Reporter at Briefing Asks If US Is ‘Ready To Have Free And Fair Elections In November?’ Ahead Of Biden’s Trump Speech

Ahead of President Joe Biden’s speech about the Trump-inspired January 6 attack, a reporter asked White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre if the U.S. “is ready to have free and fair elections in November?”

President Biden will mark the Jan. 6 anniversary on Friday — a day ahead of schedule due to the weather — with a speech in Valley Forge, PA focused on threats to democracy like the insurrection.

At Wednesday’s White House press briefing, Reuters White House correspondent Trevor Hunnicutt asked if there are “policy changes” needed to strengthen democracy, then drilled down with a dramatic follow-up:

Q Thanks, Karine. On the — the scholars and historians meeting, that statement referenced threats to democratic institutions in the country. Does the President think that there are any specific policy changes that are needed to strengthen institutions ahead of the elections?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don’t have any policies to announce or preview for you at this time.

Look, the President has always been clear. I’ve been clear from this podium as well. What happened on Jan- — January the 6th was unprecedented — an attack on our core principles, an attack on democracy. What we saw was an attack on our rule of law, attack on our Constitution.

We saw the Confederate flag in — in the middle of the Capitol building. It is — it was a — a terrifying and horrific day and a — you know, a dark day in our history, sadly.

But I just don’t have — as far as policy-wise and our — strengthening our institutions, I don’t have anything to share at this time.

Q But specifically, does he think the United States is ready to have free and fair elections in November?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, it’s — we have to. I mean, that is what we need — we have to. That’s what the President believes in. Right? He believes in having a democracy that works, on having a free and fair election. That’s something that he has spoken to, obviously.

But I don’t — as far as our policies for our institutions, announcing any new policy, I don’t have anything to announce at — at this time. But clearly, that is something that the different agencies who are involved are certainly making sure that we — we get to a place that we’re — we’re — you know, we’re — we’re — Americans are able to — to vote freely on — in November.

Watch above via The White House.