Statement Analysis®

Is the Biden administration refusing to allow Fox News to ask questions?


In March 2021, President Biden gave his first press conference in the East Room of the White House. It was very apparent the president had a list of reporter’s names from which he would choose who would be allowed to ask the next question. Of all the major networks, Fox News was the only network not called upon to ask a question. A couple of days later at a White House briefing, Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy asked press secretary Jen Psaki about Fox News not getting the opportunity to ask the president a question during the press conference.

"FOX is the only member of the five network TV pool that has never been on the list in front of the President. And I'm just curious if that is official administration policy?"

Psaki responded by saying,

"We're here having a conversation, aren't we? And do I take questions from you every time we come to the briefing room?"

The first thing we see is Psaki answered Doocy's question with a question(s). This means she was asked a sensitive question.

Secondly, Psaki never answered Doocy's specific question. This means she is withholding information. She deflected answering the question about the president by referring to herself; "And do I take questions from you every time we come to the briefing room?"

Doocy quickly realized Psaki didn't answer his question so he tried to ask it again.

"Yes, but I-"

Psaki cut Doocy off by asking him a question.

"Has the president taken questions from you since you came in, since he came into office? Yes or no?"

Again, Psaki avoids answering the question in a rather snippy way. It would benefit all the reporters at the White House to follow Psaki's example and tell her to answer their questions, "Yes or No."



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