Biden's 'Question #1' Card: He Calls on Reporters From a List, Then Says of His Age, 'I Can't Even Say the Number' (April 26, 2023)

President Joe Biden opened the questions at his Rose Garden news conference with South Korea’s president by reading off who would go first. “Now we’re going to take some questions. The first question is from Courtney of the Los Angeles Times,” Biden said on April 26, 2023, according to the official White House transcript [1].

A photographer caught what was in his hand. “A photographer captured a small cheat-sheet in the president’s hand signaling he had advanced knowledge of a question from LA Times journalist Courtney Subramanian,” Fox News reported. “The small paper also included a picture of the reporter along with the pronunciation breakdown of her last name.” [2]

“‘Question #1’ was handwritten at the top of the sheet, indicating the president should call on her first at the conclusion of his remarks,” Fox reported [2].

The video above shows Biden calling on reporters at the April 26, 2023, news conference with President Yoon Suk Yeol. Quotes are from the official White House transcript, Fox News and the American Presidency Project [1][2][3][4][5][6].

”How Are YOU Squaring YOUR Domestic Priorities”

The card spelled out a question. “How are YOU squaring YOUR domestic priorities — like reshoring semiconductors manufacturing — with alliance-based foreign policy?” it read, according to Fox [2].

The reporter’s actual question covered the same ground. “Your top economic priority has been to build up U.S. domestic manufacturing in competition with China. But your rules again- — against expanding chip manufacturing in China is hurting South Korean companies that rely heavily on Beijing. Are you damaging a key ally in the competition with China to help your domestic politics ahead of the election?” the reporter asked [1].

Former Trump press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said she had never seen anything like it. “I can tell you, I never had that level of detail to provide President Trump from a legacy print media outlet like this one,” she said on Fox News’ “Outnumbered” [3].

“I talked to several members of my staff who were in lower press. I was in upper press, lower presses where you had interactions on a daily basis with reporters. It’s really the front lines. And they said, no, nobody was coming to us with topics, with exact questions,” McEnany said [3].

Another former press secretary piled on. “The LA Times needs to investigate this. No WH reporter would ever tell me what question they intended to ask POTUS. It would be unethical - not to mention soft - to do so,” Ari Fleischer tweeted, Fox reported [2].

”I Can’t Even Say the Number”

The next name on Biden’s list asked about his age. “My turn to ask a question? I think the next question is Mary Bruce, ABC,” Biden said [1].

“You recently launched your reelection campaign. You’ve said questions about your age are ‘legitimate.’ And your response is always ‘Just watch me.’ But the country is watching, and recent polling shows that 70 percent of Americans, including a majority of Democrats, believe you shouldn’t run again,” the reporter said [1].

“And with regard to age, I can’t even say — if I guess how old I am, I can’t even say the number. It doesn’t — it doesn’t register with me,” Biden answered [1].

“They’re going to see a race, and they’re going to judge whether or not I have it or don’t have it. I respect them taking a hard look at it,” he said [1].

“I took a hard look at it before I decided to run. And I feel good. I feel excited about the prospects,” Biden said. “I know you’re tired of hearing me say we’re at an inflection point, but we really are.” [1]

“That’s Not Negotiable”

As Biden left, reporters shouted about the debt ceiling. “Republicans say you’re refusing to negotiate on the debt limit. They’re saying you’re missing in action,” one called out [1].

“I’m happy to meet with McCarthy, but not on whether or not the debt limit gets extended. That’s not negotiable,” Biden said [1].

He also warned North Korea. “Look, a nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies or partisans — partners — is unacceptable and will result in the end of whatever regime, were it to take such an action,” Biden said [1].

The Next Day: “Entirely Normal”

At the next day’s briefing, a reporter Jean-Pierre called Jacqui asked about the card. “The LA Times said that their reporter did not submit any questions in advance of yesterday’s press conference. So to the people who saw that pocket card, can you explain how that ended up there and why the President needed something like that?” [7]

“It is entirely normal for a President to be briefed on reporters who will be asking questions at a press conference and issues that we expect they might ask about,” Jean-Pierre said. “So, look, we — we do not have specific questions in advance. That’s not something that we do. And, in fact, I would point out the questions that was asked was different than what was on the card that you all saw.” [7]

“How are the reporters decided?” another reporter asked. “And also, we try to be really mindful on who — who has not gotten a question in a while,” Jean-Pierre said [7].

For more from that briefing, see HYGO News’ page on April 27, 2023.

By the Numbers

70 percent: Americans who said Biden should not run again, per the poll cited by the reporter [1].
1: the “Question #1” written on Biden’s card [2].
314-117: the House vote on the debt-limit deal five weeks later [5].

What Happened Next

He negotiated after all. Five weeks after calling the debt limit “not negotiable,” Biden was praising the Speaker. The House passed H.R. 3746, the “Fiscal Responsibility Act,” on May 31, 2023, by 314 to 117 [5]. Two days later, Biden addressed the nation: “I want to commend Senator—Speaker McCarthy. You know, he and I, we—and our teams—we were able to get along and get things done.” [6]

He quit the race. Fifteen months after saying voters would “judge whether or not I have it,” Biden ended his campaign. “I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down,” he wrote on July 21, 2024 [4].

For Jean-Pierre defending the cheat sheet the next day, see HYGO News’ page on April 27, 2023. For McCarthy’s 100-days pitch nine days earlier, see the page on April 17, 2023.