White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre snapped at reporters when asked to explain why Biden was delivering a calm and optimistic message of hope to Americans after months of warning them that democracy would be at risk if Trump won.
The president yesterday promised to ensure “a peaceful and orderly transition” to Donald Trump over the next two months. He was cheerful and couldn’t hide his smile.
‘We accept the choice the country has made. “I have often said, you cannot love your country only when you win,” he said. YYou cannot love your neighbor only if you agree. I hope we can do something: no matter who you voted for, you don’t see each other as opponents, but as fellow Americans.’
It was a marked shift from the grim warnings Democrats have repeated throughout the campaign.
But when asked to correct that shift, Jean-Pierre became flustered and snapped back at Fox News reporter Jacquie Heinrich, accusing her of “twisting her words.”
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre grew frustrated when asked to explain Joe Biden’s shift to a more conciliatory tone
She tried to explain that Biden was simply respecting the election results – with the veiled allusion to Trump’s refusal to accept that he had lost in 2020.
“The American people made the decision. There were elections two nights ago… And they were free and fair elections. And we respect the election process,” she said.
‘And Americans spoke. And so it’s the president’s job to make sure that we respect that. The president’s job is to ensure that there is a peaceful transition of power. That’s what the American people deserve.”
‘The president wants to set a good example. It’s not complicated. It really isn’t. And you know, that’s important.’
Jean-Pierre became even more frustrated when asked what Americans who feared what Trump would do, based on warnings from Biden and Kamala Harris, should think about the president’s change in tone.
“Well, now you’re twisting everything, and that’s really unfair… because I stood here being very respectful of what happened… two nights ago,” she said.
“I stood here and said we respect the decision of the American people. I have stood here and said the president will put the American people first.”
Jean-Pierre then lost her cool and accused parts of the press of twisting her words, before abruptly ending the question-and-answer session.
Jean-Pierre then lost her cool and accused parts of the press of twisting her words, before abruptly ending the question-and-answer session.
“I don’t appreciate my words being twisted… I’ve been very clear, very, very, very clear about what the president wants to do, and the vice president wants to do,” she said.
We want to make sure we get results for the American people. They deserve a peaceful transfer of power. And that’s what you’re going to see.’
Jean-Pierre was also asked repeatedly whether Biden regretted leaving the presidential race and whether the president played a role in Harris’ defeat.
She fumbled in her answers, using “uh” repeatedly as she searched for answers.
“President Biden believes he made the right decision when he decided to step aside – uh – and – uh – immediately endorsed the vice president and you saw the party standing behind her, supporting her, and he believed that this was the was right for the American people,” she said.
‘He put himself aside. This wasn’t about him. This is about what was good for the American people, and that’s what he believes. He believes this was the right decision. He is very proud.’
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre struggled to explain Kamala Harris’ loss
Democrats are still reeling from Harris’s loss to Trump, and the blame game has begun over who is to blame.
Harris aides blame Biden for not doing enough to fight inflation, for his many verbal fumbles and for not dropping out of the race sooner. He is described as the 81-year-old albatross hanging around her neck.
Others blame Harris herself: she did not separate herself sufficiently from Biden during the campaign, there was infighting among her staff, she exaggerated her numbers, she didn’t do that.
Jean-Pierre dodged all questions about whether Biden is guilty or whether he regretted leaving the presidential race.
“The president understands that he will respect the will of the people. That’s what he understands. “He understands that the American people have made a decision and he will respect that,” she said.
And when asked if Biden has any regrets, she said, “The president is very proud of what he was able to accomplish.
“He was very proud and when he made the decision to pass the torch – to pass the torch, to pass the torch to the vice president, he believed it was the right decision at that time.
“Um…he believed she was ready. She was ready to lead from day one and was very proud of what he was able to deliver.”
A devastated Kamala Harris told her dozens of tearful fans to keep fighting as she conceded election defeat to Donald Trump in Washington DC
She repeatedly pointed out that Biden has 74 days left in office.
And she pushed back when asked if Biden was blamed for the defeat.
“There’s going to be a lot of people saying a lot of things. “There are going to be election experts looking under the hood in the coming days, weeks and months, as I’ve said, and they’re going to give their opinions on this race,” she said.
Earlier Thursday, President Biden pledged to work with Trump to achieve a peaceful transition and urged the country to come together as he broke his silence on the election.
“I will fulfill my duty as president. I will fulfill my oath and honor the Constitution. On January 20, we will have a peaceful transition of power here in America,” Biden said.
He did not discuss why Harris might have lost. He also did not respond to shouted questions from reporters about the race.
However, the 81-year-old commander in chief spoke with a smile from the Rose Garden of the White House on Thursday afternoon in his first public appearance since Trump’s landslide victory in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
The outgoing president was noticeably more relaxed than during the campaign, as he told the nation to be positive and accept the devastating results for Democrats, while noting that Harris ran an “inspirational campaign.”
Biden walked out of the Oval Office to applause from a crowd that included Cabinet members, staff and his granddaughter Finnegan and ran to the podium.
As he concluded his remarks, he blew a kiss to the audience and insisted that his government should be proud of its record.
President Joe Biden pledged to work with Donald Trump to achieve an orderly and peaceful transition as he broke his silence on the election
‘I know it’s a difficult time. You’re in pain. I hear you and I see you,” Biden said.
‘A country chooses one or the other. We accept the choice the country makes.
‘You can’t love your country only when you win. You can’t love your neighbor only if you agree, Biden said.
‘A defeat does not mean that we are defeated. We have lost this battle. But we can get back up,” he added.
The president watched the results come in late Tuesday night with family and close friends at the White House, sitting in the residence as Republicans took control of the White House and Senate.
Control of the House of Representatives has yet to be determined.
Biden called both Harris and Trump on Wednesday. He is also referred to as Democrats who won the House and Senate elections.
He congratulated Harris on her historic campaign, and invited President-elect Trump to meet with him at the White House.
He expressed his commitment to ensure a smooth transition to power.
But he had his own warning for the newly elected president, telling him about “the importance of working to bring the country closer together.”
Biden will attend Trump’s inauguration. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said before the election that Biden would attend the election for whoever wins the presidency.
As he concluded his remarks, he blew a kiss to the audience and emphasized that his government should be proud of its record
Now Biden’s legacy is at stake as the president sideds with Trump’s terms.
“Don’t forget everything we have accomplished,” he said Thursday. “It’s been a historic presidency.”
He argued that many of these achievements — like his infrastructure plan — won’t be felt by the public for years.
He also beat back voters’ anger over the economy.
‘We are leaving behind the strongest economy in the world. “I know people are still hurting, but things are changing quickly,” he said.
He and his team will likely spend the three months leading up to Inauguration Day trying to support as many initiatives as possible: securing more funding for Ukraine, pushing for a ceasefire in the Middle East and doing some they can to protect Ukraine. federal workers, whom Trump has promised to target.