Karine Jean-Pierre Defends Trans Day By Pointing Out Fox Has Same Recognition
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said she was “confused” at the negative coverage Fox News gave to Transgender Day of Visibility over the weekend, because its sister company Fox TV once tweeted support for the day that celebrated all transgender people.
Fox News ran segment after segment on Sunday denouncing that the recognition was held on March 31, the same day as Easter.
“So, surprised by the misinformation that’s been out there around this and I want to be very clear,” Jean-Pierre said, “Every year for the past several years on March 31, Transgender Day of Visibility is marked. And, as we know, for folks who understand the calendar and how it works, Easter falls on different Sundays, right? Every year. And this year, it happens to coincide with Transgender Visibility Day.” She continued:
We were, at first, I want to be very clear, confused on their coverage. We’re grateful that Fox agrees with President Biden on the importance of recognizing Trans Day of Visibility. And I’ll just quote something that Fox said back in 2021. They tweeted this: “Trans Day of Visibility is dedicated to celebrating transgender people. To all the transgender men, women and nonbinary folk, we see you and stand with you.”
She was referencing a statement from Fox TV, which shares the same parent company as Fox News.
Trans Day of Visibility is dedicated to celebrating transgender people, their contributions to society and raising awareness of discrimination they face. To all the transgender men, women and non-binary folx, we see you and stand with you. #TransDayOfVisibility #TVForAll pic.twitter.com/qpYIucSRya
— FOX (@FOXTV) March 31, 2021
Coverage from Fox News struck a very different tone this year, with one post from the news outlet proclaiming, “Biden’s Transgender Day of Visibility proclamation on Easter is ‘a thumb in the face of Christians’ ”
Biden’s Transgender Day of Visibility proclamation on Easter is ‘a thumb in the face of Christians’ https://t.co/MMhhjuDImq
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 1, 2024
“A lot of misinformation done on purpose,” Jean-Pierre continued. “And, as a Christian who celebrates Easter with family, President Biden stands for bringing people together, and upholding the freedoms and dignity of every American.”
She added, “It is dishonest what we have heard the past 24 hours. It is untrue what we heard over the weekend.” She called the misinformation “dividing.”
Watch the clip above via CSPAN.
