White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday that she had been pretty busy and hadnt asked President Joe Biden about his viral conversation with former President Barack Obama at Ethel Kennedys funeral.
During the service Wednesday for the Kennedy matriarch, Biden and Obama were caught on camera having an intense conversation.
Lip reader Jeremy Freeman told DailyMail.com that Biden appeared to say to Obama that, shes not as strong as me, with the former president replying, I know ... thats true ... we have time.
The back-and-forth stoked speculation that the duo was talking about Vice President Kamala Harris chances of winning the White House, as the race against former President Donald Trump has become increasingly tight.
Asked about it Thursday on board Air Force One en route to Berlin, Jean-Pierre could only speak to the presidents thoughts about the funeral and his relationship with Obama - making an unfortunate gaffe.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday that she had been pretty busy and hadnt asked President Joe Biden about his viral conversation with former President Barack Obama at Ethel Kennedys funeral. Shes photographed at Wednesdays briefing
Its been kind of busy the last couple hours on the plane, as you can imagine, she first answered.
Jean-Pierre appeared alongside National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan who was peppered with questions about Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar being killed by Israel.
Look, Ill say this, the president really very much appreciated being there at the funeral of Ethel Kennedy who he saw as someone who is incredible and was an incredible force obviously in her life during her years, Jean-Pierre answered.
And what he wanted to do was lift up - lift her up and speak to her accomplishment and what she meant to him, not just to him but to her family and to the country, the press secretary continued. So he appreciated doing that.
It was here she fumbled the response.
And we have said many times, the president and former President Biden they have a very close relationship, Jean-Pierre noted.
Biden has three months and three days left of his term.
Lip reader Jeremy Freeman told DailyMail.com that President Joe Biden (left) appeared to say to former President Barack Obama that, shes not as strong as me, with the former president replying, I know ... thats true ... we have time
It was clear she meant to say former President Obama.
Theyve had one for a long time, obviously, as he served as his vice president, she said.
I dont have anything else to share on that, Jean-Pierre added. I have not had this conversation with the president. Obviously weve been pretty busy these last few hours on the plane, she reiterated.
Obama has openly aired out his concerns about the forthcoming election.
Last week in Pittsburgh, Obama voiced his frustration to a group of black men over how the demographic group was more keen to support him, a man, than Harris, who could become the first female president and first female president of color.
We have not yet seen the same kinds of energy and turnout in all quarters of our neighborhoods and communities as we saw when I was running. Now, I also want to say that that seems to be more pronounced with the brothers, Obama said.