In the final White House press briefing ahead of President Biden’s trip to Ireland and Northern Ireland, a few reporters blasted the administration for yet again shielding the bumbling, stumbling commander-in-chief from even friendly questioners in the press corps. And seeing as how the Bidens would rather talk to Drew Barrymore and Al Roker, it’s safe to say anyone in their position would be miffed.
The Wall Street Journal’s Ken Thomas kicked it off with a simple question for inept Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre’s frequent crutch, John Kirby: “Do you expect a news conference on this trip? I’m sure the press corps would be interested in one.”
Kirby actually laughed at this idea, saying he doesn’t “expect there’ll be a news conference on this trip.”
The question came back when Kirby had left the room and the AP’s Zeke Miller sounded off: “It’s a four-day trip to two countries. You know, why can’t the President take questions from the press?”
Jean-Pierre tried to brush this off by reiterating there wouldn’t be any press availability for Biden even though he “always loves to take your questions.” Miller shot back, “Apparently not.”
She pushed back with mumbo jumbo:
No — but no. Look, when it comes to these types of events, as you know, being the President of — of — at one point — of the association, there are — these are relationships that we have — right — with — with these countries. So when it comes to two-plus-twos or anything like that, clearly that is not just on us, that is also on the country that we’re visiting, but as far as a standalone press conference, I just don’t have anything to share at this time.
CBS’s Weijia Jiang later tried to make sense of this, asking whether this was a decision made by the White House or the Irish to not have a ‘two-and-two’ where two reporters from each country’s press corps gets to ask questions.
Jean-Pierre tried to have it both ways, saying she had only been talking about “a standalone press conference,” but Jiang called that out: “[T]he Irish aren’t weighing in...I — I’m just not hearing a reason why you’re not having one then, because to not have one here, you’re saying it’s because it’s not just up to us?”
Jean-Pierre drew further purposeful confusion by insisting she “didn’t say that” and instead a joint press conference would be a decision to make between the two countries. Of course, she wouldn’t explain whether said conversation took place or would at all.
For those still able to at least somewhat comprehend, Gray TV’s Jon Decker brought this up near the end of the briefing, noting this isn’t just an issue for Biden’s “upcoming trip,” but “in general from this White House.”
Citing the fact that his outlet owns 113 local TV stations (mid-to-small-market ABCs, CBSs, etc.) across the country, Decker asked point blank: “Is the administration trying to protect the President from our questions?”
Jean-Pierre immediately dismissed that idea, twice saying “absolutely not.” Decker kept pushing: “Then why the lack of any interaction in a formal setting to have a press conference?”
Jean-Pierre griped she’s “dealt with this question about three times already” and was irked because Biden “many times has — has stan — has stood in front of all of you, has taken questions on his own, because he wanted to see what was on — on your minds”.
Decker invoked Biden’s four most recent predecessors to argue “this is not the norm” and the press corps hasn’t “had that opportunity in some time” to quiz Biden “about domestic and foreign policy issues in a formal setting”.
Jean-Pierre caused a mini-uproar when she hilariously claimed Biden has taken unprecedented levels of questions (click “expand”):
JEAN-PIERRE: So I’ll say this: It is also unprecedented that a President takes as many shouted questions as this President has and he has.
REPORTER: No.
REPORTER: No, no, no, no.
DECKER: I covered the last administration, and I’ll tell you: Almost every day, up until —
JEAN-PIERRE: Okay, well, we’ll get —
DECKER: — the November 2020 election, Donald Trump took questions practically every day.
JEAN-PIERRE: We’ll certainly — we’ll certainly get the data and share that with all of you. I hear — Jon —
DECKER: Yes.
JEAN-PIERRE: — I hear your question. I heard Zeke’s question. I hear you. I hear you on the press conference — on a formal press conference. We get this probably every couple of months when you guys ask us about a formal press conference. I don’t have anything to share with all of you at this time and — and I’ll just — I’ll just leave it there.
Also in the briefing, Fox Business’s Grady Trimble questioned whether the Biden administration was concerned with China inserting its tentacles into the electric vehicle battery industry. Of course, Jean-Pierre ducked (click “expand”):
TRIMBLE: I wanted to follow up on electric vehicles. You mentioned the investments. Some of the companies investing in EV battery plants here in the U.S. are Chinese companies. Is the administration doing anything to stop China from cashing in on green energy goals?
JEAN-PIERRE: I don’t have anything to share on China, specifically as it relates to electric vehicles. As you know, the President is committed to this. You see that in his Inflation Reduction Act. You see that in the bipartisan — the bipartisan infrastructure law, which — which is very — very keyed in on making sure that his gen — his agenda, dealing with clima [sic] — climate crisis is dealt with. So, don’t have anything on China. You know our — where we stand on China. We want competition, not conflict. That’s where we have always moved with China. You heard my colleague speak specifically on where that — those relation — that relationship is. Just don’t have anything specifically on the elec — electric vehicles.
