Biden Banned from Taking Impromptu Questions from Reporters, Psaki Admits
White House press secretary gives disturbing insight into 'Biden' administration
© press
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki has admitted that Joe Biden has been told not to answer impromptu questions from reporters.
Psaki made the admission during a Thursday appearance on CNN's "The Axe Files with David Axelrod."
The interview takes a dive into Psaki’s approach to being White House press secretary, her thoughts about the media, and more.
Axelrod was praising the White House communications team for controlling Biden so well that there's never a surprise from what he says to reporters.
He continued by asking Psaki “about the handling of Biden.”
Axelrod noted that Joe Biden has “never exactly” been “a precision instrument,” suggesting one of his weaknesses – and strengths – is that “he says what’s on his mind.”
© press
"It seems to me that you guys have done a good job of managing that because a lot of his interactions are speeches and settings in which you have a pretty good sense going in what he's going to say," Axelrod said.
"I think the thing that's interesting is that he actually takes questions – I mean he took questions, I mean he did a mini press conference yesterday," Psaki responded.
"He takes questions nearly every day he's out from the press.
"That is not something we recommend, in fact, a lot of times we say, 'Don't take questions,'" she added.
Here's the audio of her comments:
Psaki immediately followed up to say that the ultimate decision is up to the president.
"You know, but he's going to do what he wants to do because he's the president of the United States," she continued.
© press
Psaki went on to say that the White House press corps is never satisfied and they try to avoid distractions from the media and stay on their agenda.
"We're never going to satisfy the White House press corps and their desires for access, and I think there have been mistakes made in the past of trying to do that," she said.
"If you do a press conference, you know, every other week or once a week, that doesn't really satisfy them, they're going to push for more, that's their job.
"What we've tried to do, which has also been maddening I know for the press corps at times, is kind of not get pulled in by distractions," she added.
Psaki also revealed that she plans to step down next year from the position after only one year.
