Do you know when the best time to tell reporters that you can’t wait for the next press conference? Apparently, at a press conference, if you’re Joe Biden. Biden ignored an arsenal of questions during an interaction with reporters, and then said he hopes he will be able to have a press conference sometime soon.
He was on his way out of the briefing with the press on how he and his administration are handling the COVID pandemic, when Keylly O’Donnell, a reporter from NBC asked if there is a press conference up and coming, saying that they would like one. Biden responded simply, “Me too.”
Just minutes before Biden was dodging questions better than professional dodgeball players. One reporter asked him why vaccinated Americans should be forced to restrict their daily activities, especially given the fact that most health officials predict that almost all American will eventually get COVID. To this question, Biden responded that they would simply talk about it later.
Another reporter asked Joe Biden why Americans should but their trust in his administration, while other asked about the COVID pandemic, and Biden’s speech he held in Georgia where he discussed voting bills. To those questions, Biden didn’t even respond. He simply looked around at everyone and then smiled while looking down at the desk in front of him.
Since Biden stepped foot as President in the oval office, he’s held less press conferences than any of the last five president, at least at the same time in their presidency. He’s also had fewer interviews with the media than any of his predecessors in recent years. He does, however, answer questions when he makes public appearances. However, he gives short answers and rarely has many follow-up questions.
Biden has even hinted in the past that he isn’t allowed to speak on his own, when during a press conference in December he said, “I’m not supposed to have this press conference right now.” Seems like a strange thing for the commander in chief to not be in charge of his own schedule or what he can say to the American public.
Author: Lois Renaud