White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki suggested at a recent media conference that there was a lot more drama in the White House during the Trump administration, comparing it, yet again, to the popular “Game of Thrones” series.
The story: The White House Press Secretary made the comments at a recent media conference hosted by the Financial Times in response to a question from the publication’s editor Roula Khalaf who suggested there are virtually no leaks by the Biden administration, compared to the Trump administration.
What she said: Psaki compared the Trump administration to the hit HBO show, highlighting that many of the staffers in the White House had previously worked for President Joe Biden which has contributed to a different kind of atmosphere in the West Wing.
“There’s not a lot of ‘Game of Thrones’ drama here, which feels like it may be a bit of … a shift from the last four years,” Psaki said. “The culture of this White House is very much a put your head down, get to work, do your thing, be a part of the team,” she added.
Psaki also pushed back at claims that the president is reluctant to talk to the media.
“He actually enjoys that back and forth and takes questions, I think, more than almost most presidents in modern history … in terms of the frequency of how often he takes questions from reporters,” she said.
So far, Biden has held only one official press conference, which was scheduled after much scrutiny from the media, including reports that he has taken longer to talk to reporters at a formal presser than any president in the last 100 years.
Psaki also said that she does not plan to leave her position next year.
I think this has been a little bungled out there, [me] walking out the door on day 365,” Psaki said. “I have flexibility and can stay longer and likely will stay longer.”
Not a first: Psaki has previously referenced the series while discussed the Trump administration.
“We’re kind of still in recovery from the ‘Game of Thrones’ period of our history here,” Psaki said last month during an interview with David Axelrod on “The Axe Files” podcast.
“Anybody who covered only the Trump administration who’s looking for a continuation of the ‘Game of Thrones’-style personnel sniping, they will be sorely disappointed, I believe,” Psaki said in an interview with NPR in December.
