White House national security spokesman John Kirby drew widespread ridicule when he called President Joe Biden’s upcoming briefing a “big boy press conference.”
Kirby was discussing the president’s upcoming schedule when he mentioned this.
“I think we’ll call it a big press conference and take some questions from everyone,” Kirby told reporters.
It’s unclear what a “big boy” style press conference would be, or whether it means Biden will avoid memos or call in predetermined reporters.
Critics say using such language to curtail press conferences is “humiliating” for the president, sets a low bar for his appearances and downplays the damage the administration has done to the country over the past few years.
The term “big boy” is very popular on social media.
How bad is the situation in the White House?
John Kirby just said Biden will hold a “big boy press conference” this week.
This is not good. This is really, really bad.pic.twitter.com/RaZHh7Okyk
— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) July 8, 2024
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Biden’s ‘big boy’ press conference
Prior to Kirby’s announcement, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also used the term to describe an upcoming press conference.
She said President Biden will be “holding a press conference — a big boy press conference” at the White House.
To be fair, Biden aides didn’t initially bring up the term, as reporters last week asked Biden if his planned press conference would be “the big boy press conference we’re used to.”
In other words, here are a few thoughts – first, since when did they get used to him holding professional press conferences? This guy doesn’t struggle with the media on any level like his predecessor did.
Second, how embarrassing is it that they think the president’s cognitive decline and the concerns of foreign leaders and the American people about it are just a big joke?
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All this talk about President Biden holding a “big boy” press conference is reminiscent of first lady Jill Biden’s infantilization of her husband after his disastrous debate performance.
“Joe, you did a great job. You answered every question and you had all the facts,” Mrs. Biden shouted to the president, who continued to stare blankly into space.
It has the feel of a child reading a Dick and Jane book.
While that’s all ridiculous, what’s even more ridiculous is that shortly after Kirby mentioned the “big boys” press conference, he insisted that the president was very strident.
“What I can tell you is that what I saw in that debate is not reflective of the specifics of the people, leaders and commanders in chief that I have spent many, many hours talking to over the past two and a half years. He discussed question,” Kirby said.
“Just this morning he asked me a question about the situation on the continent and I couldn’t answer it and I told him I had to get back to him.”
In other words, what you see with your own eyes is not what his handlers see in super-secret moments behind the scenes. Do you believe this?
