New Era? Major Garrett Will Interview Pres. Obama

by Steve Krakauer | 12:17 pm, November 17th, 2009

» 2 comments

A little less than a week after Mediaite confirmed from Fox News that Major Garrett would interview Pres. Barack Obama in China, then the White House essentially denied, we now know that yes – the interview is taking place.

After months of tension between the two sides, this could be a sign of a new era. But let’s not overplay the olive branch – four other networks get the interview as well.

Garrett tweeted the news this morning: “I will interview POTUS on camera Wed am here in Beijing. 4 other networks will too. 10 mins per. Many had asked. Can say now.” It was later confirmed on the White House blog on Foxnews.com.

So Garrett’s interview will be far from exclusive – he’ll be one of five White House correspondents conducting interviews tonight in China: ABC’s Jake Tapper, CBS’ Chip Reid, CNN’s Ed Henry and NBC’s Chuck Todd. In other words: the White House is sticking with the pool this time. (Remember that backstory?)

While this is a big step forward in the mending relationship between the White House and Fox News, this is very much the expected first route. Will Pres. Obama sit for an interview with one of the opinion guys (Bill O’Reilly would probably be the most obvious choice) or give Fox an opportunity to make their own news, with an exclusive Sunday show interview? We’ll see how it progresses, likely as we look toward the beginning of 2010.

With the interview taking place overnight, expect the first clips to show up on Fox & Friends, and likely air throughout the day tomorrow.

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Tommy Christopher

Well, actually, this is exactly what the White House said would happen.

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/white-houses-anita-dunn-shreds-fox-news-again-fox-responds/

““We have on past foreign trips done what are called round-robins where there are short interviews with all of the networks that travel with us,” she said. “We have not made a decision network on whether or not we are going to do those. There are no confirmed television interviews in China. And if, oh, some network sent out a press release announcing that was going to happen you’d have to ask about that network and whether or not they really had their facts confirmed before they leaked that.”

As Major’s tweet indicates, until now, the plans were unconfirmed and off the record.

“I will interview POTUS on camera Wed am here in Beijing. 4 other networks will too. 10 mins per. Many had asked. Can say now.”

It’s a tribute to Major Garrett’s professionalism that he kept those confidences.
Sunnyr

Glad you got the interview, Major, but I will be busy watching the paint dry on my storm door. Much more interesting and just about as informative. You are a good reporter but BHO totally effing sucks!