On Thursday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said: press This is the first time since the election results were announced. During the briefing, multiple reporters challenged her regarding President Joe Biden's previous statements about President-elect Donald Trump.
Before Trump's victory on Tuesday, Biden frequently warned Americans that President Trump was a threat to democracy. Following the election results, the Biden administration has vowed a peaceful transfer of power to the incoming Trump administration.
“I don't like my words to be misinterpreted.”
Jean-Pierre was pressed about Biden's role in Tuesday's Democratic loss. Reporters asked the press secretary whether the president regretted resigning in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris and whether he felt responsible for his loss.
Jean-Pierre placed the main blame on “global headwinds.”
“Despite all the achievements we were able to achieve, there were global headwinds due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” she asserted. “And if you look at what happened around the world in 2024, it dealt a political blow to a lot of incumbents. And that's part of what you saw.”
Reporters asked Jean-Pierre about Biden's views on Trump before and after the election.
“The president has referred to Donald Trump over and over again as a threat to democracy. But this morning he said we'll all be fine. So it was just political rhetoric, right? '' asked Gabe Gutierrez of NBC News.
Jean-Pierre responded, “If you know the president, you know he says we're all going to be okay. He's an optimist, right? I believe we will stand up no matter what. We lost, but we didn't lose, right?”
“The President believes it is his duty to be honest with the American people, as you have asked me about threats to our democracy,” she continued.
Jean-Pierre claimed that Trump had “talked about the enemy within”, “abused Americans who disagree with him” and “abolished the Constitution”. She brought up comments from Trump's former Chief of Staff John Kelly and former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper.
“Let me be clear: Does he still believe that Donald Trump is a threat to democracy?” Gutierrez asked.
“I think the president's statements were very clear and very honest,” she responded. “Right now, we want to move forward and we want to make sure we have a peaceful transfer of power. That's what the American people deserve.”
Another reporter asked Jean-Pierre whether he still stands by Biden's statement that Trump is an “existential threat to democracy.”
“I have nothing more to share than what I said,” she replied.
fox news “This administration's message to millions of Americans is that they will wake up,” White House senior correspondent Jackie Heinrich told reporters. [the] If Trump wins and their rights are taken away the day after the election, democracy will collapse. And the president said, okay today. So how do you square it? ”
“You can square that,” said Jean-Pierre, who had already answered that question many times. “The American people made the decision.”
Mr. Heinrich asked Mr. Jean-Pierre what his message was to “those who are afraid” of Mr. Biden's previous statements about Mr. Trump.
“Well, you're just twisting everything, but it's really unfair. No, it's, no, it's not, Jackie, it's unfair, because I'm very upset about what happened the last two times. Because I'm standing here trying to pay my respects.'' Two nights ago,'' Jean-Pierre said.
She seemed irritated by the line of questioning, adding: “I don't like it when my words are twisted.”
After a while, Jean-Pierre closed the binder and shut down the press.
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