Staff Reports
The ongoing saga of media access to the Biden administration reached a comical low during a recent press briefing with White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. In an astonishing moment that brought to light what many have long suspected, Jean-Pierre defended the president’s so-called transparency while simultaneously revealing that there would be no press conferences during a high-profile summit involving world leaders. This happened as President Biden prepared for a weekend gathering with the leaders of Australia, Japan, and India in his native Delaware—a place more famous for its proximity to the Biden family than for hosting major international diplomacy.
Jean-Pierre, in her usual fashion, attempted to paint a rosy picture of the situation, claiming that the press would have “other opportunities” to engage with the administration. However, these opportunities turned out to be nothing more than photo-ops. One of the reporters, clearly exasperated, pointedly remarked that these staged moments are not what the media seeks; instead, they desire actual press conferences where questions can be posed and answers sought. Jean-Pierre seemed off her game, left momentarily speechless, as the reality of the press’s frustration became undeniable.
Even CBS News political correspondent Ed O’Keefe stepped into the fray, openly expressing disbelief at the administration’s hollow claims of transparency. He highlighted Biden’s lofty promise at the onset of his presidency—that he would usher in an era of unprecedented openness. Instead, Americans are treated to a drip-feed of carefully curated images and scripted speeches, which certainly do not resemble a government committed to being transparent.
The irony of the administration’s messaging is hard to miss. Biden’s ministers shepherding a few smiles and waving cameras do not equate to substantive interaction with the press or the public. Instead of real communication, it appears that Biden has opted for a strategy straight out of the campaign trail book: keep them at arm’s length while utilizing staged photo opportunities to give the illusion of engagement. Meanwhile, real questions remain unanswered as the American public is left to sift through platitudes and vague announcements.
WATCH: WH Press Corps Explodes at KJP on Biden's 'Photo-Ops,' 'No Press Conferences' at Delaware Summit https://t.co/qswlxa1eiM
— Michael J. Fell (@MichaelJFell) September 22, 2024
The spectacle, while disappointing, remains laughable when one considers the promise of a more open government. Instead, it seems that the Biden administration has embraced an approach that prioritizes optics over substance, leaving the media and taxpayers alike to wonder if they elected a president or merely a public relations figurehead. As it stands, the White House’s version of transparency looks more like a theater production than an administration committed to accountability, revealing the administration’s true colors: less transparency and more showbiz.
