Critics roundly mocked MSNBC for scheduling an interview with first lady Jill Biden that was to be hosted by Symone Sanders, a former senior adviser on President Joe Biden’s campaign team and former chief spokesperson for Vice President Kamala Harris.
MSNBC Vice President of Editorial and Booking Jesse Rodriguez touted the interview in a Thursday tweet, saying, “Looking forward to @SymoneDSanders’ interview with @FLOTUS Dr. Jill Biden on @MSNBC #exclusive.”
Looking forward to @SymoneDSanders' interview with @FLOTUS Dr. Jill Biden on @MSNBC #exclusive pic.twitter.com/Z1zkfY4Btj
— Jesse Rodriguez (@JesseRodriguez) May 5, 2022
“By the way, MSNBC is having a former senior Biden advisor and Kamala Harris’ spokesperson interview the First Lady,” one user tweeted.
“In the history of softball interviews, this is quite likely to be among the softballiest,” @chicksontheright tweeted.
“Sanders is a former Biden advisor. MSNBC hired her in January and now she’s interviewing Jill Biden?” Real Clear Investigations writer Mark Hemingway observed. “This isn’t journalism — it’s NBC doing partisan PR.”
But Symone Sanders was not just a campaign aide to President Biden or a spokesperson for Vice President Harris — she was also part of a tag team with first lady Jill Biden when protesters threatened to disrupt a Super Tuesday campaign event in early March of 2020 — just before the coronavirus pandemic but an abrupt end to such events.
“Symone Sanders. Jill Biden. What a night,” Washington Post reporter Eugene Scott commented, sharing photos of the event.
Symone Sanders.
Jill Biden.
What a night. #SuperTuesday pic.twitter.com/ngdz97nkRa
— Eugene Scott (@Eugene_Scott) March 4, 2020
The Washington Examiner’s Seth Mandel added, “If the Jets signed them tomorrow, Jill Biden and Symone Sanders would be the team’s best combo since Klecko and Gastineau.”
“The NY Sack Exchange has nothing on @DrBiden and @SymoneDSanders,” Joel Petlin agreed.
The NY Sack Exchange has nothing on @DrBiden and @SymoneDSanders
— Joel M. Petlin (@Joelmpetlin) March 4, 2020
“Damn, Dr. Jill Biden and Joe’s younger sister surrounded him like Secret Service agents to protect him, then Symone Sanders came in for the tackle. That’s love from powerful women,” singer and songwriter Ricky Davila commented, sharing video of the event.
Damn, Dr. Jill Biden and Joe’s younger sister surrounded him like Secret Service agents to protect him, then Symone Sanders came in for the tackle. That’s love from powerful women. https://t.co/lwg2bepZxl
— Ricky Davila 🇺🇦 (@TheRickyDavila) March 4, 2020
“As lunatic protestors rushed the stage tonight, we saw Dr. Jill Biden and Joe’s younger sister surround him without thinking and his senior advisor Symone Sanders literally tackled one. Who needs secret service detail when you have a group of powerful women?” he added.
CNN’s Erin Burnett tweeted from her “Out Front” show account, “Jill Biden for Secretary of Defense — literally? Joe Biden’s wife and his campaign adviser Symone Sanders got in between the former vice president and protesters at his Los Angeles rally on Tuesday night.”
Jill Biden for Secretary of Defense — literally? Joe Biden’s wife and his campaign adviser Symone Sanders got in between the former vice president and protesters at his Los Angeles rally on Tuesday night. https://t.co/OzcREkDEzn pic.twitter.com/z6gDBlX8mG
— OutFrontCNN (@OutFrontCNN) March 5, 2020