Washington: President Barack Obama has sat for an extraordinarily rare TV interview in the White House Situation Room to air next week on the first anniversary of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden.
NBC News scored the media coup, which comes as the White House touts the anniversary in a new campaign ad highlighting Obama's approval of the operation -- and questioning whether Republican rival Mitt Romney would have done the same.
"A year later there's still enormous interest in the events of that day," said National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor in first official reaction on the interview. "This is another window into that remarkable day" he added.
NBC described the access to the most secure part of the White House as "a first for network television," adding that the President, his national security staff and military advisers relived key moments in the dramatic run-up to bin Laden's demise.
"We want to present the definitive account of what took place leading up to and during the tension-filled hours of the mission targeting Osama bin Laden," NBC News President Steve Capus said in a statement.
The interview was conducted on Thursday and the special broadcast is due to air on May 2.
The White House resisted questions about the anniversary, including whether it was politicizing the top-secret crisis center where Mr Obama and his senior aides followed the raid one year ago.
Vietor meanwhile pushed back at suggestion the room itself was too sensitive to be showcased in a high profile media segment.
"The room itself is only classified if the topic being discussed is classified. There are daily meetings in the Situation Room about non-national security issues," he said.
The Situation Room was created in 1961 during John F Kennedy's administration to serve as a super-secure communications nerve center.
In 2007, it underwent a full renovation, and is now comprised of three conference rooms where some two dozen meetings are held each day, according to a video of the facility released by the White House.
NBC News scored the media coup, which comes as the White House touts the anniversary in a new campaign ad highlighting Obama's approval of the operation -- and questioning whether Republican rival Mitt Romney would have done the same.
"A year later there's still enormous interest in the events of that day," said National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor in first official reaction on the interview. "This is another window into that remarkable day" he added.
"We want to present the definitive account of what took place leading up to and during the tension-filled hours of the mission targeting Osama bin Laden," NBC News President Steve Capus said in a statement.
Advertisement
The White House resisted questions about the anniversary, including whether it was politicizing the top-secret crisis center where Mr Obama and his senior aides followed the raid one year ago.
Advertisement
"The room itself is only classified if the topic being discussed is classified. There are daily meetings in the Situation Room about non-national security issues," he said.
Advertisement
In 2007, it underwent a full renovation, and is now comprised of three conference rooms where some two dozen meetings are held each day, according to a video of the facility released by the White House.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Barack Obama, Wife Michelle Endorse Kamala Harris' Bid For US Presidency Report Reveals Why Barack Obama Hasn't Endorsed Kamala Harris In US Polls Obama Praises Biden's "Lifetime Of Service" Following Oval Office Address Mamata Banerjee's Sunday Ultimatum To CBI For Death Penalty In Rape-Murder How Extreme Weather Is Leading To Rise In Child Marriages In Pakistan "Prove With Pics Crime Scene Intact": Court To Bengal Over Hospital Vandalism Egyptian Ship Arrested At Paradip Port In Odisha For Outstanding Debt Will Back Any Candidate Announced As Chief Minister Face: Uddhav Thackeray Trump, Musk, And The Importance Of 'Exaggeration' In Storytelling Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.