Jean-Pierre Defends Biden’s ‘Normal’ Cheat Sheet For News Conference

President Joe Biden has faced consistent criticism for his reluctance to hold press conferences or even respond to questions from reporters as many Americans express concern that he does not have the cognitive function required for the job.

He has even implied that his White House handlers have ordered him not to engage with journalists and the Democratic National Committee confirmed that he would not be expected to debate any of his primary challenges as he pursues the party’s nomination ahead of next year’s presidential election.

Earlier this week, the president took part in a rare news event, but cameras captured a cheat sheet he brought along that included what appeared to be the question at least one reporter would be asking him as well as instructions about how to pronounce the reporter’s name.

The incident sparked new concerns about his ability to communicate clearly, but the administration once again circled the wagons around him and attempted to portray it all as “entirely normal.”

In addition to a sheet that included the header “Question 1,” he also reportedly had pieces of paper that listed his “top accomplishments” and the names of individuals serving in his administration.

During a subsequent press conference, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre fielded a question about the sheet Biden was holding, replying: “It’s entirely normal for a president to be briefed on reporters who will be asking questions at a press conference and issues we expect they might ask about.”

She went on to deny that the White House pre-approves questions that reporters will ask the president.

“We do not have specific questions in advance,” Jean-Pierre said. “That’s not something that we do.”

This was not the first time Biden was spotted carrying incredibly detailed notes ahead of a news conference. More than two years ago, he brought along a sheet that instructed him to call on specific reporters and in June he was spotted with a card that spelled out everything including when and where to sit.

During one 2021 event, he openly referenced such a cheat sheet, asserting: “Ladies and gentlemen, they gave me a list here. The first person I was instructed to call on was Kelly O’Donnell from NBC.”