Vice President JD Vance stepped behind the White House podium Thursday and took over the press briefing, using the appearance to discuss the administration’s policies while also taking a pointed shot at former President Joe Biden, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

Vance held the briefing after Karoline Leavitt departed from the role. At the start of the event, Vance acknowledged that he had not been given the usual guidance about which reporters to call on.

“If Karoline Leavitt was still here, she would have told me who to call on. But clearly that hasn’t happened here,” Vance said as he held up photos of the White House reporters.

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Vance also said Leavitt had contacted him earlier in the day before the briefing.

“[Karoline Leavitt] texted me this morning and wished me good luck because obviously going up against all of you is a very, very dangerous business,” Vance said.

He also praised Leavitt and expressed appreciation for her work in the administration.

“She’s going to do great in whatever she does next, and we’re very grateful to her,” he said.

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Vance then addressed Leavitt directly, offering another lighthearted remark about her decision to leave the briefing room.

“So Karoline, if you’re watching, which hopefully you’re not, but if you’re watching, thank you for your service, thank you for your friendship, and thanks for doing a great job,” Vance said.

During the briefing, Vance fielded questions covering several major issues facing the Trump administration, including the ongoing conflict with Iran, gasoline prices, an agreement involving Venezuelan oil and the administration’s efforts to crack down on fraud.

The briefing also featured a moment involving Biden, who is scheduled to attend a Ground Zero memorial ceremony next week marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Vance was asked about Biden’s upcoming appearance and responded with a sarcastic reference to the prospect of seeing the former president.

“As you guys can probably guess, I’m really looking forward to hanging out with Joe Biden,” Vance said.

“I’m sure we’ll have many, many intense intellectual conversations. We’ll have a great time,” he said.

The comments marked one of several moments during the briefing in which Vance mixed policy discussions with humor directed at political opponents.

The appearance came as the Trump administration continues to address a broad range of domestic and foreign policy issues.

Vance’s questions from reporters included topics related to the administration’s handling of Iran, energy prices, Venezuela and efforts to combat fraud in government programs.

The vice president’s appearance also gave him an opportunity to address the transition following Leavitt’s departure from the press briefing role.

Rather than simply moving through prepared remarks, Vance acknowledged the unusual circumstances surrounding his first briefing and joked about the challenges of choosing reporters without Leavitt there to guide him.

The exchange over Biden quickly drew attention because of the former president’s planned appearance at Ground Zero next week.

The ceremony will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, an event that remains a significant date in the nation’s history.

Biden’s attendance alongside current political figures is expected to put former and current leaders in the same public setting as the country marks the anniversary.

Vance’s remarks about Biden were delivered in the context of the broader briefing rather than as a formal policy announcement.

His comments about Leavitt likewise reflected the transition taking place within the White House press operation.

The vice president’s decision to take questions directly from reporters provided a wide-ranging look at issues confronting the administration, from international conflicts and energy costs to government spending and fraud enforcement.

For Vance, however, the briefing was also an opportunity to demonstrate that he was comfortable handling the White House press corps without Leavitt at the podium.

His opening remarks acknowledged the challenge while thanking the former briefing official for her service.

The Biden exchange provided the briefing’s most pointed political moment, with Vance using humor to describe the prospect of seeing his predecessor at next week’s Ground Zero ceremony.

As the Trump administration moves forward with its policy agenda, Vance’s appearance showed the vice president taking a more visible role in communicating directly with reporters on the administration’s priorities.

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