NC reporter rebuked by White House after asking if President Biden has dementia

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WNCN) — A North Carolina reporter who asked a White House spokesperson about President Joe Biden’s mental acuity drew sharp criticism from the press secretary earlier this week, who called the subject “incredibly insulting” and “incredibly offensive.”

The interview later sounded as if it ended abruptly with the Charlotte reporter and radio station calling the now-viral interview “The Dial Tone Heard Around The Country.”

The interview took place Tuesday, the same day President Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris visited Raleigh, with a Charlotte news director speaking with White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

Mark Garrison, of WBT radio 1110 AM and 99.3 FM, asked whether President Biden has dementia. He prefaced the question by noting that 72 percent of North Carolina voters in a recent poll said they are worried about Biden’s “mental competence.”

“When I told a number of people that I was talking to you today — it was interesting, though, they all said, ‘Would you please just ask her: Does the President have dementia?’” Garrison said. “So before I move on from it: Does he?”

“Mark, Mark, I can’t even believe you’re asking me this question. That is an incredibly offensive question to ask,” Jean-Pierre said in response.

President Biden, Vice President Harris give remarks in Raleigh about healthcare

However, Garrison, a reporter in North Carolina for 30 years, including several at WBTV, the CBS affiliate in Charlotte, noted “But, you know, people ask it.”

Jean-Pierre then cut off Garrison, accusing him of taking the conversation down a “rabbit hole.”

“Let me be very clear about this. For the past several years, the president’s physician has laid out very, in a comprehensive way, the president’s health. This is a president — if you watch him every day, if you really pay attention to his record and what he has done — you will see exactly how focused he has been on the American people, how historic his actions have been,” Jean-Pierre told Garrison.

She then continued, rejecting the “premise” of Garrison’s inquiry — despite the poll numbers indicating concern among voters.

“And so I’m not even going to truly, truly really, you know, take the premise of your question. I think it is incredibly insulting. And so we can, you know, we can move on to the next question,” she said.

With that, Garrison changed the subject focusing on Biden needing North Carolina voter support despite high gasoline and grocery prices and people lacking “disposable income.”

Jean-Pierre said high prices could be blamed on COVID-19 “and what President Trump left us with” and that President Biden was able to “reopen schools” because of a comprehensive plan.

She also said Biden took action on gas prices after Russia invaded Ukraine and that the prices have fallen in a year.

“All the important groceries, those costs have gone down from where we were a year ago because of what this president has been able to do,” Jean-Pierre said.

She also pointed to the Inflation Reduction Act as being responsible for any lower prices.

“And with that, thank you so much, Mark. Have an amazing, amazing day.”

A dial tone was then heard on the radio.

Garrison and the other WBT radio hosts sounded surprised by Jean-Pierre’s quick exit, which they characterized as the press secretary hanging up the phone.

The White House has since said that Jean-Pierre only had a few minutes for the interview and warned the station ahead of time, according to The Hill.

“A spokesperson also noted the dial tone at the end was likely artificially added, noting those sounds do not typically sound at the end of a call,” The Hill reported.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS17.com.