President Joe Biden flexed his authority on Monday, overriding orders from his staff as he issued instructions for a White House photo op.
Biden, who is overseeing a military buildup in the Middle East amid rising tensions there, commented Monday on how his aides sometimes try to corner him but asked for an audience anyway during a relaxed event with Gotham FC at the White House.
It was the first White House event featuring the winner of the National Women’s Soccer League.
When it came time for the traditional photo op with the 2023 champions, Biden said: “I thought when I was president I could do the things I want to do, but my staff tells me what I can’t do.”
The crowd’s laughter turned to coos as he announced his decision. “Anyway, all the young women, all the kids out there, come and do this with me,” he said, flexing his authority and relishing the chance to take some liberties now that he is no longer his party’s candidate for re-election.
That put a twist on the traditional sports team photo, where the president holds up a personalized jersey featuring the champion team.
Biden said his staff tells him “what I can’t do,” but he decided to call the kids on stage for a photo op with FC Gotham anyway.
This time, he was flanked by young children, with the powerful team, also a contender for 2024 thanks to a playoff spot, lined up behind him.
After individually greeting children in the audience, Biden and the team posed.
As the event began, Biden singled out co-owners Phil and Tammy Murphy, saying the New Jersey governor and first lady were on a trade mission abroad and could not be there.
He then highlighted the presence of New Jersey Senator George Helmy, who was sworn in weeks ago after Senator Robert Menendez was convicted on corruption charges.
“George, you can’t take the trophy home,” Biden joked to the lawmaker, who was seated in the front row of the East Room, the gleaming trophy on a table placed in front of the victorious team. It was not clear if the comment had anything to do with the Menendez “gold bullion.”
The president invited the children to come up on stage after the event.
Biden greeted Ali Krieger, former member of Gotham FC and team ambassador
“It was very rewarding,” said former team captain Ali Krieger.
Biden praised the team and endorsed their interest in women’s soccer and the rise of women’s sports in general. “There was some question about whether you could turn things around,” Biden told the team. “But you never gave up, you never gave in, and you kept the faith, as my mother would say.”
Biden himself seems to revel in such developments, now that he has decided to hang up his political boots following his performance in a televised debate against Donald Trump.
“In my family we have one advantage: All the women are smarter than all the men,” Biden told the crowd at one point.
He wasn’t the only member of the White House staff who was admiring. When he finished, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and the office’s director of management and budget, Shalanda Young, took the podium in the briefing room with members of the staff.
FC Gotham ambassador Ali Krieger, a two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion, told DailyMail.com she had a brief conversation with Biden before the event.
“He remembers that we came in 2015 and he remembers that I came with the national team to celebrate the victory in the World Cup… It was super gratifying,” he said.
Krieger, who began his career in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, said players avoided political speeches. “I was just saying that we hope we can continue to inspire our generation to want to be better and do more,” he said.
“It’s always an honor and a privilege to be invited to the White House, especially on an occasion like this in the name of winning a championship,” said team forward Midge Purce, who also grew up near the White House in Silver Spring, Maryland.