Karine Jean-Pierre Throws Down With Fox Reporter Not Buying Biden’s Debate Excuses: ‘Have You Had a Cold Before?’
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and Fox News reporter Jacqui Heinrich got into a tense back and forth on Wednesday over the reasons behind President Joe Biden’s performance at last week’s CNN debate.
The White House has pointed to jet lag and a cold as being behind Biden’s admitted poor performance and hoarse voice. Biden blamed his showing on a return flight from Europe 12 days prior, something Heinrich was not buying.
“How is it that the president was still tired 12 days after returning from Europe, had a cold but then went to a Waffle House and then the following day staged such a huge comeback when he gave those North Carolina remarks. Help us understand —” she began asking before Jean-Pierre jumped in.
“Have you had a cold before?” the press secretary asked the reporter.
“Of course I’ve had a cold before,” Heinrich said.
After some crosstalk, Jean-Pierre insisted that pointing out the president had a cold was in response to the media and not an excuse given for the debate.
“There’s a cold. There’s a jet lag. You combine that. He continues to work for the American people day in and day out around the clock. Things happen. And the cold thing is something that you all pointed out during his debate. We didn’t point that out. You pointed that out his voice being hoarse,” she said.
Heinrich said she was pushing the questions because “All these Democrats are saying they want to see him. It speaks to that.”
“We didn’t share that information ahead of time. You all asked what was going on and then we shared that information,” Jean-Pierre said.
Heinrich then asked if there is discussion about Biden suspending his campaign and possibly even resigning from office, with Vice President Kamala Harris stepping in.
“Absolutely not,” Jean-Pierre said before quickly moving on.
The White House press conference occurred just minutes after reports began trickling out on social media about a call Biden and Harris had with their team assuring them the president is staying in the race amid calls from some in his own party to him replace him.
Watch above via Fox News.
