President Biden's administration has contacted former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson to apologize for a joke the Democratic National Committee (DNC) made about ending his presidential campaign.
Hutchinson's decision to suspend his campaign drew ridicule from Democrats, who joked that they didn't know he was still in the race.
“This news comes as a shock to those of us who were able to confirm that he had already withdrawn,” DNC spokeswoman Sarafina Titika wrote in a post.
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson finishes sixth in Iowa, suspends Republican presidential campaign
Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson speaks at the Iowa Republican Party's annual Lincoln Dinner in Des Moines, Iowa. (Rachel Mamie/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Biden reportedly asked the former governor for an apology on behalf of his administration.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday that White House chief of staff Jeff Zients called Hutchinson to “apologize on behalf of the president.”
She went on to say, “President Biden deeply respects Governor Hutchinson and admires the campaign he ran.”
Republican presidential nomination primaries head to New Hampshire after Trump riot in Iowa
“I didn't need the call from the White House, but I still appreciate it,” Hutchinson said. “We can disagree without demonizing people.”
Hutchinson on Tuesday suspended his ambitious campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination after finishing sixth in the Iowa caucuses.
President Biden speaks to reporters before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
“I am canceling my presidential campaign and driving back to Arkansas,” Hutchinson said in a statement. “I am an experienced, principled Republican and committed to telling the truth about the current front-runner. message didn't sell in Iowa.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“I stand behind the campaign I ran. I answered every question, warned Republicans about the risks of 2024, and expressed hope for our country's future,” he said.
Mr. Hutchinson received fewer than 200 votes out of more than 110,000 votes cast in Iowa's Republican presidential caucus, according to unofficial counts.
Fox News Digital's Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
