White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, holding the first press conference since President Biden announced he would not run for a second term, stressed that the decision was not due to his health.
Jean-Pierre offered condolences to the family and friends of Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who died over the weekend, and was referring to Biden’s decision to withdraw from the presidential race after condemning the killing of Sonia Massey, who was shot and killed in her home by an Illinois sheriff’s deputy.
Jean-Pierre read from the letter Biden sent Sunday, saying, “Serving as President has been the honor of my life. While I intended to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and our country for me to step down and focus on fulfilling the duties of my presidency for the remainder of my term.”
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At a White House press briefing on Friday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to comment on the unrest that has been continuing overnight in the Middle East. (Getty Images)
Jean-Pierre defended the president, dismissing any idea that he would step down from his current position and highlighting his achievements during his time in office.
“We think those statements are absurd. I was simply explaining what the president has accomplished in almost four years, and what a success it has been,” Jean-Pierre said. “The president has accomplished more in one term than any president has accomplished in two terms, and he wants to finish the job he started and achieve even more historic results for the American people.”
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White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre with President Joe Biden. (Getty Images)
Asked why Biden was stepping down and whether it was health-related, Jean-Pierre again dodged the question, deferring to the president’s address on Wednesday evening.
“Again, the president will be speaking to the American people directly tonight in primetime about this. I know many of you are watching. We have a special tonight. The president will speak to you directly tonight about this. I promise you that,” she said. “But in his letter, he spoke about the country. He spoke about the party. He spoke about the situation we’re in. It’s not about the president’s health. I can’t say that. That’s not the reason. But please listen to the president tonight.”
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White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre with President Joe Biden. (Getty Images)
Asked whether Biden felt coerced into withdrawing from the race, Jean-Pierre again pointed to Biden’s Wednesday night speech and said the decision to step down was not an easy one.
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“Obviously this is a historic moment, but decisions like this are very personal. They’re not made lightly. And I think it’s very rare for a politician to be able to look at this situation and make that decision. And I think it speaks to the honor and the selflessness of this president to make this decision and say this is not about me, this is about the American people,” Jean-Pierre said.
“This is a difficult decision that is both national and personal, so I think it speaks for itself. I really do.”
