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White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre navigated a turbulent year in 2024 as she defended President Joe Biden amidst his withdrawal from the presidential race and controversies surrounding his administration. Her efforts to manage crises while engaging reporters made headlines throughout the year.
Here are the top 10 confrontations between Jean-Pierre and the press in 2024:
1. ‘How big of a headache’ is Hunter Biden?
Hunter Biden was a recurring subject at press briefings, prompting frequent clashes. Fox News’ Peter Doocy pressed Jean-Pierre about Hunter Biden’s surprise appearance at Congress in January, asking, “How big of a headache is that for you?”
Jean-Pierre, after chuckling, replied, “Hunter Biden is a private citizen. He is not a member of the White House, as you know, and I just don’t have anything else to share.”
When Doocy asked if President Biden helped his son avoid a congressional subpoena, Jean-Pierre called the suggestion “incredibly disingenuous” and “not even true.”
2. ‘You’re upset because the president has notecards?’
During a briefing, a reporter questioned Biden’s use of notecards in public appearances. Jean-Pierre fired back, “You’re upset because the president has notecards?”
James Rosen of Newsmax interjected, shouting, “Answer his question.” Jean-Pierre snapped, “I’m not speaking to you right now, James, but thank you so much for interjecting.”
3. ‘That is an incredibly offensive question to ask’
In an interview with WBT Radio, host Mark Garrison asked if President Biden had dementia. Jean-Pierre responded, “That is an incredibly offensive question to ask. For the past several years, the president’s physician has laid out in a comprehensive way the president’s health.”
The interaction ended abruptly, with Jean-Pierre saying, “Have an amazing day,” before the connection ended.
4. ‘Cheap fakes’
Jean-Pierre accused conservative outlets of spreading doctored clips of Biden, calling them “cheap fakes” designed to mislead viewers. While some clips were unedited, she insisted, “What they’re doing is pure bad faith.”
Despite Biden’s poor debate performance against Donald Trump later that month, Jean-Pierre remained unapologetic, stating, “I don’t regret it at all.”
5. ‘That’s inappropriate’
When Newsmax’s James Rosen joked about President Biden’s alertness, saying, “If he’s awake,” NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell declared, “That’s inappropriate.” Jean-Pierre backed her, adding, “Thank you, Kelly.”
6. ‘It doesn’t matter how hard you push me’
In July, Ed O’Keefe of CBS News pressed Jean-Pierre for clarity on reports that a Parkinson’s disease specialist had visited the White House multiple times. Jean-Pierre denied Biden had Parkinson’s but refused to elaborate further, saying, “It doesn’t matter how hard you push me.”
7. ‘She was not a border czar’
Peter Doocy challenged Jean-Pierre on Vice President Kamala Harris’s role at the border, citing talking points suggesting she was never a “border czar.” Jean-Pierre countered, “She was not a border czar,” accusing Republicans of avoiding accountability.
8. ‘He was not calling Trump supporters garbage’
After Biden referred to Trump supporters as “garbage” during the 2024 campaign, Jean-Pierre insisted he was misunderstood. “He was not calling Trump supporters garbage,” she stated. Despite her explanations, reporters continued to grill her over Biden’s remarks.
9. ‘The only person to beat Trump’
When asked if Biden displayed “arrogance” by believing only he could beat Trump, Jean-Pierre asserted, “This is the president who has been the only person who has been able to beat Donald Trump… That is true.”
10. ‘There’ll be more to come’
President Biden’s sweeping pardon of Hunter Biden in December reignited criticism. Reporters questioned Jean-Pierre, citing her prior denials that such a pardon was under consideration. She defended the shift, saying, “Circumstances have changed.”
Pressed on the possibility of future pardons, she hinted, “There’ll be more to come.”
Jean-Pierre’s challenging year highlights her role as a key defender of the Biden administration during one of its most politically volatile periods.
