Reporters were furious with White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Thursday after she told them they would have a chance to ask President Biden questions from the press panel at an upcoming meeting with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar.
The exchange came during the daily White House press conference after Jean-Pierre was asked why a joint press conference was not scheduled between Biden and Varadkar, who are scheduled to visit Washington, DC, on Friday.
“Can you say why not and if this could be added to tomorrow’s show? This is becoming a pattern with many world leaders coming to the White House,” a reporter asked Jean-Pierre. “I’ve talked about it many times… I’ve mentioned it many times and I’ve explained to him that these are diplomatic talks that happen with the countries that they’re visiting, and it’s something that’s decided that way,”
REPORTER: "He never answers questions!"
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) March 16, 2023
KJP: "That's not true."
REPORTER(s): "We get yelled at!"
"They shout at us to get out!" pic.twitter.com/gtgyfHrOm5
“You will have the opportunity, or your colleagues will have the opportunity, to ask questions during the pool spray at the Oval which happens every time a head of state visits. So this is an opportunity to be able to ask a question of the president or the head of state who is visiting the White House that day,” she added.
Reporters immediately began responding, with one saying, “But he never answers questions during those times,” referring to Biden. The room then erupted, with one reporter saying they get “yelled at” when they try to ask questions, and another saying reporters get “yelled at” by White House staff every time they try to ask questions.
Jean-Pierre tried to speak up, but the reporters kept pressing their complaints. “I’m listening to you guys. I’m listening to you guys. I hear you guys,” she finally said, chuckling.
“Look, two and two is something that is done in coordination with the country you are visiting. It is not something that is decided unilaterally. This is something that is being discussed with the other country.”
She avoided responding directly to reporters’ concerns that Biden did not respond to questions, reiterating that they would have an “opportunity” to question the two leaders on Friday. “I can’t talk about who will answer questions or who won’t answer questions,” she said. “As you know, this is a president who often answers shouted questions, but two and two is not a unilateral decision. It is a decision that is made with the host country in coordination with them.”
