On 11/7/2022, Fox News reporter Jacqui Heinrich White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, “I know you said from the podium a number of times, including today, that the American people will hear from the President the day after the midterms. But his statement or remarks is not just a departure from the traditions that the President has promised to restore to the White House, but it also doesn’t allow this sort of nuanced discussion about what signal voters are sending in the midterms or how he plans to engage with the new Congress. An outside observer might conclude that he doesn’t want to have a press conference because he looks poised to lose control of one or both chambers. So why, the day before the midterms, won’t the White House commit to holding that traditional post-midterms press conference the day after the elections?”
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: You’ve been covering this administration for the past 20 months, right?
Heinrich: Yeah.
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: As you know, you know, it takes some time at — in any administration to lay out what the schedule is going to be. I have been very clear: You’re going to hear from the President. He always enjoys taking your questions. So, you know, he — I’m sure he’ll take your questions as well. I’m just not going to get ahead of it. I’m just not going to lay out what the — what his day is going to specifically look like on — on Wednesday. But, again, he is going to address the American people. And I think that’s — matters. He’s going to be clear about what’s on his mind. And I’m just not going to get ahead of it from here.
Heinrich: But doesn’t the President’s own warning, though, that democracy is on the ballot plus this potential for unrest, make it that much more important that the President avail himself to the free and open press that he has allotted as indispensable to the functioning of democracy?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: The President has been very clear about where he stands when it comes to democracy. You’ve heard him talk about democracy over and over again … So, I, you know, disagree with your premise as if it is something that is not important to him. He’s made this an important issue. And, again, I’m not going to get ahead of it. You will — the American people, which is what matters, specifically, is going to hear from the American people.
Another Reporter: The question was about press access, not democracy.
Heinrich: I just have one follow-up, though — consider that our push or request to have a press conference the day after the midterms, on top of the others that I know that you’ve heard from us before. But my last question would be about Elon Musk and Twitter, on a lighter note. Is it an abuse for Elon Musk, as the new Twitter CEO, to use the platform to tell users to vote for Republicans in the midterms?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I saw that reporting. That was earlier today, right? So, you know, I — look, I’m limited to what I can say about elections from the podium. But, broadly speaking, I can say that every eligible American has the right to make their voices heard … And I’m just going to leave it there as to not get involved in any kind of election conversation.
Another Reporter: one more follow-up on Twitter and Musk. Is there any advancement of your conversations on whether or not you would actually pay for your accounts? And how does his comments today, you know, impact that decision-making process, given that he’s clearly pushing for a Republican Congress?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, I’m — I don’t have any decisions or any policy changes to preview for you at this time. I don’t want to — really want to get into hypotheticals at this time. I think there’s still some decisions being made from — from — from the company. I’m just not going to get ahead of that.
Q Thank you, Karine. The President is campaigning in some areas that aren’t really traditional battle- — battleground states or battleground areas, I’d just say, like in the New York suburbs; Bowie, Maryland. Why is the President going to places where Democrats are expected to go — to do pretty well? Is that because the President expect his — expects his party do poorly tomorrow?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I want to be really clear — again, Hatch Act — going to be really careful from here. I’m going to answer your question, but Hatch Act. I’m going to be very careful. So — but when it comes to the President’s standing, as you were alluding to, the President’s approval rate has gone up over the last month — few months, which is very rare for the equivalent time in any administration if you look at the historical data.
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WH on free & open press, Elon Musk Twitter promotes GOP, why waste time to go to blue states?