With the peaceful transition of power underway, America anticipates a president who speaks directly to the public—a stark contrast to the limited unscripted appearances of President Biden, especially when compared to his predecessor's frequent press conferences.
Shielded from public scrutiny, often retreating to Delaware for weekends, President Biden, whose approval rating hovers at a low 36%, relied heavily on his press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, particularly in the latter half of his term. While inheriting a challenging role, Jean-Pierre's performance often fell short, especially when compared to her predecessor, Jen Psaki. Here are five particularly awkward moments from the outgoing press secretary:
Peter Doocy consistently posed challenging questions to Jean-Pierre. (Getty Images)
5. The "Right? Right?" Ramble
Responding to Doocy's query about how increasing corporate taxes combats inflation impacting everyday expenses like gas and groceries, Jean-Pierre offered a rambling, incoherent response filled with qualifiers like "right?" The official transcript reveals a convoluted statement that ultimately failed to address the core question.
4. The Election Denial Double Standard
Despite Democrats emphasizing the threat of election denial to democracy, Jean-Pierre's own past tweets reveal a history of questioning election legitimacy. When confronted with these past statements by Doocy, she defensively dismissed the comparison, attributing her remarks to concerns about voting rights, a claim that doesn't align with the original tweets.
3. Squaring the Circle of Pre- and Post-Election Rhetoric
Heinrich questioned the stark contrast between pre-election fear-mongering about a Trump victory and post-election reassurances. Jean-Pierre's attempt to "square" these conflicting messages devolved into circular reasoning and accusations of twisting her words. She reiterated respect for the election process without addressing the underlying inconsistency.
2. The "Shouted Questions" Myth
When challenged on the administration's shielding of Biden from direct press inquiries, Jean-Pierre asserted that the president frequently engaged with reporters, even taking "shouted questions." This claim contradicts the reality of reporters being ushered out of the Oval Office during potential Q&A sessions, with unanswered "shouted questions" echoing as Biden departed.
1. Dodging the Border Crisis
Doocy's question about the administration's handling of high numbers of illegal border crossings was met with deflection and an attempt to shift blame to Republicans. Jean-Pierre's repeated interruptions and refusal to answer directly prompted criticism from Rep. Jim Jordan, who highlighted the administration's seeming indifference to the border situation and its impact on Biden's approval ratings.
Looking ahead, incoming press secretary Karoline Leavitt promises greater media access, including non-traditional journalists and bloggers, aiming to diversify the White House press corps. This shift contrasts with the perceived limitations on press access during the Biden administration.
