President Biden on Tuesday ranted about the White House press corps for their standard — and longtime — practice of shouting questions as reporters were ushered out of an event focused on legal barriers to abortion and contraceptives.
“They’re among the only press in the world that does this. Seriously. Seriously,” Biden told his guests as he opted not to answer any of the questions from the small daily press pool.
Biden’s disbelieving tone on Tuesday wasn’t the first time the president was caught seeming to diss the press as they clamored for his attention.
At a Sept. 22 meeting in New York between Biden and Philippines President Bongbong Marcos, the US president was caught on tape telling Marcos, “I wouldn’t bother answering” as reporters shouted inquiries.
Biden’s demeanor toward press questions has irked journalists before — notably including during a visit last year by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who chose to answer questions from reporters in the Oval Office despite Biden’s refusal to do so.
The president has given far fewer interviews and press conferences than his recent predecessors, though he at one point had outpaced his predecessors with short Q&As at the end of events.
The White House did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment on Biden’s Tuesday remark, which was initially overlooked by many reporters because the White House’s official video feed operators had stopped broadcasting.