White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and White House Correspondents Agency president Kelly O’Donnell scolded a reporter Wednesday as he took a swipe at President Joe Biden’s cognitive state.
Newsmax White House correspondent James Rosen interjected during O’Donnell’s questioning to ponder whether the president is even “awake” to ensure the press he is remaining in the 2024 race. The White House is asserting that Biden is remaining in the race following his lacking debate performance which has raised questions about his ability to serve a second term.
“You’re saying he’s absolutely running,” O’Donnell said during Wednesday’s press briefing.
“Well, he’s saying that and I’m sharing with you his view,” Jean-Pierre said.
“And we would invite the president to come here and tell us that directly,” O’Donnell responded.
“Noted, noted Kelly,” the press secretary said.
“If he’s awake,” Rosen chimed in.
“That’s inappropriate,” O’Donnell replied.
“As you heard from your colleague, the president of the WHCA, that’s inappropriate,” the press secretary said.
KJP, WHCA President scolded @JamesRosen as he took a swipe at Biden’s mental state pic.twitter.com/1bYz2py6vm
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) July 3, 2024
Former Daily Caller White House correspondent Saagar Enjeti noted the press corps “encouraged” former CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta “to scream like a banshee” during the briefings held by former President Donald Trump’s communications team. Acosta temporarily got his press pass revoked by the Trump administration after getting into a heated spat with the then-president and refusing to return his microphone to an intern in the room. (RELATED: Newsmax’s James Rosen Presses KJP On Ignoring Biden’s ‘Dismal’ Approval Ratings)
After a reporter quipped “If he’s awake” about Biden potentially doing a press conference he was reprimanded by both the WHCA prez and PressSec
Its funny because when I was in the press corps the same people were either silent or encouraged Jim Acosta to scream like a banshee
— Saagar Enjeti (@esaagar) July 3, 2024
Jean-Pierre snapped at Rosen during Tuesday’s briefing as he shouted out whether Biden is “disabled.” The press secretary accused him of “inappropriate” behavior and did not call on him afterward.
The press secretary insisted the president suffered from a cold during the debate and has the willpower to pull through important events. The campaign and the White House never disclosed an alleged illness before the debate.
Biden’s aides have reportedly shielded the president from the public to hide his mental state, Axios reported. Many aides in the White House were also shocked by what they saw at the debate, having been kept at a distance from the president throughout his first term.
The Biden campaign and congressional Democrats hesitated to allow Biden to debate Trump for several months while the Trump campaign repeatedly challenged the president to a debate. Democratic Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin warned in January that Biden should “think twice” about debating Trump due to his alleged tendency to say and do “outrageous things.” Democratic Delaware Sen. Chris Coons argued that Trump’s behavior during the 2020 debate and his refusal to debate his Republican primary challengers were reasons for Biden to avoid debating him.
