WH Comms Chief Kate Bedingfield Tells CNN Biden May ‘Test Positive at Some Point’ But He’s Protected
White House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield acknowledged to CNN that President Joe Biden may well “test positive for COVID at some point,” but he’s protected against severe disease.
On Friday morning’s edition of CNN’s New Day, anchor John Berman raised the specter of the Amy Coney Barrett “superspreader” celebration of her Supreme Court confirmation, and asked about precautions for today’s event celebrating the confirmation of Justice-designate Ketanji Brown Jackson.
Ms. Bedingfield rejected the comparison, noting key differences between the timing of the two events, like the fact that while the president may well test positive at some point, he is vaccinated and double-boosted:
MR. BERMAN: You know, you said there’s going to be a big celebration today. It made me think about the last time there was a big celebration at the White House for a Supreme Court announcement for Amy Coney Barrett. It turned out to be a COVID superspreader event, potentially. What precautions are being taken today? I mean, first of all, when was the last time the president was tested? The vice president, because we know Speaker Pelosi, who we’re looking at right here a few days ago, is now positive.
MS. BEDINGFIELD: Well, the president was tested Wednesday night, tested negative. And as we said yesterday, he was also not a CDC-defined close contact with Speaker Pelosi. But look, certainly we have seen an increase in cases. We know that, with the Ba2 variant is trans is very transmissible. We are taking many, many precautions. We take precautions to ensure that the president is protected. But I do think it’s important to note that, you know, it is possible he will test positive for COVID at some point and we’re in a very different place than we were, for example, when they held that event for Justice Barrett, which is to say, we have vaccines. We have treatments. You know, the president is vaccinated and double-boosted and so, protected from severe COVID. So we take every precaution to ensure that we keep him safe. We keep the vice president safe. The first lady, the second gentleman, our staff here. But you know, it is certainly possible that he will test positive for COVID and he is vaccinated. He’s boosted and protected from the most severe strains of the virus. You know,
MR. BERMAN: It’s interesting you say that because, does that represent a shift in overall thinking, not just at the White House, but for the country? That basically, we should live our lives, you’re saying, we’re going to do what we’re going to do and you might get it. But if you take the precautions that you are suggesting, it shouldn’t be that bad.
MS. BEDINGFIELD: Well, I think that’s exactly right. That’s certainly, you know, the president is certainly living his life. Just as, as you say, all Americans across the country are while taking precautions while ensuring that we’re following CDC guidance, for example, in an area of high transmission, you wear a mask. So there are things you can do to be smart about it and to protect yourself. But you know, we are in a phase of this virus. Thanks, I would argue, to a lot of good work from the Biden administration to get people vaccinated, to make antiviral pills available. We have treatments and so people are out living their lives and certainly the president of the United States is doing that too.
Watch above via CNN.
