President Joe Biden once again sought clearance from his staff to entertain questions following a campaign event in Michigan this week, raising concerns about his readiness for office. The 81-year-old president was overheard requesting permission to address reporters in Saginaw on Thursday.
“Can I take a couple questions?” President Biden asked a nearby staffer during the campaign event.
“Yeah, we’re going to take a few questions,” the staffer responded.
However, instead of allowing the president to engage with reporters, Biden’s staff redirected several journalists and escorted him off the stage, reportedly shouting, “Thank you. Press…back in the vehicles.”
President Biden faced online ridicule after a video clip of the incident went viral, with many social media users troubled by his need to seek permission before interacting with reporters and attendees.
Conservative columnist Buzz Patterson tweeted, “This is bad. Really bad. They’ve told his staff not to let him open his mouth,” while Fox News contributor Joe Concha highlighted the incident as a factor contributing to declining poll numbers post-State of the Union.
This was the second instance this week where President Biden requested permission to take questions after a campaign event. A similar incident occurred in New Hampshire on Monday, where Biden asked if he was “allowed to take any questions” following a speech at the New Hampshire Democratic headquarters in Manchester.
Moreover, earlier this month, during a press briefing at the White House on March 5, President Biden remarked that he would “get in trouble” if he took questions from reporters, sparking further criticism about his readiness for the role.
