‘You’re a Real Mensch’: Axios Reporter Thanks Biden Spox During Briefing for Moving CNN Hit

Axios foreign policy reporter Barak Ravid thanked Biden NSC Spokesman John Kirby during a briefing for his moving remarks to CNN about the horrors unfolding after the terrorist assault on Israel by Hamas.

On Monday’s edition of The Lead, Kirby got emotional during a live shot from the White House lawn while discussing what families are going through as the casualties and atrocities mount in Israel:

TAPPER: So we were just told that the number of Americans killed by Hamas was updated to 11. It was nine at the beginning of our conversation. It is now 11. Do we have any idea how any of these Americans were killed?

KIRBY: No. I don’t think we have specific details on how, tragically, these Americans lost their lives.

We are in touch with families. We will continue to make sure that we are in communication with them as they go through just has to be unspeakable grief and sorrow and loss of their loved ones. We’ll stay in touch with them, make sure that they’re getting them the support they need.

But, no, Jake, I’m afraid we don’t have a lot of granular detail on how they met their deaths other than to say it was at the hands of just unspeakable, horrific terrorism.

TAPPER: I mean, the images of children kidnapped, of young women who have been abducted, who have blood in their pants because they’ve been repeatedly raped.

It’s horrifying, I — there has been a lot of death and destruction in that region but I’ve never seen anything like this.

KIRBY: (bows head – chokes up) Oh, yeah. I — it — I’m sorry. It is very — excuse me. It is very difficult to look at these images, Jake. It is — the human cost.

And these are human beings. They’re family members, their friends and loved ones and cousins and brothers and sisters. Yeah, it is difficult. And I apologize.

TAPPER: Nothing to say sorry for. John Kirby, thank you for joining us today. Appreciate it.

KIRBY: Yes, sir.

Adm. Kirby briefed reporters just an hour after that via Zoom, and a clearly emotional Ravid thanked Kirby for his remarks, calling him a “real mensch.”

Before answering Ravid’s question, Kirby offered his hopes for the safety of the families — specifically those of reporters on the call:

MS. REPOSA: Thank you. Our next question will go to Barak with Axios. Barak, you should be able to —

BARAK RAVID: Yeah.

MS. REPOSSA: There you go.

BARAK RAVID: Thank you so much for doing this. And, John, I just wanted to say I watched your interview tonight on CNN, and, you know, thank you for the things you said. You’re a real mensch. I just wanted to say that.

And second thing, to follow up on what Yuna asked before: Is the White House considering or discussing asking Congress to give some kind of — to approve some kind of war powers in order for the U.S. to be able to use force if Hezbollah will join the war, especially in things like using air — air power in Lebanon or using U.S. assets for missile interception and things like that?

MR. KIRBY: Barak, and I meant to say this when — when Yuna asked her question, but I got distracted. I am not going to ask you for any detail, but I do hope that your family and your loved ones and your friends are safe and that you had a chance to stay in communication with them.

Listen above via The White House.