President Joe Biden is set to do something he’s never done in his young presidency. Later today, the President will host his first formal news conference since taking office. The event will take place a bit after 1 p.m. Approximately 30 socially distanced journalists will also be present for the first formal news conference of the Biden era.
Biden is the first President in the 21st century not to hold a formal news conference during his first two months in office. Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Donald Trump all held at least one news conference during their first 60 days in office. President John F. Kennedy holds the record with seven news conferences in 60 days.
The President has not dodged the media during the first few weeks of his presidency. Instead, he has spoken to reporters several times. Most recently, he spoke about gun control at the White House. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult to hold journalists, photographers, security and lawmakers in one room. Fortunately, preparations have been made in order to host a safe, socially distanced gathering.
How Biden is prepping for his first formal news conference Thursday, per @jrpsaki.
“Looking at your Twitters and seeing what's on your mind.”
— Christopher Cadelago (@ccadelago) March 23, 2021
