WASHINGTON, D.C. – He’s waited longer than any president in more than 100 years. But today, Joe Biden will finally take the podium in the White House press room.
On Biden’s 64th day in office, the president is holding his first long-awaited press conference at 1:15 p.m. The long delay has raised questions about why it’s taken so long for him to stand before reporters and answer rapid-fire questions.
The president’s long-awaited appearance could be one of the most analyzed given all the talk leading up to it.
It will be seen as a test of his ability to think on his feet under pressure – a test that some claim Biden has purposely avoided, although the White House says he’s just been laser-focused on his agenda for America.
It’s a promise brought up often by the president and his team.
“When the President asked me to serve in this role, we talked about the importance of bringing truth and transparency back to the briefing room,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said.
But some insist that hasn’t happened.
“Why hasn’t he answered questions from the press at this point? Is it just that he’s too busy?” one reporter asked. Psaki replied, “I think he’s answered questions, I believe the count is almost 40 times, so, and I would say that his focus again is getting recovery and relief to the American people.”
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During a recent interview with ABC News, the president was seemingly candid.
“So you know Vladimir Putin, do you think he’s a killer?” anchor George Stephanopolous asked.
“Mmmm Hmmm, I do,” Biden replied.
“What price will he pay?”
“The price he’s going to pay, well you’ll see shortly,” Biden said.
But some say a calm one-on-one or answering shouted questions while walking is not the same as facing the media music in the briefing room.
Sean Hannity, host of “The Sean Hannity Show,” said, “He has yet to hold an official press conference, that is now officially the longest a sitting U.S. president has gone without a press conference in over 100 years.”
Many have speculated as to why. Some wonder if the West Wing is leery of the president making gaffes like this one.
“And I want to thank the (unintelligible) the former general, I keep calling him general, but the guy who runs that outfit over there,” Biden said, forgetting the name of his own Pentagon chief.
Whatever the reason for the timing, it sends a message for many that is the opposite of transparent. Especially when the White House won’t call a crisis at the border…a crisis.
“Children who are frightened and crying, overcrowded conditions – now that the public has seen that, is that not a crisis?” a reporter asks.
Psaki replied, “Well, children presenting at our border who are fleeing violence, who are fleeing prosecution, who are fleeing terrible situations, is not a crisis.”
“When will reporters be allowed to tour facilities holding children who crossed at the southern border?” one reporter wondered.
“We remain committed to transparency,” Psaki claimed.
CBN political analyst David Brody says he and others will be watching and listening to the questions as much as the answers.
“Because I think there’s going to be a lot of scrutiny over who he’s calling on and what type of questions are asked. I do expect quite a few stumbles from Joe Biden, but the bar couldn’t be lower for him, unfortunately, that’s not a good thing,” Brody said.
During the campaign, critics said the president employed a “basement strategy” of not leaving his home for live events. Due to COVID, some said that might have been acceptable for a candidate. But now that he’s president, there is little appetite for even the hint of avoiding the media.
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