President Joe Biden was photographed on Wednesday holding a “cheat sheet” showing the pre-approved questions that reporters asked at a press conference.
At a joint press conference with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Biden held several notecards in his hand. One showed “press conference prep,” while another provided Biden with the name, picture, and affiliation of reporters who had been pre-selected to ask questions. Shockingly, the notecards even showed Biden had advance knowledge of what questions would be asked.
The photographed notecard identified Los Angeles Times reporter Courtney Subramanian as the journalist who would ask the first question.
“How are YOU squaring YOUR domestic priorities — like reshoring semiconductors manufacturing — with alliance-based foreign policy?” the card read.
When it was time for questions at the press conference, Biden indeed called on Subramanian. He did not, however, say her last name despite the note card providing him with a phonetic spelling of it.
“Now we’re going to take some questions. The first question is from Courtney of the Los Angeles Times,” Biden said.
“Thank you, Mr. President. Your top economic priority has been to build up U.S. domestic manufacturing in competition with China. But your rules against expanding chip manufacturing in China is hurting South Korean companies that rely heavily on Beijing. Are you damaging a key ally in the competition with China to help your domestic politics ahead of the election?” Subramanian asked.
According to a CNN report, the Los Angeles Times denies submitting questions to the White House in advance.
And while it’s true that Subramanian’s question was not identical to the notecard, neither the L.A. Times nor the White House have provided an explanation for how the content of Subramanian’s question was identical to what the notecard stated.
President Biden Hosts a Joint Press Conference with President Yoon of the Republic of Koreawww.youtube.com
This is not the first time Biden has been photographed carrying what essentially amounted to cue cards.
Last June, a photographer captured the notecard Biden held during a White House event in which West Wing staffers provided the president with precise instructions on what to do.
“YOU enter the Roosevelt Room and say hello to participants,” the notecard read. “YOU take YOUR seat.”
The notecard also told Biden when media would enter the room, how long he should speak, and who he should ask a question; it even directed him to thank participants and then depart the room.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!