Asking about Obama's strategy to combat ISIS, NPR host Steve Inskeep asked "What is the public missing?" adding "And I say that simply because, according to polls, you don't have very much approval for it."

"Well, I think what's fair is, post-Paris, you had a saturation of news about the horrible attack there, and ISIL combines viciousness with very savvy media operations," Obama replied.

"And as a consequence, if you've been watching television for the last month, all you've been seeing, all you've been hearing about is these guys with masks or black flags who are potentially coming to get you, so I understand why people are concerned about it." the president added.

In several recent polls, increased numbers of Americans have said they now fear the threat of terrorist attacks.

Obama added that while the attacks constituted a "legitimate" story the media coverage was all about getting ratings.