Biden Spox Kirby LOSES It On Reporter at Briefing in Stunning Exchange Over Bombings in Middle East

Biden National Security Counsel spokesman John Kirby became visibly angry when Al Jazeera correspondent Kimberly Halkett asked if President Joe Biden consults polls when making war decisions, eventually blowing her off when she persisted after he’d answered.

The drone strike that killed three American servicemembers in Jordan over the weekend was a prevalent topic at Monday’s White House press briefing, during which Halkett questioned Biden’s authority to order retaliatory strikes.

Kirby became incensed when Halkett asked if the president considers polls and the election when he weighs options for a response. After responding several times, he moved on as Halkett dropped a provocative parting shot:

KIMBERLY HALKETT: I’m sorry. You said that the president, in his response, has authorization under article two. Does that mean that he’s planning to bypass Congress in any manner or in terms of this response?

ADM. JOHN KIRBY: I’m not going to get ahead of his decision making. He has the authority under article or article two as commander in chief and as we have in the past. So we will in the future, appropriately inform, leaders in Congress about what we’re doing and in keeping with that authority. Okay.

KIMBERLY HALKETT: So I just want to follow up, because the president was sent a letter on Friday from a bipartisan group of lawmakers, and he had been accused of unauthorized strikes against the Houthis and by bypassing Congress.

They said no president, regardless of political party, has the constitutional authority to bypass Congress on matters of war.

Do you think that that would apply here, given this escalation?

ADM. JOHN KIRBY: Not at war with the Houthis. We’re not going to be — we’re not looking for a war with Iran. The president is comfortable that he has the appropriate legal authority to act in self-defense of our ships, our sailors, our troops, and our facilities at sea or ashore.

KIMBERLY HALKETT: Right. Isn’t it time to involve the American people? I mean, given the fact that the American people were not happy about. I mean.

ADM. JOHN KIRBY: I suspect the American people are not happy about attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. I also suspect they’re not happy about seeing American troops killed at a base in Jordan. The president has the authority to defend those troops and those facilities, and he’ll do that.

KIMBERLY HALKETT: You said the president iss weighing all of his options. This is an election year. Is the president looking at his polling when he’s weighing all of these options? Is the president looking at it?

ADM. JOHN KIRBY: Well, I guess that’s a heck of a question. He’s not looking. Ma’am, ma’am, ma’am, let me just stop you right there. Commander in chief is not looking at polling or considering the electoral calendar when he’s defending.

KIMBERLY HALKETT: And how they feel about the war on Gaza?

ADM. JOHN KIRBY: Oh, now, can I answer the question? He’s not looking at political calculations or the polling or the electoral calendar as he works to protect our troops ashore and our ships at sea. And any suggestion to the contrary is offensive.

KIMBERLY HALKETT: Is he looking at the polling with respect? Does the American public want a broader Middle East conflict when he weighs his political decision making?

ADM. JOHN KIRBY: Ma’am, I’ve answered that question!

KIMBERLY HALKETT: You didn’t answer that question. Is he weighing that?

ADM. JOHN KIRBY: He is not concerning himself with the political calendar —

KIMBERLY HALKETT: Should the American public have the opportunity to weigh in on whether they want “Made in America” to be stamped on the bombs that are going to be dropped?

ADM. JOHN KIRBY: Ma’am, I have aswered your question.

Watch above via The White House.