TRIMBLE: Do you support Chinese companies coming in and building EV plants in Michigan?
JEAN-PIERRE: Again, I just don’t have anything specific as it relates to China and electric vehicles.
To see the relevant transcript from April 10’s briefing, click “expand.”
White House press briefing [via ABC News Live]
April 10, 2023
2:50 p.m. EasternKEN THOMAS: Do you expect a news conference on this trip? I’m sure the press corps would be interested in one.
JOHN KIRBY [LAUGHING]: I don’t expect there’ll be a news conference on this trip.
(....)
2:59 p.m. Eastern
ZEKE MILLER: And just to follow up to Ken’s question to Kirby before about the press conference on this trip. It’s a four-day trip to two countries. You know, why can’t the President take questions from the press?
KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: Right now, we just don’t have anything on the books for a press conference at this moment. The President always loves to take your questions — shouted questions.
MILLER: Apparently not.
JEAN-PIERRE: No — but no. Look, when it comes to these types of events, as you know, being the President of — of — at one point — of the association, there are — these are relationships that we have — right — with — with these countries. So when it comes to two-plus-twos or anything like that, clearly that is not just on us, that is also on the country that we’re visiting, but as far as a standalone press conference, I just don’t have anything to share at this time.
(....)
3:03 p.m. Eastern
WEIJIA JIANG: AOC suggests that the administration should just ignore the ruling. And she said that, “We know that the executive branch has an enforcement discretion.” Is that true?
JEAN-PIERRE: So this is similar, I think, to what Terry was asking me. Look, we understand the frustration, right? We get the frustration regarding this decision. Absolutely. And that’s why we were quick to act. That’s why you saw DOJ take action. We — basically what I said to Terry: We stand by FDA’s approval of mi- — mifepristone. And we are prepared to have a legal — a long legal fight here. That is our commitment to women out there. That is our commitment to Americans across the country. But I’ll say this: You know, it is dangero- — it — but as a precedent — as a dangerous precedent is set for court to set aside FDA’s expert judgment regarding a drug safe — safety and efficiency, it would also set a dangerous precedent for this administration to disregard — right? — a binding decision, So that’s what I’m getting to, but again, we are ready to fight. This is going to be a long fight. We understand this. We stand by FDA’s approval of mifepristone, something — this is a pill that’s been around for more than 20 years — I believe 22 years. It’s — it’s — it is — it has been used in 60 countries. So, of course, this is something that we are — we approve And we stand by FDA.
JIANG: But just to be clear, for people watching at home, who are listening to progressives saying, you know, the administration actually has an enforcement discretion and they could ignore this — you disagree with that?
JEAN-PIERRE: So what I’m saying is there is a process in place for appealing this type of decision, and we will pursue that process vigorously — that’s what the American people can count on from the Biden-Harris administration — and do everything that we can to prevail in the courts. That’s the commitment that we have.
JIANG: Okay. And to follow up on Zeke, you mentioned that the decision whether to hold a two-by-two here at the White House is made by both the administration as well as the visiting party. But is the decision whether to have a press conference abroad, in Ireland, a unilateral decision, or are the Irish weighing in on that too?
JEAN-PIERRE: No, I think I was very clear. I said, when to comes to a press conference — a standalone press conference, which is — does not include the country. We just — that is — we just don’t have a decision. Well, we — just not going to happen. It’s not in the books to happen on this trip.
JIANG: But it’s your decision alone, right?
JEAN-PIERRE: It’s a — it’s —
JIANG: The Irish aren’t weighing in.
JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, if it’s the press conference that the President is leading on his own, yes, it’s a standalone — that’s why I said a standalone press conference that is not happening on this trip.
JIANG: I — I’m just not hearing a reason why you’re not having one then, because —
JEAN-PIERRE: Look —
JIANG: — to not have one here, you’re saying it’s because it’s not just up to us?
JEAN-PIERRE: No, I didn’t say that. I said, when it comes to a two-plus-two —
JIANG: Right.
JEAN-PIERRE: — regardless if we’re away or regardless if the country is coming here, we do have — that is a discussion that we have with the country, right? That is a — a conversation that’s had and we do not do that unilaterally, so I was making a comparison. I was laying out that process, which — I know every time a head of state visits or even if we go to another country, this question comes up of the two-plus-two and so I was just laying out the process, as I’ve done many times at this podium. I’m just saying, at this time, we do not have a press conference — a standalone press conference for this President. I know — I know that it is of interest. I’m just giving you the answer on that.
