biden transition in Wilmington, Delaware. How did the President-Elect get hurt?
NIKOLE KILLION: Well, Anthony, the President-Elect's office says that he was playing with his dog, Major, and slipped. A CT scan later revealed he suffered hairline fractures, but he did flash a thumb's up as he left the doctor's office Sunday night. His physician says he will likely wear a walking boot for several weeks.
Good Morning America
11/30/2020
7:11 AM ET
24 secondsCECILIA VEGA: While Biden is focused on his transition, he's expected to do it in a medical walking boot for several weeks after twisting his ankle while playing with his dog over the weekend. The President-elect flashing a thumbs up during a trip to the doctor’s. The doctor did confirm Joe Biden has a small hairline fracture. President trump tweeted out that video of Biden at that doctors’s visit saying, “Get well soon.”
Today
11/30/2020
7:09 AM ET
57 secondsHODA KOTB: And this holiday weekend took an unexpected detour. Biden hurt his foot while playing with his dog. NBC’s Geoff Bennett is in Wilmington with the very latest. Hey Geoff. Good morning.
GEOFF BENNETT: Good morning. President-Elect Biden is set to name another team, he's unveiled an all-female senior communications team and tomorrow is set to introduce the officials who will lead his economic team. But today, he’s dealing with the more pressing issue, that fractured foot he suffered while playing with one of his German Shepherds. This morning, President-elect Joe Biden is on the mend, spending Sunday night at the doctor’s office after twisting his ankle while playing with his dog Major. Biden’s doctor saying the president-elect following a CT scan sustained hairline fractures in his right foot and will likely require a walking boot for several weeks. President Donald Trump tweeting "Get well soon.”
