Biden learned about Donald Trump's historic indictment from new chief of staff Jeff Zients

President Joe Biden learned about Thursday's news that a Manhattan grand jury had indicted his predecessor Donald Trump from his new top aide – who found out through press reports, the White House said Friday.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters traveling with the president Friday about the mechanics of how he learned the historic news.

'Look, we found out -– all of us, including the President, found out about the news yesterday, just like every other American, through the news reports,' Jean-Pierre said en route with Biden to view tornado damage in Mississippi.

Then she modified her statement to say that Biden learned second-hand through his top aide. 

President Joe Biden learned about Donald Trump's indictment from White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients, the White House said Friday. Biden had no comment on Trump's indictment when asked about it Friday

'His chief of staff, Jeff Zients, let him know what occurred through media reports, just like – again, just like all of you found out.'

She underlined that Biden 'was not given a heads up. Again, through media reports, that's how we learned about the the indictment yesterday.'

Zients, who previously served as Biden's coronavirus coordinator, assumed his new post in January, succeeding chief of staff Ron Klain.

She didn't directly answer questions about whether Biden had been briefed on the matter or whether the administration was prepared for any civil unrest.

'The President certainly – and we've said this many times before – he supports Americans who want to protest peacefully. And I'm just not going to get into speculations from here on what may or may not happen,' she said.

'Clearly, we are always prepared. This administration is – and this government is always prepared. But just not going to get into speculation from here.'

Biden 'was not given a head's up,' said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre

White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients gave Biden the news

A Manhattan grand jury has voted to indict former president Donald Trump over hush money paid to pornstar Stormy Daniels 

Donald Trump called the indictment 'unthinkable'

Trump had called for protests earlier this month, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) on Friday called for protests and said she would be in New York when Trump is set to be arrested Tuesday.

She also wouldn't engage on any voters who heard Trump's claim that the charges are political. Trump and his team have called it a 'witch hunt.'

Jean-Pierre said it was 'not something that we’re going to be commenting on.'

She stressed Biden's arms' length distance from the information on a day when the president refused to engage on the topic, despite multiple attempts by reporters to get him to talk.

'I have no comment on Trump,' he said as he left the White House.