White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre waved off criticisms of President Joe Biden’s behavior at a Tuesday afternoon Medal of Honor ceremony recognizing Vietnam veteran Captain Larry Taylor, insisting that his abrupt exit from the event was “as planned.”
Biden, who has been wearing a mask and observing “social distancing” protocols since it was revealed that first lady Jill Biden has once again tested positive for COVID, first raised eyebrows when he had his face covering removed in close proximity to Taylor, 81.
WATCH:
That time Covidian propagandists were all praising Biden for going back to wearing his mask again but then two minutes later he took it off and walked through a crowd of people without it anyway. pic.twitter.com/C7xQl9ShK6
— Five Times August (@FiveTimesAugust) September 6, 2023
Biden inspired further confusion when — with no announcement, explanation, or fanfare — he walked through the crowd (still sans mask) and out the door, baffling guests and photographers along the way. The ceremony concluded with the benediction prayer several moments after Biden left.
WATCH:
Joe Biden just BOLTED out of the room immediately after awarding the Medal of Honor to Army Captain Larry Taylor.
The ceremony continued on for several minutes afterwards.
Biden completely missed a concluding prayer. pic.twitter.com/BjSdeHcLPD
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) September 5, 2023
Critics wondered what was happening, calling out the president’s odd departure via X.
“He wasn’t supposed to leave yet. In East Room ceremonies they always ask people to remain in their seats while the president exits when the ceremony is finished. More mental confusion,” the American Enterprise Institute’s Marc Thiessen posted.
“He also starts to leave before saluting, only stops when he sees the salute, then jets. Man …” conservative pundit Stephen Miller added.
But Jean-Pierre insisted that Biden’s exit, though unannounced, was part of a plan to ensure he did not risk exposing other attendees to COVID.
WATCH:
Karine Jean-Pierre says that Joe Biden's mysterious and abrupt exit from the Medal of Honor ceremony yesterday was "as planned." pic.twitter.com/cNmdgAFhb1
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) September 6, 2023
“The president took off his mask, as I said he would, to deliver some incredibly powerful remarks about this captain, Captain Taylor and what he did in service to our nation,” Jean-Pierre said at Wednesday’s press briefing. “For a brief time afterwards, he also did not have his mask on.”
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Jean-Pierre went on to address Biden’s exit, saying it was “as planned” and had been intended to minimize any possible COVID exposure to the others in attendance.
She doubled down on the issue a short time later.
WATCH:
Karine Jean-Pierre doubles down on Biden's strange exit from the Medal of Honor ceremony yesterday:
"That was done on purpose. That was done very purposefully." pic.twitter.com/HBBtW2BkZS
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) September 6, 2023
“That was done on purpose, that was done very purposefully so that, again, he wasn’t there for too long,” Jean-Pierre said, adding that Biden had spent some time with Captain Taylor and his family — with everyone wearing masks — in addition to his brief appearance at the ceremony.