President Biden Declines to Comment on Trump’s Arrest
The response was straightforward and consistent: “No comment.”
As the world watched the arraignment of former President Donald Trump in New York, the White House press corps had one question in mind: What does Joe Biden have to say?
The response was straightforward and consistent: “No comment.”
Mr. Biden was seated in a White House dining room beneath a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, flanked by his Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, as Mr. Trump appeared in court approximately 238 miles (383km) to the north. The President convened a council meeting to discuss the dangers and opportunities of artificial intelligence.
The meeting concluded with reporters shouting questions about Mr. Trump, which went unanswered as the media was escorted out of the room.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre explained the strategy in detail earlier on Tuesday, joking with reporters that she “loved” being asked questions about Mr. Trump “in different ways.”
“First, I must state the following. Because it is an ongoing investigation, we cannot comment on the case itself “She stated. The President will, as he does every day, focus on the American people.
She added, “This is not something that occupies his attention.”
Despite her comments, journalists repeatedly sought a response. Peter Doocy of Fox News wanted to know if the White House’s silence indicated that “anything happening in New York today is not one of the most pressing issues facing the country.”
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“For better or worse, Trump is all anyone in the country is talking about right now, while we’re in here,” he said.
Ms. Jean-Pierre responded by reassuring Americans that the White House will not comment on a pending case.
The only acknowledgment that President Biden was following the case was made by Ms. Jean-Pierre, who stated that “obviously, he will catch some of the news,” which had been “playing out on many of the networks here for hours and hours every day.”
Since news of the indictment first surfaced last week, the White House has been largely silent on the matter. Ms. Jean-Pierre previously stated that Mr. Biden was not previously aware of the charges.
Even before the indictment, Mr. Biden avoided direct criticism of Mr. Trump, whether he was commenting on the “Make America Great Again” movement or the policies of the Trump administration.
Democratic strategist Lis Smith stated to Reuters regarding the White House’s strategy, “They’ve been smart to stay out of it.” “In 2020, Joe Biden benefited from voter fatigue with the Trump administration’s chaos.”
She added, “The split screen of President Biden focused on doing his job well and Trump and the Republican Party in chaos will only help him.”
In contrast, President Biden is prominently featured in Trump’s campaign messages and supporter emails.
For instance, a Tuesday morning fundraising e-mail included the disclaimer that Americans “doing poorly as a result of Biden’s policies” should “take care of yourself” and disregard the donation request.
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