Is Biden ‘Following Donald Trump’s Words And Actions’

[ad_1]

There was an uproar when reporters at a White House briefing demanded an answer from White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre about whether President Joe Biden was “following the words and actions of Donald Trump.”

But Jean-Pierre was very careful not to offend the Hatch Act by speaking about anything he believed could be construed as campaign-related, too cautious for some.

During Friday’s briefing, AFP White House correspondent Sebastian Smith and New York Times correspondent Michael Shear worked together to try and get an answer when Jean-Pierre refused to tell them whether the president had been monitoring Trump. because, as Smith pointed out, “Donald Trump is the frontrunner right now — clearly the frontrunner of the Republican Party. He is — he is — he wants to be President, and he’s the frontrunner of his party.”

KJP has been very cautious about the Hatch Act, and explained his willingness to talk about Trump or not depending on the context with chaotic delays:

Q And one more quick one, if I may. This is not a 2024 — not a Hatch Act-type question, let’s put it that way.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: That’s what you think. (Laughter.)

Q Im tel- — telling you its (inaudible).

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I know, I like how you set it up. (Laughter.)

Q I’ll get that out of the way first. (Laughter.)

But, you know – but Donald Trump is leading right now – clearly the frontrunner of the Republican Party. He is — he is — he wants to be President, and he’s the frontrunner of his party (inaudible).

This is a man that President Biden described as, you know, a danger — literally a danger to the country, and his movement, an existential threat to democracy, and so on.

So, candidate or not, is the President — current President Biden — is — is he following Donald Trump’s words and actions on a fairly regular basis, considering that he’s a danger, in his view?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, I appreciate the question, Sebastian. As you’ve laid out yourself, he’s a candidate for 2024. And you’re specifically talking about a result or — or what could happen there — happen in that race. And I won’t talk about it anymore.

What I can’t say is how the President focuses on the American people and delivers for the American people.

Here’s the threat we know: The threat we know is the MAGA wing of the Republican Party and Speaker McCarthy who — laid out the — you know, a plan, a blueprint, that’s holding up the American economy. that’s bullying. That’s a threat to — our economy. That’s a threat to Americans across the country. If we think about the 22 percent cut in spending that they put forward, that’s a threat to veterans, that’s a threat to our education, and that’s a threat to the American people who need these different programs to meet those needs.

And so that’s what we’re going to focus on today. That’s — feel free to ask me a million questions about that, and I’ll do my best to answer them.

And so, the President, when he makes his decision, hell makes his decision. It won’t come from here. I’m not going to talk about 2024. I made that clear: As a government official, it’s not something I can do from here.

But I’m happy to talk about how we’re delivering here in the White House for the American people.

oh boy All right. All right, Michael.

Q Why were you willing to talk about President Trump before? And did you — did you violate the Hatch Act —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Absolutely not.

Q — when did you do that?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Because we’re talking about what the President did in — in —

Q No, no, no –

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: — the administration.

Q — not your President.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No, I know. just me-

Q Yes.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I am answering your question —

Q Oh, okay. I apologize.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: — because I say President Trump —

Q Yes.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: — we are talking about what he did during the previous administration. We’re talking about policies that harm —

Q That’s all his –

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: — previous administration.

Q That’s all he asked.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No, no, no. He asked me if the President still believes — that Donald Trump is a threat if he wins. right? Because he will be — he is a candidate.

Nope. He didn’t ask that.

Q No, I (inaudible).

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: That’s different.

Q No, no, no, he didn’t ask that.

Q Can I — can I say what I said? (Laughter.) I — I — ask: Is the President — is President Biden — does he follow the words and actions of this man —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yes.

Q — Donald Trump —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: As a candidate. right? As a candidate.

Q Now — he was following it?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, yeah, I’m not — I’m not —

Q He turned on the TV and said, Theres Trump?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No, I’m saying that I’m not talking about 2024.

Q But—

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I’m not talking about the 20-

Q But that’s not 2024.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: What I talked about — what I talked about —

Q Donald Trump has become a candidate for re-election or for election – or however you want to call it –

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I — I understand that.

Q – for, like, a year. And you’ve talked – but – I mean, you’ve talked a lot about her –

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yes, about —

Q — and what he did a lot. And he – and so you didn’t –

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: As — as I have talked about his policies when he was President. That’s what I talked about. That’s what I talked about. We’ve talked about immigration, his immigration policies, right? We talked about how he separated babies from their parents. We’ve talked about that and how — how those policies were very dangerous when he was President. That’s what I talked about.

I have not talked about him as a candidate, and I’m not going to do that from here. not just me. I will not talk about the poll. I’m not going to talk about what 2024 will look like. I’m not going to talk about that from here on out.

[ad_2]