White Home press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre grew to become testy after Fox Information senior White Home correspondent Jacqui Heinrich questioned her a few change in President Biden’s rhetoric earlier than and after the election.
In short remarks Thursday, Biden mentioned he congratulated President-elect Trump on his victory and guaranteed that his total administration would work “to make sure a peaceable and orderly transition.” He emphasised unity and spoke about political campaigns as a “contest of competing visions” that the nation chooses between.
“We settle for the selection the nation made. I’ve mentioned many occasions, you possibly can’t love your nation solely while you win. You may’t love your neighbor solely while you agree. One thing I hope we are able to do, irrespective of who you voted for, you see one another not as adversaries, however as fellow People,” Biden mentioned.
Heinrich, nevertheless, recalled Biden’s historical past of warning that Trump and his supporters are threats to American democracy.
“As you’ve talked about, you recognize, this administration messaged to tens of millions of People that they’re going to get up the day after the election if Trump gained and have their rights stripped away, that democracy would crumble. And the president mentioned at this time, ‘We’re going to be okay,’ So how do you sq. that?” she requested the press secretary.
“I can sq. that,” Jean-Pierre mentioned. “I’m going to sq. that in a means that hopefully is sensible, as a result of I’ve been answering this query a number of occasions. The American individuals made the choice. There was an election two nights in the past. There was. And it was a free and truthful election. And we respect the election course of. We do. And People spoke. And so the job of the president is to verify we respect that. The job of the president is to guarantee that we’ve got a peaceable switch of energy. That’s what the American individuals deserve.”
She later added that Biden has performed his half within the peaceable switch of energy, “as a result of the president needs to guide by instance. It’s not sophisticated. It actually isn’t. And, you recognize, that’s essential.”
Heinrich pressed Jean-Pierre, asking what the message is to “people who find themselves fearful primarily based on” Biden’s earlier messaging.
Jean-Pierre bristled on the query.
“Nicely, now you’re simply twisting all the pieces round, and that’s actually unfair. No it’s, no, no, no, Jackie, it’s unfair as a result of I’ve been standing right here attempting to be very respectful to what occurred the final two nights, two nights in the past. Being respectful,” the White Home spokeswoman mentioned.
“I’ve been standing right here saying that we respect the choice that the American individuals made. I’ve been standing right here and saying that the president’s going to place the American individuals first. I’ve been standing right here speaking about how the president’s going to guarantee that they get what they deserve, which is a peaceable switch of energy.”
Showing pissed off, Jean-Pierre continued to object to the reporter’s query.
“I don’t admire having my phrases twisted,” she mentioned, claiming she has “been very clear, very, very, very clear about what the president needs to do, and the vp. We wish to guarantee that we ship for the American individuals. They deserve a peaceable switch of energy. And that’s what you’re going to see.”
“Thanks, all people,” Jean-Pierre mentioned, closing her binder and leaving the rostrum.
The president repeatedly argued whereas he was nonetheless operating that Trump was “a risk to democracy.” As he campaigned within the remaining weeks of the election for Harris, Biden referred to as for Trump to be locked up “politically.”
“Our democracy is at stake,” he added. “Give it some thought. Take into consideration what would occur if Donald Trump wins this election.”
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