Politics

Karine Jean-Pierre shuts down Fox reporter who rudely interrupted her

Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre
Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre Photo: Screenshot

Out White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre wouldn’t let a Fox reporter continue asking questions after he interrupted her in a moment that’s getting attention on social media.

Fox’s Peter Doocy had already asked a question about immigration that she answered, and he tried to get another question in.

“Thanks, Karine,” Doocy said. “So what do you call it here at the White House when 10,000 people illegally cross the border in a single day?”

His question was a reference to how migrant crossings at the southern border — and also the number of migrants being apprehended by border agents — have increased significantly in September to an average of 6,900 a day, with 9,000 apprehended this past Wednesday. The idea that President Joe Biden is encouraging undocumented migrants to cross the border by not enforcing immigration law — even though he sent 800 active-duty troops to the border to provide logistical support this week — is central to the rightwing narrative on the issue.

“So, what do you call it, Peter, when GOP puts forth a—” Jean-Pierre started to answer before Doocy interrupted her.

“Asking are you—” he said.

“Wait, no. No, no, no, no, no, no you can’t—” she said before he interrupted her again.

“OK, we’re moving on,” she said.

“You’re answering the question with a question!” Doocy protested.

“No, no, no, no, no, no, we’re moving on. We’re moving. In the back, go ahead.”

Doocy kept protesting but Jean-Pierre just said, “No, I tried to answer, Peter, I tried to answer the question, you stopped me, let’s go,” she said and took a question from a different journalist about the border.

Jean-Pierre has had to put up with a lot of rudeness during her tenure as White House press secretary. Reporters with a conservative bend have interrupted her repeatedly, with some even making it impossible for press briefings to continue because they shout so much over her and other journalists.

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