UNFAIR? Reporter Presses White House Press Secretary About Previous Warnings of Trump Being a ‘Threat to Democracy’
Nicole Silverio /
DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION—White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre snapped at Fox News White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich at the White House press briefing Thursday, accusing the reporter of twisting her words about President-elect Donald Trump.
Heinrich contrasted the White House’s warnings that Trump is a “threat to democracy” and claims that he intends to strip Americans of their rights if he is reelected with President Joe Biden telling the public on Thursday that Americans will be OK. The press secretary said the Biden-Harris administration respects the decision made by the American people and will ensure a peaceful transition of power, as is customary for an incumbent president.
“This administration messaged to millions of Americans that they’re gonna wake up the day after the election if Trump won and have their rights stripped away, that democracy would crumble, and the president said today that we’re gonna be OK. So how do you square that?” Heinrich asked.
“I can square that, I’m gonna square that in a way that hopefully makes sense because I’ve answered this question multiple times. The American people made the decision, there was an election two nights ago, there was. And, it was a free and fair election, and we respect the election process, we do, and Americans spoke. So the job of the president is to make sure we respect that, the job of the president is to make sure we have a peaceful transfer of power. That is what the American people deserve, and it’s really not complicated. It’s truly, truly as simple as that. The president called the president-elect and invited him to the White House, you know why? Because that’s customary, that is customary. That is what you do if you respect what the American people decided, that’s what you do.”
Heinrich then asked if the White House can “lead by example” after making people fear for their lives due to their warnings, leading Jean-Pierre to accuse her of being “unfair.”
“So lead by example is the message to people who are fearful based on what the messaging was about the stakes?” Heinrich asked.
“Well, see, you’re just twisting everything around, and that’s really unfair. No, no, Jacqui, it’s unfair because I’ve been standing here trying to be very respectful of what happened that last two nights, being respectful. I’ve been standing here saying that we respect the decision that the American people made. I’ve been standing here saying that the president is going to put the American people first. I’ve been standing here saying that the president is going to make sure what they deserve, which is a peaceful transfer of power. I do not appreciate having my words twisted. I have been clear, very, very clear about what the president wants to do and the vice president. We want to make sure that we deliver for the American people. That’s what they deserve. They deserve a peaceful transition of power, and that’s what you’re gonna see.”
The White House has repeatedly accused Trump and his supporters of being “extremist threats to our democracy” and has attempted to outline the dangers if the now-president-elect served a second term. Jean-Pierre said the White House’s official position is that Trump is a “fascist” during an Oct. 23 briefing.