Fox News reporter Peter Doocy clashed with White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Monday over Vice President Harris’ views on President Biden’s border policy.
Doocy questioned Jean-Pierre about Harris’ commitment to adding more Border Patrol agents, leading him to conclude that the vice president must be opposed to Biden’s approach to the southern border.
“How long have you known that Vice President Harris does not believe President Biden’s border management is effective?” Doocy asked.
Jean-Pierre rejected the question and rejected the idea that there are such policy differences within the White House.
“I mean, you’re making a big leap there. She never said that. This is something you’re assuming. I don’t understand why you would assume that. It’s not true,” Jean-Pierre responded.
“We truly believe that,” she continued after Doocy questioned her again. “The president wants more Border Patrol agents. You know who’s standing in his way? Republicans in Congress are standing in his way. You know who else is standing in his way? Former President Donald Trump is standing in his way.”
Republicans have sought to attack Harris over border policy because of her role in the administration as the top immigration official, including diplomacy with Latin America. Harris has never overseen day-to-day border policy and does not hold the title of “secretary for border affairs.”
Jean-Pierre’s comments were a reference to Republicans’ rejection of a bipartisan border bill earlier this year that would have strengthened border security, a bill that Trump opposed.
“There is no light here. There is no light, so I don’t understand this question,” she added. “The president believes that too, and he has worked to make that happen.”
“There is a bipartisan agreement. I know you’re all going to be sick of me saying this, but the president spent months consulting with Republicans and Democrats in the Senate and there is a bipartisan agreement on the table,” she continued. “They were told by the former president not to go ahead because it would have helped Joe Biden. That’s their decision.”
