Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor, is asked twice directly by ABC’s Jon Karl if Obama has watched the beheading videos. And in both responses Rhodes gives a somewhat evasive answer, suggesting that Obama has not watched the videos but is aware of the contents:
“The president is not interested in lifting up, essentially, the propaganda efforts of a completely barbaric terrorist organization like this. He is certainly aware of the horrific, horrific way in which these two Americans were taken from us… What he wants to do is make sure justice is done.”
…
“What we don’t want to do is put a spotlight on these videos, which are essentially horrific accounts of acts of terror and, frankly, horrific propaganda for an organization that has nothing to offer the world except death and destruction.”