White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre insists President Joe Biden’s seemingly abrupt exit from a Medal of Honor ceremony went exactly as planned.
During a press briefing Wednesday, Jean-Pierre said, “ left as it was planned when there was a pause in the program in order to minimize his close contact with attendees who were about to participate in a reception.”
“You all noticed that he left when there was a pause in the program because again he wanted to minimize his impact on folks who were there,” she added.
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A reporter asked the press secretary if it was a “mistake” for Biden to remove his face mask during the event and decline to put it back on.
“The president took off his mask, as I said he would, to deliver incredibly powerful remarks,” Jean-Pierre responded.
She noted the president continued to keep his mask off after his remarks in honor of retired Army Capt. Larry Taylor.
Video from the ceremony for Taylor on Tuesday showed Biden seemingly abruptly leaving the event — without wearing a face mask — before it had concluded, which drew criticism.
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Before the ceremony, Jean-Pierre said Biden would wear a mask indoors after First Lady Jill Biden tested positive for COVID-19.
Jean-Pierre stated the president had tested negative and was not experiencing symptoms of the virus.