Resurfaced footage from last year shows White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre accusing Fox News White House Correspondent Peter Doocy of being too dramatic after he fact-checked her regarding the Biden-Harris administration’s stance toward the ongoing border crisis. Over the past several years, Doocy and KJP have been known for their sometimes tense exchanges during press briefings.
During the 2023 press gathering, Doocy pressed Jean Pierre on a claim that suggested the illegal immigration that has occurred on President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris has substantially declined. “If the border is secure, as the administration has said, then why would we need to send 1,500 active-duty U.S. troops down there?” Doocy asked.
Responding, Jean-Pierre suggested the deployment occurred because there was “more work” to be done at the southern border with Mexico. Because we need more work. We need more — work needs to be done, Peter. The press secretary then touted the Democratic talking point, deferring the executive branch’s responsibility with the border to Congress.
“We put forth a — a comprehensive immigration legislation and Congress — Republicans refused to act,” KJP said, effectively blaming the border crisis and unfettered illegal immigration on the GOP. “And so, the President has used the tools that he has in front of him to — to prepare ahead of Title 42 lifting — as you know, that is happening in — in the next couple of days,” she added.
KJP continued, “And so, we are putting DHS, Department of State is putting forth process — processes to deal — to deal with the changes that are going to be ahead of us. And so, that is what’s important here. And that’s what you’ve been seeing. For the past several seeing you’ve heard from DHS, you’ve heard from the state department on what we’re putting in place to deal with — to deal with the border once Title 42 lifts.”
The exchange then became tense as Doocy fact-checked a statement KJP made about illegal immigration declining “90 percent.” The White House correspondent then asked, “You said yesterday that, when it comes to illegal migration, you’ve seen it come down by more than 90 percent. Where did that number come from?”
KJP replied, ” It was…I was speaking…I hear you I’m about to answer,” as Doocy spoke over here questioning the validity of her statement. As the two continued cutting each other off, KJP called for Doocy to cease the “dramatics” he displayed. “If you — if the dramatics could come down just a little bit,” KJP said. Doocy followed up, “What’s dramatic about asking a question about..”
Watch Doocy and KJP below:
KJP answered, “Okay. I’m — I’m going to answer. So, I was speaking to the parolee program. As you know, the president put in place a parolee program to deal with — to deal with certain countries on — on ways that we can limit illegal migration and we have seen — the data has shown us, that is gone down by more than 90 percent. That was what I was speaking to.”
One user on X reacted to the interaction during the press briefing, stating, “Um, What? KJP Accuses Doocy of Being Too ‘Dramatic’ After He Fact-Checks Her on the Border.” Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin similarly said, “Colleague @pdoocy asks @PressSec about her false claim yesterday that illegal immigration is down 90%. KJP tells Peter he is being “dramatic”, then goes on to say she was talking about the parole program for a handful of countries, but she *never* specified that yesterday. Her claim yesterday was that illegal immigration in general was down 90% and at no point did she mention the context of the parole program for Venezuelans, Cubans, Nicaraguans, and Haitians.”
Note: The featured image is a screenshot from the embedded video.
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