Biden liberates your Instagram feed

From: POLITICO West Wing Playbook - Monday Nov 27,2023 10:56 pm

Nov 27, 2023

By Lauren Egan, Myah Ward and Benjamin Johansen

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The Biden White House is planning to cut back on a time-honored holiday tradition: photo lines.

For years, scoring an invite to one of the roughly 20 White House holiday receptions also meant the chance to snag an official picture with the president and first lady. But that might not be the case for many guests this year.

The White House is considering axing the photo line for media holiday receptions next month, as well as at other holiday events for lawmakers and supporters, according to a Biden official.

The absence of the photo line would represent a seismic business hit for the framing shops of Washington, D.C., which were often deluged with post-holiday requests by ambitious young reporters and staffers eager to show off that time they talked to the president for a seemingly endless 10 seconds.

But current and former White House aides say that the tradition was also one of the most draining parts of the holiday season. Keeping them running smoothly and efficiently is an art. Guests always want to chit-chat with the president for too long. The whole process can take hours without a break for the president or his staff — and the White House just isn’t sure if it’s worth the trouble any more.

The possibility of not having a photo line could leave some press members disappointed. For newer members of the White House beat, posting a holiday pic with POTUS and FLOTUS was a sign of achievement and some looked forward to introducing a proud spouse or parent to the president.

But others saw the impending decision as yet another example of Biden aides tightening their grip on the president’s interactions with the press. And some said that after last year’s chaotic photo line — which grouped together people who didn’t know each other (as opposed to the standard journalist-and-guest solo pic) — it wasn’t surprising that the Biden White House is considering ditching the tradition altogether.

White House aides and outside Biden allies have made clear they find these sorts of grievances from the press trivial and part of the never-ending fountain of complaints from reporters.

“Glad the WH press corps is keeping its eye on what’s important to the American people,” said a senior White House official.

White House holiday season is no small matter. Approximately 1,600 people are invited to attend this year’s events, 800 of which are members of the press and their guests. Some staff were frustrated that after President JOE BIDEN stood for three hours last year taking photos, reporters still complained about not getting individual shots with him.

Pulling back on the holiday photo line isn’t without precedent. Although President BILL CLINTON stood for holiday photo lines just days after he was impeached and President GEORGE W. BUSH made a point of participating in receiving lines at all holiday events through the end of his term, President BARACK OBAMA stopped doing photo lines at most holiday parties at the end of his presidency. However, Obama kept up the tradition for the media and members of Congress.

DONALD TRUMP, who did not hide his distaste for the news media, never held a holiday reception for the press.

Still, former White House officials told West Wing Playbook that photo line moments are truly special for guests. Former aides said the photo lines offered up close and personal interactions where Biden’s retail political skills shine. Not participating in the photo line with the media would be a missed opportunity to earn some goodwill with reporters, one former aide argued.

According to a person familiar with Biden’s plans, the president plans to give brief remarks at the press holiday party and there’s always the chance that he could work the crowd at some of the events.

So, there’s always hope for a rope line selfie, regardless. Your Instagram feed may not be spared after all.

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POTUS PUZZLER

Thanks to the White House Historical Association for this question!

Which president traveled from Washington, D.C. to Mount Vernon on the USS Potomac with KING GEORGE VI and QUEEN ELIZABETH of Great Britain?

(Answer at bottom.)

The Oval

FRAGILE TRUCE: Israel and Hamas on Monday agreed to a 48-hour extension of their four-day pause in fighting. National security spokesperson JOHN KIRBY said at today’s White House briefing that he’d like to see the pause extended further but that would “depend upon Hamas continuing to release hostages."

President Biden applauded the extension in a statement. “We are taking full advantage of the pause in fighting to increase the amount of humanitarian aid moving into Gaza, and we will continue our efforts to build a future of peace and dignity for the Palestinian people,” he said.

VIOLENCE IN BURLINGTON: The president and the first lady on Monday said they were “horrified” to hear about the shooting of three college students of Palestinian descent in Burlington, Vt., over the weekend. Police are investigating the attack as a possible hate crime. “While we are waiting for more facts, we know this: there is absolutely no place for violence or hate in America. Period,” Biden said in a statement. “No person should worry about being shot at while going about their daily lives.”

LESS CARBON EMISSIONS IF YOU DON’T GO: The White House confirmed that Biden will skip the COP28 climate summit that starts at the end of this week in Dubai, as POLITICO previously reported, despite attending the previous two conferences.

Although no immediate reason for the decision was provided, the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas could be a factor. Other Biden administration officials do plan to attend, including climate envoy JOHN KERRY and national climate adviser ALI ZAIDI, WaPo’s MAXINE JOSELOW reports.

MIRACLE ON PENNSYLVANIA AVE: On Monday, first lady JILL BIDEN unveiled the White House’s holiday decorations, pinning the theme: “Magic, Wonder, and Joy.” The White House hopes the decor will empower viewers to “embrace your inner child.”

