In the three years since President Joe Biden took office, the role of First Lady Jill Biden in shielding her husband from interactions with the press has come under new scrutiny. Reporters who cover the administration have noticed that when Jill Biden accompanies the president on his trips across the White House South Lawn to Marine One, it is a clear sign that there will be no questions from the media.

President Biden, 81, has held the fewest press conferences and formal interviews of any modern commander-in-chief. His appearances on the South Lawn have become the best chance for the press corps to get face time with him. When Biden is alone, he is more susceptible to being baited with shouted questions, sometimes engaging in give-and-take sessions in makeshift midnight press conferences.

The presence of Jill Biden, 72, during these trips is seen as a dead giveaway that there will be no opportunities for questions. The first lady ensures to hold her husband's hand throughout the journey across the lawn, reinforcing the message that there will be no press engagement.

Jill Biden's involvement in shielding the president from media interactions has gained attention after special counsel Robert Hur described the president as an "elderly man with a poor memory" in a recently released report. This raises concerns about whether the first lady's influence is limiting the president's exposure and accountability to the public.

Since taking office in January 2021, President Biden has only held three solo White House press conferences. During his most recent press conference in November 2022, Jill Biden arrived at the last minute and was seated at the front of the State Dining Room. Observers question whether she may have urged her husband to make a quick exit, as precautions were taken to shield him from potential mishaps.

The need for such precautions stems from the president's previous press conference in January 2022, which lasted for nearly two hours and resulted in several factual errors and notable gaffes. Biden's suggestion of a "minor incursion" by Russia into Ukraine received criticism, as it later appeared to have given the green light for Russia's invasion. Jill Biden was reportedly frustrated by this incident, questioning why no one intervened to end the press conference sooner.

During public events, Jill Biden has also assumed the role of stage manager for her husband. She has been seen leading the president offstage by hand after he displayed hesitation or wandered in the wrong direction after his remarks.

The efforts to protect President Biden from potentially embarrassing interactions extend beyond the first lady. White House staff have been known to intervene to bring press conferences and events to a close. Former press secretary Jen Psaki, for instance, made multiple attempts to conclude a press conference, only for the president to continue taking questions.

A particularly notorious incident occurred during the White House Easter Egg Roll in April 2022. Meghan Hays, then-director of message planning, dressed in an Easter bunny costume to block Biden from answering an Afghan journalist's question.

The White House press office has also implemented a stringent prescreening process for reporters attending large indoor events, potentially limiting access to those who align closely with the administration's views. Although the process was initially eased following a press corps protest, it was reinstated prior to President Biden's response to the recent report by Robert Hur.

Despite all the precautions, President Biden's tendency to make verbal slip-ups and misstatements has not gone unnoticed. From mispronouncing names to confusing current foreign leaders with deceased predecessors, the president's verbal blunders have increased in recent weeks.

With no press conferences scheduled since November's APEC summit, where the president appeared confused alongside other world leaders, concerns remain about the lack of public accountability. President Biden's re-election campaign has reportedly launched "Operation Bubble Wrap," aimed at protecting the president from potential missteps and mishaps during public appearances.

The role of Jill Biden in shielding her husband from media scrutiny continues to raise questions about transparency and accountability in the Biden administration. As the wait for President Biden's next press conference grows, the public and the media remain eager for an opportunity to engage with the commander-in-chief.