White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki is pushing back on a reporter’s suggestion the Biden administration is just the “third term” of former President Barack Obama.
During a White House press briefing on Friday, Newsmax correspondent Emerald Robinson said, “Given the number of former Obama administration officials that are now in this Biden administration and the president’s relatively light schedule, there’s a growing perception that this is really just the third term of President Obama.”
When asked for her reaction, Psaki replied, “Who’s saying that?”
Robinson responded, “You’ve heard that a lot in the media.” Psaki pressed Robinson on who exactly is saying that.
“Different people,” Robinson said.
Watch the video below:
Jen Psaki shoots down an attempt by Emerald Robinson of Newsmax to get her to respond to a loaded “many people are saying” question pic.twitter.com/yonNlv7Jqb
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 7, 2021
When Psaki pressed Robinson again on who in the media is making these claims, Robinson explained, “Well there was lots of questions about when you had Japanese Prime Minister Suga here. On the one and only — so far, in person — bilateral head of state meeting, it was Vice President Kamala Harris who greeted the prime minister.
She added, “Many people found that odd. She’s already taking independent one-on-one calls with key allies like Prime Minister Morrison and Justin Trudeau. So I just want to get your reaction to people who question that.”
Psaki told Robinson, “Well, it’s hard to react when I don’t know what people you’re talking about.”
The Newsmax correspondent also questioned Psaki about whether Biden believes the COVID-19 pandemic resulted from a lab leak in China.
“Well, the president has said, and I have said from here many times, that there needs to be a credible independent investigation through the World Health Organization, one that relies on data, relies on participation from China and other countries that may have information,” Psaki said.
She continued, “That’s certainly something everybody has called for and we look forward to that happening.”
Watch more of the press briefing below:
“I’m sorry, Emerald, I think you’ve had plenty of time today” — Psaki ran out of patience with a Newsmax staffer’s conspiracy theories pic.twitter.com/fxModg18oq
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 7, 2021
As Robinson continued to ask Psaki questions, the press secretary fired back, “I’m sorry, Emerald, I think you’ve had plenty of time today.”