Jen Psaki live updates – Biden press secretary gives briefing after admitting she tells president 'DON'T take questions'
WHITE House Press Secretary Jen Psaki is set to give a press briefing on Friday after she revealed she advises Joe Biden "not to take questions."
The communications aide told CNN anchor David Axelrod last night that the president takes questions "nearly every day" he's out with the press corps.
Psaki admitted that she has warned Biden about not answering questions outside of press conferences.
She said: "In fact, a lot of times we say ‘Don’t take questions,’ you know, but he’s going to do what he wants to do because he’s the president.
"We’re never going to satisfy the White House press corps and their desires for access. And I think there have been mistakes made in the past of trying to do that."
Psaki recalled the moment she thought she would be fired after Biden once took questions from pool reporters three times in a day.
She said: "The first time I traveled with him, he took questions from the pool three times that day, and I thought, 'Am I going to get fired when I get back.
"So, he does do that and he likes doing that. I mean, the thing is, he likes the press corps and likes that back-and-forth engagement."
- Luke Kenton
PSKAI TELLS BIDEN NOT TO TAKE QUESTIONS
In an interview on the Axe Files podcast, Psaki addressed Biden fielding questions from journalists and admitted “that is not something we recommend.”
Speaking about the president's access to press corps, Psaki said: “In fact, a lot of times we say ‘Don’t take questions,’ you know, but he’s going to do what he wants to do because he’s the president.”
“We’re never going to satisfy the White House press corps and their desires for access. And I think there have been mistakes made in the past of trying to do that.”
- Luke Kenton
PSAKI TO LEAVE ROLE NEXT YEAR
On Thursday, it emerged that Biden's top communications aide would be leaving her post after "roughly" a year fielding questions from journalists on his behalf.
Speaking on The Axe Files podcast, Psaki said: “I think it’s going to be time for somebody else to have this job, in a year from now or about a year from now."
The communications expert told CNN's David Axelrod the Biden administration was made aware of this beforehand.
She took over the post from Donald Trump's press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, who has since become a vocal critic of Psaki's boss.
However, Psaki hit back during the interview, comparing the Trump transition period to Game of Thrones, something she said “we’re still in recovery from.”
- Luke Kenton
JEN PSAKI TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki will hold a press conference at 12.30pm ET.
Psaki will be speaking alongside Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen.
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