Embarrassing moment Joe Biden’s live feed is CUT OFF by White House staff just after he offers to take questions
THIS is the embarrassing moment Joe Biden’s live feed was cut off by the White House after he offered to take questions from lawmakers.
The US president, accompanied by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, had been speaking to House Democrats about the coronavirus pandemic and the vaccine rollout.
In the virtual event with the House Democratic Caucus on Wednesday, Biden closed his remarks by calling on Democrats to help “restore faith” in the government.
“I’d be happy to take questions if that’s what I’m supposed to do, Nance,” Biden told the Speaker.
“Whatever you want me to do.”
The livestream ended seconds later after a brief pause from Biden.
Biden has increasingly come under fire for not holding a formal press conference and taking questions from reporters in the six weeks since taking office.
The rare instances where the US president does take questions are often limited to a pool of pre-selected reporters.
It comes after a new book claimed the strategy of the Biden administration was to “put your dumb uncle in the basement” – protecting his campaign from its biggest liability, the candidate himself.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the White House said Biden hoped Americans would continue to follow coronavirus guidelines even as some states, including Texas, lift restrictions.
The Biden administration has tried to push back against the easing of restrictions, warning that now is not the time to stop being vigilant.
Asked if he had a message to Texas and Mississippi, Biden told reporters: “I think it’s a big mistake. Look, I hope everybody’s realized by now, these masks make a difference.”
He continued: “The last thing we need is Neanderthal thinking that in the meantime everything’s fine, take off your mask, forget it. It still matters.”
On Tuesday, Biden announced the United States is on track to have enough vaccines for every adult in the country by the end of May.
He said: “About three months ago we were able to say that we would have enough Covid vaccine supply to vaccinate all adults by July.
“I’m pleased to announce today that, as a consequence of this stepped up process, this country will have enough vaccine supply for every adult in America by the end of May.”
The White House is looking to speed up the production of the single-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine and accelerate the nation’s plans to reach “herd immunity”.
It comes after authors of a new book on Biden claim he won the election because the coronavirus pandemic allowed him to “stay hidden”.
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The new book – ‘Lucky: How Joe Biden Barely Won the Presidency’ – sees top Biden adviser Anita Dunn allege that “Covid was the best thing that happened” to the president because it covered up his failings.
Authors Jonathan Allen, of NBC News, and Amie Parnes, of The Hill, said Biden won the election because he was a safe choice that voters settled on despite their lack of enthusiasm for him.
The authors, who also wrote ‘Shattered’ about Hillary Clinton’s failed presidential bid in 2016, claimed Democrats “weren’t willing to take a chance” on anyone who might jeopardize the most important mission: get Trump out of office.