Former President Donald Trump, who is considered the frontrunner for the 2024 GOP nomination, took aim at President Joe Biden on Wednesday, criticizing his reliance on preplanned lists of reporters to call on during press conferences and the scripted answers he reads out in response.
Trump expressed his concerns on his social media platform, Truth Social, stating, "Biden calls on a specific reporter, gets a question, then reads the answer off a card. In other words, he knows the question, then reads the answer. What is going on here?"
This is not the first time Biden has faced scrutiny for his use of cheat sheets at press conferences. It has become a regular occurrence for him to call on specific reporters from a predetermined list. In fact, in April, it was revealed that Biden's press conference notes not only included the names of reporters he was supposed to call on but also their questions.
During a joint press conference with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Washington, DC, a handwritten note was visible above the name and picture of Los Angeles Times reporter Courtney Subramanian. The note informed Biden that she would be asking "Question #1." The text of Subramanian's first question, which focused on the intersection of domestic priorities and alliance-based foreign policy, was clearly visible underneath the heading "Foreign Policy / Semiconductor Manufacturing."
Interestingly, Subramanian was indeed the first person Biden called on, although the wording of the question differed slightly. Nevertheless, the subject matter remained the same.
Furthermore, in both 2021 and 2022, Biden was spotted with a notecard that displayed the names and faces of journalists, along with instructions on when and how to sit down.
These instances have raised questions about Biden's ability to handle unscripted interactions with the press and have fueled criticism from Trump and others who argue that the president relies too heavily on prepared responses. As the 2024 election approaches, it is likely that Biden's use of preplanned lists and scripted answers will continue to be a topic of debate and scrutiny.
Login