The White House engaged in a contentious exchange with reporters on Monday regarding a Parkinson’s specialist’s visits, which were logged eight times over the past eight months.
“I am feeling a little miffed around here about how information has been shared with the press corps by him,” a reporter questioned White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre during the daily briefing.
The visitors’ log indicated that Dr. Kevin Cannard, a Parkinson’s specialist, had been to the White House eight times in the span of eight months. Reporters were keen to know if President Joe Biden had consultations with the specialist.
“No matter how hard you push me, no matter how angry you get, I am not going to confirm a name. It doesn’t matter if it is even in the log. I am not going to do that from here. What I can share with you is that the president has seen a neurologist for his physical three times,” Jean-Pierre responded.
Jean-Pierre emphasized that this level of disclosure was more transparent than previous administrations. “It is more than what the last guy shared and it is in line with what George W. Bush did. It is in line with what [Barack] Obama did. And so it is comprehensive. It is out there.”
Jean-Pierre refused to confirm the name of the specialist, citing privacy concerns. “I am not going to divulge somebody’s name or confirm someone. I am not going to do that. That is — as a privacy for that person. I am not going to do that. It does not matter how hard you push me. It does not matter how angry you get with me from here. I am just not going to do that. It is inappropriate and it is not acceptable, so I am not going to do it.”
She reiterated that Biden had seen a neurologist three times and noted, “No findings, which would be consistent with any cerebellar or other central neurological disorders such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, or ascending lateral sclerosis, that is coming from February.”
Jean-Pierre assured that each time there is a physical, a comprehensive report is shared. “That is what the medical unit, the president’s doctor, shared and I shared. I said to you it has happened three times each time. There is a physical that occurs and we put out a comprehensive report, that is when he has been able to see a specialist. So that is what I can share,” she concluded.
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