White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and Fox News reporter Peter Doocy sparred Monday over the Biden administration's response to the damage and destruction caused by Hurricane Helen.
“President Biden likes to say, 'Show me the budget and you'll tell me what you value.'” If he has money for the Lebanese people; If there wasn't enough money for the people of North Carolina, what does that say about him? ”Stupid asked at Monday's press conference.
“The whole premise of your question is misinformation, sir,” Jean-Pierre retorted. “I said earlier that we have provided more than $200 million to those affected in the region,” she noted, noting that she was talking about the Small Business Administration's disaster loans.
“That's money for the people of North Carolina,” Doocy argued. “They’re the ones who say it’s running out.”
“Peter, this is nothing new,” she replied. “Congress comes together to provide millions of dollars in disaster relief.”
Doocy referenced a recent letter from Biden to Congressional leaders asking them to come back from recess to approve more funding for hurricane relief efforts, and a spokesperson for Biden's letter saying, “That's incorrect.'' “Is this information correct? Yes or no?” he asked directly.
“No, the way you ask the question is misinformed,” she replied. “We are allocating funds to the affected areas.”
“You can't call a question a question if you don't like misinformation,” Doocy shot back.
“No, what we want Congress to do is get back to work,” Jean-Pierre said, grabbing a large binder from the podium and starting to leave. “You may not want that, but that's fine. That's what this president and vice president want. Thank you, everyone.”
Former President Trump made the federal government's response to Helen an issue in his campaign, claiming that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) “doesn't go out of its way to help people in Republican areas” and criticizing his opponent, Harris. The Vice President said that in next month's presidential election, he has “spent all the FEMA money, billions of dollars, on housing for illegal immigrants.”
Mr. Doocy is known to often directly spar with White House officials and Mr. Biden during his interactions with the White House press corps.
