White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Wednesday denied that health played a role in President Joe Biden's decision to drop out of the presidential race.
"You read the president's statement, where he said that it's in the country's best interest for him to step aside," a reporter said during the White House press briefing. "Why is it in the country's best interest for him to step aside? Does it have to do with his health or his poll numbers?"
"[It has] nothing to do with his health," Jean-Pierre asserted.
The press secretary added that Biden will "speak directly" to why he changed his mind and dropped out of the 2024 race during his remarks to America "in primetime" later in the evening.
"But in his letter, he talked about the country," Jean-Pierre said. "He talked about the party. He talked about the moment that we're in right now."
"It is not about his health," the press secretary reiterated. "I can say, no, that's not the reason, but hear him out tonight.
