Former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said on Thursday that she did not need “a ton of laps” with reporters because of the access granted to her by former President Donald Trump, in a reference to the go-to line of the successor Jen Psaki when she can answer questions directly.
Reacting to Psaki’s “Fox & Friends” montage saying she would “return” with several reporters during her six weeks at the Biden White House, McEnany said she had the advantage of knowing Trump’s position on the issues.
“I wish Jen Psaki all the best, it’s a very difficult job, but having said that, we work hard in our administration to do hours and hours of research in advance, sometimes days,” she said.
“I always knew where my boss was. Unlike other press secretaries who might not have privileges to enter, I could come in at any time … I always knew where his head was, so I didn’t need a ton of laps because President Trump has given me a lot of access. “
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Psaki gave daily press conferences after the Trump White House largely avoided the practice during McEnany’s term, but Trump was known for his openness with the press.
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McEnany also criticized President Biden for staying in the “basement” and avoiding questions from the press. Although Biden occasionally answered questions shouted at him after formal comments, he went 44 days without giving a solo press conference, a record for modern presidents.
“It’s just like the campaign. That has been your strategy all along,” said McEnany, a new analyst at Fox News.
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“Hide in the basement, don’t talk to the American people … That’s what President Trump offers. He gave transparency. He was always willing to ask questions, always willing to go up to the podium, always willing to stop on the way to the helicopter. Transparency is what he offered, and Joe Biden vowed transparency. Now, he has set a 100-year record for not taking the podium. “