I think Joe's hard-of-hearing and when the press corps are asking questions, it just sounds like the undecipherable cacophony he heard every day during that summer he worked at the all-black public swimming pool where he met Corn Pop and learned about roaches.

Q: Does he even know they are shouting questions at him and that he's expected to answer? He just seems amused by the spectacle.

Post Script: I hate his obnoxious and decrepit smirk. Truly.