Fox News White House Correspondent opened up on the Biden Administration during the January 11th press conference, demanding an answer on whether it is true that Biden has been ushering wealthy donors around the Oval Office while out of the public view for days on end. KJP, for her part, refused to give an answer but described the practice as being “typical.”
The question came at the end of Doocy’s opportunity to question KJP. Building on his previous questions about Biden’s health and why he is staying out of the public eye, Doocy asked, “There’s an item in Axios that President Biden was advised by the White House Counsel to stop giving big-dollar donors tours of the Oval Office. While he has been out of view of the public for the last three days, has he given any wealthy campaign donors tours of the Oval Office?”
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre did her usual thing and refused to actually answer the question, though she did defend the practice and characterized it not as giving special treatment to wealthy supporters, but as the president deciding to “host supporters at the White House complex.”
She said, “So, just speaking to that particular point about those stories that were out there. So, as many of your outlets have covered, it is typical — it is typical for all presidents, regardless of party, to host supporters at the White House complex, which is both, as you know, his working — working office, as well as his personal residence as well.”
Continuing, she kept speaking without answering the question and instead issuing a broad statement about the Biden Administration complying with “rules,” saying, “And President Biden and his team take all of this very seriously. We take rules concerning the White House and reelection seriously.”
Then, ending her conversation with Doocy, she said that the White House is “proud” of how it acts and that she had nothing “else to add,” again without ever actually answering Doocy’s question. She said, “And so — and we’re proud of that. We’re proud of taking those rules very seriously. I just don’t have anything else to add.”
Watch them here:
Right before pressing KJP on the Biden Administration’s alleged special treatment of wealthy donors, Doocy pressed her on why Biden is staying out of the public eye. He asked, “But for the last three days — Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday — none of his constituents have seen him doing anything. Who decided that the American people are best served by seeing less of President?”
KJP, in response, tried to dispute his characterization of the matter and claim that Biden is active as a president. She first said, “I would disagree. I wouldn’t say he was — they saw less of the President. He was out there, again, a couple of states in a — in three days. I think that’s important to note as well. And be — give — give the American people full — the full information here.”
Then, continuing, she added, “And yesterday — we noted this — he met with Paul Whelan’s sister, Elizabeth Whelan. And this is a commitment, when it comes to American hostages, bringing them home. The President has been committed to doing that. And we have brought home more than 30 people — 30 Americans who have been held hostage across the — across the globe.”
Concluding, she alleged, “And so, the President is committed. He wanted to have a conversation with Elizabeth Whelan. He did that. He met with his national security team, as he does regularly. He did that. He had lunch with the Vice President yesterday — important partner in everything that he’s trying to get done on behalf of the American people. So, the President is active. The President is doing what he needs to do to deliver for the American people. And he’ll continue to do that.”
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video
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