MSNBC’s Jen Psaki Roasts Republican for Claiming He’s Not Trump’s ‘Little B*tch’
MSNBC host and former Biden White House press secretary Jen Psaki roasted Republicans over President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” — including one who bitterly insisted they weren’t Trump’s “little bitches” when pursued by a reporter.
The House and the Senate have been involved in a frantic two-step to get the bill to Trump’s desk by July 4, despite heavy public opposition to things like Medicaid cuts and opposition from within the party.
Punchbowl’s Kenzie Nguyen reported that Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) bristled at the suggestion Trump was a “deciding factor,” saying Republicans are not “a bunch of little bitches around here.”
On Wednesday’s edition of MSNBC’s The Briefing with Jen Psaki, the host mocked Republicans over the difficult politics of the bill, and contested Van Orden’s assertion:
JEN PSAKI, MSNBC HOST: This time around, they’re actually poised to take healthcare away from millions of Americans. Trump’s big ugly bill would result in nearly 12 million people losing Medicaid coverage and another 4.2 million people would lose healthcare because of cuts to the Affordable Care Act. And in addition to being remarkably cruel, it could also spell disaster for Republicans politically.
I mean, a recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that 83 percent of people approve of Medicaid, 83 percent. Eighty-three percent of people barely agree on anything. As Paul Krugman pointed out this week, that is literally more popular than apple pie, just to give you a sense.
And this isn’t even a partisan thing either. I mean, a whopping 74 percent of Republicans say they have a favorable view of Medicaid. That’s probably why Republican lawmakers don’t seem especially thrilled right now. Even as they are on the verge, maybe we’ll see, there’s still time of passing their first major piece of legislation since Trump took office. Kind of feels like their hearts aren’t in it.
I mean, just listen to how defensive Congressman Derek Van Orden sounded today when asked if they feel pressure from Trump to vote for this bill.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
KENZIE NGUYEN: For you, I mean, Trump is, Trump is sort of deciding factor here.
REP. DERRICK VAN ORDEN (R-WI): No, no, no, I’m not going to allow you to get away with that. The president of the United States didn’t give us an assignment. We’re not a bunch of little bitches around here. I’m a member of Congress that represent almost 800,000 Wisconsinites. Is that clear?
(END AUDIO CLIP)
PSAKI: I mean, listen, when you’re proclaiming out loud that you’re in fact not someone’s little bitch, well, kind of makes you wonder, doesn’t it?
But it’s been like this all day. And he’s not the only one who’s as defensive and testy as that. I mean, this morning, Democrats showed up in big numbers to speak out against the bill on the House floor. Many, many Democrats showed up, but far fewer Republicans showed up to speak in favor of it. And that led to some pretty awkward moments.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JIM MCGOVERN (D-MA): If I can inquire with the gentlelady, if she doesn’t have many speakers, maybe she can lend us some time because we have a ton.
REP. VIRGINIA FOXX (R-VA): Nice try, Mr. McGovern.
MCGOVERN: In Congress, we measure we can measure how much people really believe in their position by whether they’re willing to come and join their leaders on the House floor. Well, I count four members on the Republican side, and we’ve got over 75 over here. And you know, but if I were them, I wouldn’t want to be associated with this bill either.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PSAKI: We love a spicy Jim McGovern.
Van Orden’s spokesman pushed back with a description of the exchange that was not backed up by the audio.
Watch above via MSNBC’s The Briefing with Jen Psaki.
