Amid growing concerns about President Joe Bidenās health and calls for greater transparency, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre is facing questions about whether she would like to correct some of her previous explanations for some of his uncomfortable moments.
During a press briefing on Tuesday, a reporter asked a 2022 incident, āThe president called out congresswoman Jackie Walorski, looked for her in the room even though she had recently died. You told multiple reporters at the time⦠it was because she was top of mind.ā
āWould you, on that example, would you offer a different explanation?ā the reporter asked.
However, Jean-Pierre responded, āI would not. Because, honestly, I spoke to the president right before coming out that day, and that is what the president told me.ā
āIt is not something that came from me. That is something that came from the president,ā she added.
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The late-Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) died in Aug. 2022 in a car crash that killed two staffers as well.
A month later, Biden was looking for the congresswoman.
āJackie, are you here? Whereās Jackie?ā Biden asked.
When asked to explain the incident, Jean-Pierre said Walorski was ātop of mindā for the president, and, āThe president was naming the congressional champions on this issue and was acknowledging her incredible work.ā
āI donāt think itās all that unusual to have someone top of mind, especially as thereās a big event⦠thatās going to occur,ā she added.
The question comes after a contentious exchange during Mondayās briefing, which was kicked off by CBS Newsā Ed OāKeefeās question about reports that an expert in Parkinsonās disease visited the White House multiple times last year. During the exchange, OāKeefe accused Jean-Pierre of declining to answer a āvery basic, direct questionā about the visits and whether the doctor was there to see Biden.
At one point, OāKeefe insisted, āThat much you should be able to answer by this point.ā
āNo, wait a minute. Calm. Ed, please. A little respect here, please. So, every year, around the Presidentās physical examination, he sees a neurologist. Thatās three times, right? So, I am telling you that he has seen a neurologist three times while he has been in this presidency. Thatās what Iām saying,ā Jean-Pierre responded.
However, she declined to provide more information about who the doctor was seeing, citing privacy concerns as she noted military personnel sometimes see such experts at the White House Medical Unit.
Later in the day, White House physician Dr. Kevin OāConnorĀ released a letterĀ stating Biden did not see a neurologist for concerns about Parkinsonās disease, but as part of his annual physical. He also added, āMany military personnel experience neurological issues related to their service, and Dr. Cannard regularly visits the WHMU as part of this General Neurology practice.ā
