Fox News reporter Pete Doocy pressed White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Friday about the glaring absence of Fox News from President Joe Biden’s pre-approved list of journalists to take questions from.
Doocy was noticeably snubbed Thursday from Biden’s first solo press conference with the media since taking office.
“I mentioned last night I had a binder full of questions,” Doocy said on Fox News following Biden’s presser, according to Business Insider.
“I think some people were kidding, I was not kidding,” the reporter continued, noting that he planned to ask the president about his, “big plan to transform the economy and make it all green.”
Peter Doocy reacts to not getting called by Biden:
"I mentioned last night I had a binder full of questions. I think some people were kidding, I was not kidding… I’m not sure if that was the end of the list. If we were on it, he did not make it down that far." pic.twitter.com/pgSKguxAIU
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) March 25, 2021
Doocy reiterated his concerns to Psaki in the briefing room on Friday, asking the press secretary if this was “official administration policy.”
The implication, though not stated by Doocy, was that the White House appears to be shielding Biden from Fox News, arguably the only news network that has posed challenging questions, with few exceptions.
“We noticed, starting at the end of the campaign, and then into the transition, and here, at the White House, anytime the president has an event where he’s given a list of reporters to call on, Fox is the only member of the five network TV pool that has never been on the list in front of the president,” Doocy said. “I’m just curious if that is official administration policy.”
Psaki tried to dismiss the reporter’s concerns by noting that she regularly takes questions from Doocy in the briefing room. Of course, that was not Doocy’s question.
“We’re here having a conversation, aren’t we? And do I take questions from you every time you come to the briefing room?” Psaki responded.
“Yes, but I’m talking about the president,” Doocy reiterated.
Psaki claimed that Biden has taken questions from Doocy, but the reporter noted that this is only true regarding questions Doocy has directed towards Biden as he leaves. As his question stated, he’s never been on the pre-approved list of reporters, an assertion Psaki did not deny.
“The president has been very generous with his time with Fox, I’m just curious about this list that he is given,” Doocy continued. “We’re the only member of the five network pool that hasn’t been on this list … dating back to the end of the campaign.”
Psaki again noted that she takes questions from Doocy and will appear on Fox News this weekend.
On Thursday, Biden noticeably struggled during his first solo presser, though he was taking questions from a crowd of friendly hand-picked reporters. Moreover, the president appeared to read from pre-prepared notes to answer many questions from the friendly reporters.
WATCH:
Doocy calls out Psaki for having "never been on" Joe Biden's pre-selected "list" of journalists to call on, dating back to the campaign: "I'm just curious if that is official administration policy."
Psaki says Biden has taken his questions, but it's only when Doocy yelled back pic.twitter.com/hn9MPAGzmi
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) March 26, 2021
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