Biden’s press secretary Karine-Jean-Pierre WALKS OUT of briefing over funding for Hurricane Helene victims during fiery exchange with Fox News
Karine Jean-Pierre left the White House press conference during a fiery exchange with Fox News’ Peter Doocy about funding for Hurricane Helene victims and misinformation about the government’s response.
The duo have had arguments during previous press conferences, but Monday’s confrontation was the most intense yet. The two quickly traded back and forth, talking over each other at various points and arguing about what the other was saying.
It ended when Jean-Pierre, wearing an oversized blazer with a bright purple blouse, closed her briefing folder and left the stage, ending the briefing after 49 minutes of questions. She usually briefs for about an hour.
She was mocked by social media users for trying on a ‘Guys and Dolls’-inspired outfit during the fiery altercation.
The exchange started cordially enough. Doocy congratulated Jean-Pierre on her promotion to senior advisor to President Joe Biden and then continued with his questions.
“The entire premise of your question is misinformation, sir,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre snapped at Fox News’ Peter Doocy
Doocy asked her about hurricane funding and whether President Biden would bring Congress back so they could allocate more money to victims.
“President Biden likes to say, show me your budget, and I’ll tell you what you value. If he now has money for the people of Lebanon, without Congress having to come back, what does that say about his values? There isn’t enough money in North Carolina right now. That is not misinformation,” Doocy said.
Jean-Pierre had spent much of her briefing combating false information and conspiracy theories on the internet about hurricane relief.
There have been false claims that the aid money would only go to Democrats and conspiracy theories that the government is engaging in land grabbing.
The misinformation has led to chaos and confusion in states like Georgia and North Carolina, where power and cell phone services are limited.
She had called those people “bad faith actors” and said it was “wrong, dangerous and must stop immediately.”
So when Doocy asked her if his question was misinformation, the White House press secretary snapped, “The entire premise of your question is misinformation, sir.”
“Excuse me,” Doocy replied.
Jean-Pierre then outlined the $200 million the government had sent to the affected area and other funding.
Doocy repeated his question about Biden, saying it’s “not misinformation.” Do you agree?’
“No,” said Jean-Pierre. ‘Not the way you ask me. The question is disinformation.”
Doocy pushed back: “You can’t call a question you don’t like disinformation.”
Fox News senior White House correspondent Peter Doocy questions Karine Jean-Pierre during Monday’s White House press conference
Jean-Pierre noted that she had said more funding would be needed, especially after Hurricane Milton makes landfall in Florida later this week.
“That’s exactly what I just asked about,” Doocy said.
But Jean-Pierre had the last word and then walked away.
“What you’re asking me is why Congress needs to come back and do its job. That’s what you’re asking me. Congress needs to come back and do its job and provide additional relief, additional funding for the Disaster Relief Fund. That is what Congress must do, and we will continue to push for it. You may not want that, but that’s okay. That’s what this president wants, and that’s what the vice president wants,” she said.
With that, she closed her briefing folder and said, “Thank you all.”
She left the briefing room.