WH Says Biden Will Hold Press Conference

By
Rachel Stevenson
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Hello everyone! Let’s talk about the latest twist in the White House’s effort to assure everyone that President Biden is fully capable of handling his duties.

Amid growing concerns about his health and cognition, top aides have teased an upcoming event they’re calling a “big boy” press conference. This new spin is meant to showcase Biden’s readiness to continue campaigning despite calls for him to step back.

The commitment to this so-called “big boy” press conference came on the heels of Biden’s phone-in to MSNBC and his outreach to restless congressional lawmakers, assuring them he can still beat Donald Trump after his shaky debate performance. White House National Security Spokesman John Kirby used the term while discussing Biden’s upcoming schedule, adding a touch of sarcasm to the proceedings.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also adopted the term, which originated from a reporter’s inquiry last week. During a press briefing, she announced, “Biden will hold a press conference—a big boy press conference,” while fending off questions about Biden’s mental fitness.

Historically, the White House has labeled even brief Q&A sessions with world leaders as press conferences. This time, however, the term implies Biden might speak for longer and even engage with reporters who raise their hands, harking back to more traditional press events.

The cheeky “big boy” label also subtly suggests previous press encounters were lacking. Meanwhile, Biden has been vocal about his vitality, highlighting his active campaign schedule. “I’ve been testing myself everywhere I go. The night of that debate, I was out until two in the morning. It drives me nuts, people talking about this,” Biden exclaimed.

John Kirby defended Biden’s lucidity, stating he has never had reason to doubt Biden’s mental acuity over the past two and a half years. Though Kirby and Jean-Pierre seem to be working together to convince everyone that Joe is sane, it seems they still can’t get over their differences and try to one-up each other.

Of course, any presidential press conference carries risks, especially if the President goes off script. The stakes are particularly high this Thursday, following criticisms that Biden didn’t adequately dispel doubts in his recent interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos.

Since the debate, Biden has held multiple campaign events but continues to make gaffes. For instance, when asked how he’d feel if Trump won the election next fall, Biden replied, “I’ll feel as long as I gave it my all and I did the goodest job as I know I can do.” ABC later edited the transcript to read “I did the good as job as I know I can do,” but the damage was done.

With more lawmakers urging Biden to step down, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz defended him, noting that every candidate has off days. “Do you know any candidate that doesn’t have five bad days on the campaign trail?” she asked, emphasizing the relentless scrutiny Biden faces.

Biden’s upcoming press conference coincides with a NATO summit he’s hosting in Washington, providing a platform to focus on pressing international issues like Gaza and Ukraine. This might offer a brief respite from the relentless questions about his fitness, age, and acuity.

Stay tuned as we watch how this “big boy” press conference unfolds and what it means for Biden’s campaign moving forward.

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