White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Thursday addressed controversy over President Joe Biden's use of cheat sheets that somehow previewed a reporter's question.
Asked at her daily briefing to explain how Biden got the question in advance, Jean-Pierre said, "It is entirely normal for a president to be briefed on reporters who will be asking questions at a press conference and issues that we expect they might ask about."
"It is not surprising that yesterday we would anticipate questions that he did receive," she added. "And of course" Biden’s team would note expected topics to him before taking questions.
Jean-Pierre denied that the White House received specific questions ahead of time, and said she would let the reporter who asked the predetermined question "speak for herself."
During a joint press conference Wednesday with South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol, a photographer captured images of a card Biden was holding that featured Los Angeles Times reporter Courtney Subramanian's name and photograph above a question labeled "Question #1." Subramanian was the first reporter Biden called on, and her first question was essentially the same as to the one on the card.
Another Biden cheat sheet listed the names of Biden administration officials in the order in which they delivered remarks at the press conference, starting with "YOU."
Ari Fleischer, a press secretary for former President George W. Bush, reacted Wednesday on Twitter, "No WH reporter would ever tell me what question they intended to ask POTUS. It would be unethical - not to mention soft - to do so. ... The Times and this reporter have explaining to do."
The Times said in a statement Thursday: "Our reporter did not submit any questions in advance of the Q&A with President Biden. Courtney Subramanian covers the White House for the Los Angeles Times. As such, she is in regular contact with the White House press office seeking information for her reporting. You would have to ask the White House who prepared the document for the president and why they included that question."
The president has been caught using cheat sheets with reporter information and event instructions before. Last June, he was photographed holding a card that reminded him: "enter the Roosevelt Room and say hello to participants. YOU take YOUR seat."
Biden, 80, who announced Tuesday that he is running for reelection, would be 86 years old at the end of a second term. Already the oldest serving president in U.S. history, Biden has faced growing scrutiny of his unsteady public appearances and his limited and stage-managed interactions with the press.
During Wednesday's press conference, Biden responded to a question about concerns he is too old, saying, "I took a hard look at it before I decided to run, and I feel good and excited about the prospects."