(Fox News) White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre’s refusal to answer FOX News White House correspondent Peter Doocy’s question about the border crisis frustrated social media users on Thursday.
During the day’s press briefing, Doocy questioned Jean-Pierre over recent U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data that reported more than 7,500 migrants illegally crossed the border on Sunday, with the number rising to more than 10,000 a day later in the week. The exchange grew heated as Jean-Pierre lashed out against Doocy for interrupting her.
“So, what do you call it here at the White House when 10,000 people illegally cross the border in a single day?” Doocy asked.
So, what do you call it, Peter, when [the] GOP put forth a – wait, no, no, no, no, no you can’t,” Jean-Pierre said, talking over Doocy as he attempted to qualify the question.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks during the daily press briefing at the White House September 21, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images)
“You’re answering my question with a question,” Doocy responded.
“I’m answering – OK, we’re going to move on,” Jean-Pierre said as the pair start talking over one another.
“Karine, please,” Doocy said.
“No, no, no, we’re moving on,” she declared once again before gesturing to another reporter. “In the back.”
“You said you were stopping the flow at the border. Ten Thousand migrants …” Doocy said before being cut off again.
“Peter, I tried to answer the question, and you stopped me,” Jean-Pierre said before turning to the other reporter once again. “Let’s go.”
The back and forth between the two trended on social media as several people called out Jean-Pierre’s lack of a response to nearly record levels of border crossings.
Peter Doocy and White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre sparred over the border crisis on Thursday. (Getty Images)
“Karine behaves like a substitute teacher,” Townhall.com video journalist Kevin McMahon joked.
Karine behaves like a substitute teacher https://t.co/HgVZe2qgmi
— Kevin McMahon (@Kevin__McMahon) September 21, 2023
Sen. Josh Hawley’s communications director Abigail Marone wrote, “She had to move on when she realized @pdoocy wasn’t going to let her get away with reading a scripted talking point in response.”
She had to move on when she realized @pdoocy wasn’t going to let her get away with reading a scripted talking point in response. https://t.co/y3BcwkLioF
— Abigail Jackson 🇺🇸 (@abigailmarone) September 21, 2023
“Pathetic,” FOX News contributor and radio host Guy Benson declared.
pathetic https://t.co/VBCZJjC5Pn
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) September 21, 2023
The Post Millennial editor-in-chief Libby Emmons noted, “She doesn’t think Doocy deserves an answer. Gotta say, she reminds me an awful lot of my wicked step-mother in this clip.”
She doesn’t think Doocy deserves an answer.
Gotta say, she reminds me an awful lot of my wicked step-mother in this clip. https://t.co/jSSY6KEVCn
— Libby Emmons (@libbyemmons) September 21, 2023
“KJP actually went with the ‘I know you are but what am I’ approach because she won’t answer for the mess they’ve created intentionally,” Twitchy’s Doug Powers remarked.
KJP actually went with the “I know you are but what am I” approach because she won’t answer for the mess they’ve created intentionally. https://t.co/ng43hgBaR2
— Doug Powers (@ThePowersThatBe) September 21, 2023
American Conservative contributing editor Chris Brunet commented, “as a Canadian, I wouldn’t be able to move to the United States even if I wanted to, which I do. smh I should have been born Guatemalan.”
as a Canadian, I wouldn’t be able to move to the United States even if I wanted to, which I do
smh I should have been born Guatemalan https://t.co/yyn7cOMpFN
— Chris Brunet (@realChrisBrunet) September 21, 2023
“It’s called, ‘an invasion,’” actor Dean Cain posted.
