Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre toughened her stance after Fox News senior White House correspondent Jackie Heinrich asked about changes in President Biden's rhetoric before and after the election.
In brief remarks Thursday, Biden congratulated President-elect Donald Trump on his victory and pledged that his entire administration would work “to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition of power.” He stressed unity and said political movements were a “competition of conflicting visions” in which countries choose sides.
“We accept the choices our country has made. As I have said many times, you cannot love your country only when you win. You cannot love your neighbor only when you agree. No matter what, I hope we can do it.''If you voted, you don't see each other as adversaries, you see each other as fellow Americans,'' Biden said.
But Heinrich recalled Biden's history of warning that Trump and his supporters were a threat to American democracy.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was furious at Fox News' Jackie Heinrich's question about Biden's pre-election comments.
“As you mentioned, you know, this administration is trying to convince millions of Americans that if Trump wins and gets disenfranchised, our democracy will collapse, and the day after the election, we won't be able to do it.” We sent a message that we're going to wake up. And the president said today, “We're going to be fine.'' So how do you square that? ” she asked the press secretary.
“It can be resolved,” Jean-Pierre said. “I've answered this question many times, so I'll try to answer it in a way that hopefully makes sense. The American people made the decision. Two nights ago, there was an election. There was an election. And it was a free election.'' And we respect the electoral process, and the president's job is to make sure we respect that. That's what the American people deserve. ”
Biden calls Trump supporters 'trash', and White House aims to clean up afterwards
She then added that Biden played a role in the peaceful transfer of power, saying, “Because the president wants to lead by example. It's not complicated; it's not. And… You know, that's important,” he added.
Mr. Heinrich pressed her and asked her what her message was to people who were “afraid” of Mr. Biden's previous messages.
Jean-Pierre bristled at the question.
“Well, you're just twisting everything, but it's really unfair. No, it's not, Jackie, it's unfair, because I have a lot of respect for what happened the last two nights. “Because I'm standing here with all my respect, two nights ago,” the White House press secretary said.
“I have stood here and said that I respect the decisions made by the American people. I have stood here and said that the president is going to put the American people first. We've been standing up and talking about what the president is going to do.''So that they get what they deserve, and that is a peaceful transfer of power.'' ”
White House denies Biden called Trump supporters 'trash'
Jean-Pierre seemed irritated and continued to object to reporters' questions.
“I don't appreciate having my words twisted,” she said, adding, “The president and vice president have been very, very, very clear about what they want to do. We hope to achieve our goals in the future.'' The American people deserve and will see a peaceful transfer of power. ”
“Thank you, everyone,” she said, closing her binder and leaving the podium.
During his candidacy, the president repeatedly claimed that Trump was a “threat to democracy.” While campaigning for Harris in the final weeks of the campaign, Biden called on Trump to be “politically” restrained.
“Our democracy is at stake,” he added. “Think about it. Think about what would happen if Donald Trump won this election.”
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Fox News' Greh Wehner and Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.
