White House clashes with reporters over Biden Supreme Court interview updates

The White House insists President Joe Biden's Supreme Court nomination process is on track despite causing confusion regarding whether he has interviewed any candidates yet.

White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Thursday that Biden could start speaking directly to potential nominees "as soon as this week," even though there is only one more business day left before the weekend.

"The thing that I can confirm is that, and as you've heard me say before and if you heard Jen say before, is that we are — he is going to have a selection by the end of this month," Jean-Pierre said on Air Force One, referring to press secretary Jen Psaki.

When reporters asked whether that meant Biden has not conducted any interviews yet, Jean-Pierre demurred. Reporters then followed up, pointing out she was able to tell the press corps on Monday that he did not speak to any possible nominees last weekend from Camp David.

“So has he just not been working for four days, or what’s going on?” a reporter said.

“I just don’t have anything to share or to confirm or not confirm on this," Jean-Pierre replied.

Psaki was adamant this week that the White House would not provide "day by day" updates on Biden's Supreme Court nominee search after he disclosed last week that his short list has been whittled down to "about four" black women.