Wednesday saw a significant news development on the global stage as Israel and Hamas reached a tentative agreement on a ceasefire and the probable return of hostages held by the terror group for over a year. This was a deeply significant development and one involving the White House and the Biden administration.
But you would not have been aware of any of this had you been watching the White House press briefing on Wednesday.
Many of the gathered correspondents expected to see John Kirby taking the podium, as he has frequently done whenever major developments of an international nature have arisen. He was not to be seen, nor would anyone else from the State Department. Nor anyone else at all. This was all due to another piece of history taking place that afternoon – it was Karine Jean-Pierre’s final White House press briefing, and this needed to be the focus of that afternoon’s gathering…according to KJP herself.
The reporters expressed a bit of surprise at this decision, considering that as a monumental accord was becoming revealed, Jean-Pierre decreed that her final day was of greater historical significance. As some members of the press - such as Jenny Leonard of Bloomberg - tried to get some intel on the hostage deal Karine was dismissive, even stating she had no idea who Matt Miller ism the spokesperson from the State Department.
WATCH: KJP insults Biden State Department spox Matt Miller as just some "random person."
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) January 15, 2025
REPORTER: "He's literally your colleague."
KJP: "I don't know who this person is."
Folks across the Biden admin must hate each other.pic.twitter.com/gJcOZZ8MvY
Later it was learned that there was in fact a sound reason why Biden’s NSC Advisor John Kirby was not addressing the press pool. Karine made the call to keep Kirby out of the briefing room, instead wanting to bask in a dimming glow of her time at the podium. Any questions directed at her about the peace deal or hostage exchange were deflected to be asked of other departments. This was done at the same time that Biden was essentially demanding credit for this deal, but instead Jean-Pierre wanted the day to be about her.
Of course, ABC News administration sycophant Mary Bruce was more than willing to play the game for Karine, tossing her the appropriate gushing question to allow the Press Secretary to engage in her beaming response. Bruce looking at her with a glowing expression was just the capper to this tasteless display.
ABC’s @MaryKBruce: “And just on a slightly more personal note, on this, your 306th briefing, What advice do you have for your success?”
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) January 15, 2025
KJP: “So I was asked this question, I think, when my successor was — um — was announced and it's pretty much the same, which is, you know,… pic.twitter.com/wXgaFaJpWZ
“Success”. Mary Bruce actually used that word. She described the work record of this woman who has been a complete mess for years as a “success”. Karine Jean-Pierre has been a consistent source of just embarrassing displays in her term as Press Secretary. This is not a measure made on her spin and misdirections on behalf of the administration – that is essentially the job of Press Secretary.
But KJP has been remarkably inept at the podium in the Press Room. She has been frequently unprepared, appearing lost and unable to give answers, and she is not an adroit speaker. Karine is a fumbling and stammering communicator and her pressers have long been hard to sit through as she struggles to deliver comments while not saying anything of substance.
For this notably under-skilled woman to come out during events of international significance and make the day all about her is selfish, self-centered, diminishing what was important, all while trying to sell an empty vessel. It is a perfect testament to this departing Biden administration;
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