Staff Reports
During a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine at the G7 summit in Italy on Thursday, President Joe Biden got frustrated when a reporter asked him about his son Hunter and a potential deal with Hamas. Biden bluntly told the reporter, “I wish you guys would play by the rules. I’m here to talk about a critical situation in Ukraine — you’re asking me about another subject.”
This incident prompted a response from the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA), representing journalists covering the president. The association emphasized no restrictions on the topics reporters can ask about at a presidential press conference. They pointed out that while the White House determines the number of reporters the president will recognize, it is up to the journalists to decide what questions to ask.
Biden was NOT happy when a reported asked him about a potential deal with Hamas during his joint presser with Zelensky:
"I wish you guys would play by the rules a little bit. I'm here to talk about a critical situation in Ukraine. You're asking me about another subject." pic.twitter.com/jhxgQyBPM5
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) June 13, 2024
The WHCA also rejected Biden’s suggestion that reporters adhere to specific “rules” when posing questions and asserted that a free press operates independently, free from influence or control. The association wanted more opportunities to ask the president various questions during press conferences. This statement, while subtle, implies criticism of the limited access to the president granted by Biden’s team.
In summary, the White House Correspondents’ Association rebuked President Biden’s complaint about reporters’ questions, affirming the importance of a free and independent press’s ability to ask various questions during presidential engagements.
