The year 2024 proved challenging for White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, marked by a series of contentious press briefings and what some perceived as awkward clarifications. From President Biden's mental acuity and surprising exit from the 2024 presidential race to the controversial pardon of his son Hunter, Jean-Pierre faced a barrage of tough questions from reporters, often leading to heated exchanges.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre during a press briefing. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Key Moments from 2024 Press Briefings

Biden's Mental Sharpness and Polling Concerns

In January, a pointed exchange occurred between Jean-Pierre and Fox News' Peter Doocy regarding public opinion on Biden's mental fitness. Doocy cited a decline in Biden's health rating in an ABC poll. Jean-Pierre expressed confusion over the poll results, highlighting Biden's legislative achievements and economic performance. The conversation became tangled when Jean-Pierre alluded to Doocy's "favorite president," leading to a brief, somewhat cryptic back-and-forth.

Biden's Use of Notecards

In March, Fox Business' Edward Lawrence questioned Biden's frequent use of notecards. Jean-Pierre responded defensively, emphasizing Biden's accomplishments in office and dismissing the focus on notecards as trivial. She reiterated her point that the American public cares about presidential performance and delivery, not the use of aids.

Viral Videos and "Cheap Fakes"

In June, widely circulated videos portraying Biden as frail and disoriented sparked renewed concerns about his age and health. Jean-Pierre dismissed these videos as manipulated "cheap fakes" intended to spread misinformation. She attributed the videos to Republican desperation and accused them of diverting attention from Biden's accomplishments. Notably, one of the videos originated from a fundraiser with George Clooney, who later publicly called for Biden to withdraw from the race.

Biden's Neurologist Visits and Press Tensions

Following reports of a neurologist specializing in Parkinson's disease visiting the White House and meeting with Biden's physician, Jean-Pierre faced intense questioning. Despite the neurologist's name being publicly available in visitor logs, she refused to confirm any details, sparking a heated exchange with CBS reporter Ed O'Keefe and other journalists. The reporters argued that the information was already public, while Jean-Pierre accused them of being aggressive and disrespectful.

Biden's Rhetoric and Trump as a "Threat"

After an assassination attempt against then-candidate Donald Trump, Jean-Pierre was pressed on whether Biden would cease referring to Trump as a "threat to democracy." Jean-Pierre defended the administration's stance, citing their condemnation of political violence and the events of January 6th as justification for their characterization of Trump. She labeled the reporter's question as "incredibly dangerous."

Hunter Biden's Pardon and Jean-Pierre's Previous Denials

President Biden's pardon of his son, Hunter, contradicted Jean-Pierre's previous assurances that a pardon was not under consideration. When confronted with her past statements, Jean-Pierre cited changed circumstances and referred reporters to Biden's official statement justifying the pardon. This led to further questioning about her commitment to transparency and honesty, referencing her initial pledge to uphold these values as press secretary.