JOE Biden used his first late-night television talk show appearance as United States (US) president to highlight his infrastructure bill yesterday – and laugh off his flagging approval ratings.

His appearance on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon is the first by a sitting president since Barack Obama, and comes as the White House seeks to highlight the recently passed bill for upgrading the nation’s tattered transport networks.

Biden’s approval ratings have sunk to the low 40% area despite its passage, in part due to the spike in inflation.

When asked by host Fallon if he pays attention to approval ratings, Biden dead-panned: “Well, not anymore.”

“I am joking. I was paying attention when it was in the mid-60s, but when it is in the mid-40s I do not pay attention,” said the president, to laughter from the studio audience.

His appearance comes after predecessor Donald Trump declined invitations for any late-night talk show as president.

Obama frequently used programmes hosted by Fallon and rivals, such as Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert, to speak to the wider US public.

Fallon opened the show by joking the pair will “discuss the economy, the infrastructure bill and break down the first two episodes of the Sex and the City reboot”.

Fallon managed one barb about inflation figures, claiming he had earlier asked the president how excited the latter was to appear on the show on a scale of one to 10.

“He said 10, but six without inflation.”

During the interview, Fallon allowed the president to set out policies including his landmark US$1.8 trillion (RM7.5 trillion) Build Back Better plan to improve social services and fight climate change, which faces a tough road in Congress.

Wearing a suit and tie, and seated in front of a festively decorated mantlepiece, Biden urged Americans to get booster shots and highlighted steady declines in the unemployment rate.

He said “we do have inflation on things that matter in people’s lives” such as gas prices, but promised “ is is going to come down”.

The interview – during which Fallon praised Biden for “bringing class back to the office” and asked “does anyone really understand how hard your job is?” – ended with the host being invited over for dinner at the White House. – AFP, December 11, 2021.