Nearly 15,000 feet of ribbon, 98 Christmas trees, and over 142,000 holiday lights now adorn the White House complex, with the Blue Room housing an 18.5-foot Fraser fir tree, courtesy of farmers from the Blue Ridge Mountains. Rumor has it that, from now until Christmas Day, the White House will also be pumping this tune on repeat into the James Brady briefing room.

WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE WANTS YOU TO READ: This piece by The Messenger’s NICOLE GAUDIANO, who reports on a White House memo laying into GOP threats to repeal Obamacare. Although the memo does not name Donald Trump explicitly, it comes days after the former president took to Truth Social to suggest he would “seriously look at alternatives” to the law.

“Nowhere is the MAGAnomics threat to middle class families’ bottom lines more severe than when it comes to health care,” deputy press secretary ANDREW BATES wrote in the memo. Bates also shared the story on X (twice).

ALSO THIS ICYMI: During Biden’s Thanksgiving weekend trip to Nantucket, Fox News correspondent LUCAS TOMLINSON asked Biden whether he is too old to be president. “That’s stupid,” the president responded. Tomlinson later filed a report on Fox News Sunday, saying, “The oldest president in U.S. history also continues to face questions about his age, even here in Nantucket.”

White House folks had a field day when Tomlinson credited the question to “a reporter” rather than himself. Bates, as he does, took to X, sharing five (!!!) posts about it. Deputy press secretary OLIVIA DALTON responded to Tomlinson, writing that when Biden was asked the age question by a reporter, “Lol that reporter was… you.”

WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE DOESN’T WANT YOU TO READ: This piece by NYT’s JONATHAN WEISMAN, who reports that even if successful, Biden’s clean energy agenda could backfire. Many plants tasked with manufacturing solar panels are overwhelmed by demand, with executives arguing the administration’s initiative has been too rushed.

“Mr. Biden’s political advantage in the clean energy economy could turn into a crippling liability, bordering on a nightmare: shutdowns and canceled construction plans rippling across the country, including in key 2024 states like Georgia, Arizona and Colorado,” Weisman writes.

SUBSCRIBE TO CALIFORNIA CLIMATE: Climate change isn’t just about the weather. It's also about how we do business and create new policies, especially in California. So we have something cool for you: A brand-new California Climate newsletter. It's not just climate or science chat, it's your daily cheat sheet to understanding how the legislative landscape around climate change is shaking up industries across the Golden State. Subscribe now to California Climate to keep up with the changes.

THE BUREAUCRATS

FIRST IN WEST WING PLAYBOOK: SOPHIA SOKOLOWSKI is now senior adviser to the intergovernmental affairs office in the White House, our DANIEL LIPPMAN has learned. She most recently was director of intergovernmental affairs for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

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Agenda Setting

NEVER BREAK THE CHAIN: Biden on Monday had the first meeting with his newly established supply chain resilience council, a Cabinet-level group tasked with avoiding supply chain problems that partially fueled higher inflation in 2021, AP’s JOSH BOAK reports.

At the meeting, the White House announced 30 new actions to tackle supply chain issues, including using the Defense Production Act to broaden authorities for the Department of Health and Human Services to invest in domestic manufacturing of essential medicines “deemed by the President as essential to the national defense.”

KEEPING UP SUPPORT: Secretary of State ANTONY BLINKEN departed for Brussels on Monday for a NATO meeting with foreign ministers, AP’s MATTHEW LEE reports. After weeks of diplomatic talks in the Israel-Hamas war, Blinken will turn his attention to Ukraine. In Brussels, NATO nations will reaffirm their support for the country’s struggle against Russia.

The officials will also discuss the escalating conflict in the Western Balkans, where hostility between Serbia and Kosovo are prompting calls for NATO to increase military presence in the region.

GET A BACKSTAGE PASS TO COP28 WITH GLOBAL PLAYBOOK: Get insider access to the conference that sets the tone of the global climate agenda with POLITICO's Global Playbook newsletter. Authored by Suzanne Lynch, Global Playbook delivers exclusive, daily insights and comprehensive coverage that will keep you informed about the most crucial climate summit of the year. Dive deep into the critical discussions and developments at COP28 from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12. SUBSCRIBE NOW.

What We're Reading

Is Biden doomed in 2024? 3 theories about the president’s bad polls (Vox’s Andrew Prokop)

Biden Hopes to Alter the Trajectory of the War as Hostages Are Released (NYT’s Peter Baker)

Sports Illustrated Published Articles by Fake, AI-Generated Writers (Futurism’s Maggie Harrison)

POTUS PUZZLER ANSWER

President FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT and first lady ELEANOR ROOSEVELT joined the royal couple by ship to travel down river to Mount Vernon, President GEORGE WASHINGTON’s home.

The Potomac was described to have had the royal standard of the King of England on the foremast and the U.S. presidential flag on the main mask, according to the White House Historical Association.

To learn more about the White House’s history with the sea, check out the 71st issue of White House History Quarterly: The White House and the Sea.

A CALL OUT! Do you think you have a harder trivia question? Send us your best one about the presidents, with a citation or sourcing, and we may feature it!

Edited by Eun Kyung Kim and Sam Stein.

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