JIANG: Thank you. [TO ALBA] Go ahead, Monica.
MONICA ALBA: And, Karine, did the White House ask HHS Secretary Becerra to clarify his comments on possibly ignoring the Texas order and saying everything is on the table when he was on the Sunday shows yesterday?
JEAN-PIERRE: I believe they put — I believe they put out a statement. HHS put out a statement making — making that clear that the administration is not going to ignore a ruling, So I’m going to just point you to the statement from HHS.
ALBA: And then, to be clear, you also mentioned you expect this could go up to the Supreme Court. Are you suggesting that the White House supports the Department of Justice seeking an emergency appeal with the Supreme Court now while it is still trying to get it blocked?
JEAN-PIERRE: I’m just not — I’m not suggesting that.
ALBA: [INAUDIBLE]
JEAN-PIERRE: I’m just saying, ultimately, we believe we can win if — this case in the Supreme Court if necessary, but this is something that the Department of Justice certainly is going to go through their process. What we’re saying is we’re prepared for a long legal fight, and that’s the promise that we can make to women — millions of women across the country right now.
(....)
3:13 p.m. Eastern
GRADY TRIMBLE: I wanted to follow up on electric vehicles. You mentioned the investments. Some of the companies investing in EV battery plants here in the U.S. are Chinese companies. Is the administration doing anything to stop China from cashing in on green energy goals?
JEAN-PIERRE: I don’t have anything to share on China, specifically as it relates to electric vehicles. As you know, the President is committed to this. You see that in his Inflation Reduction Act. You see that in the bipartisan — the bipartisan infrastructure law, which — which is very — very keyed in on making sure that his gen — his agenda, dealing with clima [sic] — climate crisis is dealt with. So, don’t have anything on China. You know our — where we stand on China. We want competition, not conflict. That’s where we have always moved with China. You heard my colleague speak specifically on where that — those relation — that relationship is. Just don’t have anything specifically on the elec — electric vehicles.
TRIMBLE: Do you support Chinese companies coming in and building EV plants in Michigan?
JEAN-PIERRE: Again, I just don’t have anything specific as it relates to China and electric vehicles.
(....)
3:16 p.m. Eastern
JON DECKER: And then the second question has to do with the lack of a press conference during the President’s upcoming trip and the lack of press conference that we see in general from this White House. I represent a news organization that owns 113 television stations. And a question that I’m often asked — and I don’t know the answer to, so I’ll ask you that question: Is the administration trying to protect the President from our questions? Please answer that question if you could.
JEAN-PIERRE: Absolutely not. Absolutely not.
DECKER: Then why the lack of any interaction in a formal setting to have a press conference?
JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, the President takes shouted questions. I —
DECKER: In a formal — in a formal setting.
JEAN-PIERRE: I understand. Jon, I understand.
DECKER: Yeah. Okay. Yeah.
JEAN-PIERRE: I understand. I have dealt with this question about three times already. I understand it is — it is — it is the job of you all to ask this question to me. Totally get that and that’s not a problem at all, but certainly, the President many times has — has stan — has stood in front of all of you, has taken questions on his own, because he wanted to see what was on — on your minds, he wanted to see what the questions you all were going to ask him, and he wanted to answer them directly. That has happened multiple times — many times during this administration and that will certainly continue to be. When it comes to a formal press conference, I don’t have anything to share with you at this time.
DECKER: You recognize — just one last thing.
JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah, sure.
DECKER: Just to button it up. You recognize that as it relates to prior administrations, the President’s predecessor, President Obama, President George W. Bush — I’ve been here long enough to have covered President Bill Clinton — this is not the norm. The norm is we do get an opportunity, ask the questions to the President about domestic and foreign policy issues in a formal setting at some point, and you choose that point, but we haven’t had that opportunity in quite some time.
JEAN-PIERRE: So I’ll say this: It is also unprecedented that a President takes as many shouted questions as this President has and he has.
REPORTER: No.
REPORTER: No, no, no, no.
DECKER: I covered the last administration, and I’ll tell you: Almost every day, up until —
JEAN-PIERRE: Okay, well, we’ll get —
DECKER: — the November 2020 election, Donald Trump took questions practically every day.
JEAN-PIERRE: We’ll certainly — we’ll certainly get the data and share that with all of you. I hear — Jon —
DECKER: Yes.
JEAN-PIERRE: — I hear your question. I heard Zeke’s question. I hear you. I hear you on the press conference — on a formal press conference. We get this probably every couple of months when you guys ask us about a formal press conference. I don’t have anything to share with all of you at this time and — and I’ll just — I’ll just leave it there.
