Hours into the new Biden administration and it was clear what kind of hard-hitting questions the press will be delivering.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki faced reporters for the first time in her new role and not only danced around direct questions about the Hyde Amendment, the travel ban, and more, she gleefully praised one member of the press for asking a riveting question about Air Force One’s color scheme.
Psaki incorrectly claimed that former President Donald Trump’s “travel ban” was a “Muslim ban,” defended President Joe Biden’s stance on abortion by declaring he is a “devout Catholic,” and sent heads crashing to desks with her reaction to a question on the official presidential aircraft.
“On a lighter note, will he keep Donald Trump’s Air Force One color-scheme change?” a reporter asked.
REPORTER: “Will [Biden] keep Donald Trump’s Air Force One color-scheme change?
PSAKI: “This is such a good question!” pic.twitter.com/PafHiBtRUs
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 21, 2021
“This is such a good question!” Psaki responded.
“I have not had the opportunity to dig into that today, given the number of executive orders, actions, the inauguration – a few things happening. I will venture to get you an answer to that. Maybe we can talk about it in here tomorrow,” she added.
Social media responses were immediate and brutal.
Is this seriously a question.
— Emily DeArdo 💀🦚 (@emdeardo) January 21, 2021
“I just love your dress, who are you wearing?”
— Mr. Steakhouse 🤗 (@Mr_Steakhouse) January 21, 2021
Psaki sounds like she’s going to give that reporter a doggie treat for being so well-behaved.
— TN Scribe (@TNScribe) January 21, 2021
In addition to the expected softball questions, Psaki was hit with a few more direct inquiries about Biden’s position on issues. But her responses were likely a preview of what’s to come in the next four years.
“Two big concerns for pro-life Americans: the Hyde amendment that keeps taxpayer-funded dollars from abortion, as you know, and then Mexico City policy, which under the previous administration, expanded to keep taxpayer dollars from overseas abortions,” one reporter asked. “So what is President Biden planning to do on those two items right now?”
“Well, I think we’ll have more to say on the Mexico City policy in the coming days,” a squirming Psaki replied.
Biden press secretary Jen Psaki responds to a question about what Biden plans to do about the Hyde Amendment and the Mexico City Policy by dodging but reminding everyone that Biden is a devout Catholic.
— Jerry Dunleavy (@JerryDunleavy) January 21, 2021
“I will take the opportunity to remind all of you that he is a devout Catholic, is somebody who attends church regularly. He started his day attending church with his family this morning,” she added. “I don’t have anything more for you.”
Jen Psaki spins out of Hyde Amdt. & Mexico City questions by saying Pres. Biden is a “devout Catholic”.
Either Pres. Biden is about to be a very pro-Life President or Jen Psaki (and basically everyone else) needs to stop referring to him as a “devout Catholic”…! pic.twitter.com/Tvy9qVvUnW
— Cassie Smedile (@CMSmedile) January 21, 2021
Psaki was also asked about Trump’s impeachment trial.
So much for Unity™. @PressSec Jen Psaki dodges a question about the impeachment trial, saying @JoeBiden expects Congress to do its duty. So President Biden is ducking a clear opportunity to provide Unity™ and leadership, allowing a pointless and divisive Senate trial to proceed
— Joel Pollak (@joelpollak) January 21, 2021
Breitbart’s Joel Pollak called out the press secretary for already failing in the administration’s so-called commitment to truth.
After all that “lies for power and profit” rhetoric at the Capitol today, it is … entirely expected that Biden would direct Jen Psaki to repeat one of the most easily debunked lies of the last four years and the 2020 campaign https://t.co/uuRu1n3CIG
— Joel Pollak (@joelpollak) January 21, 2021
Others also noted “one hell of a softball” right at the start of the briefing.
First Psaki question comes from AP’s Zeke Miller….one hell of a softball: “When you are up there, do you see yourself in your primary as promoting the interests of the President or are you there to provide us the unvarnished truth so we can share that with the American people?” pic.twitter.com/izGzZlK0Wu
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) January 21, 2021
But the question about Air Force One, and Psaki’s reaction, sparked an avalanche of reaction from eye-rolling Twitter users.
— Winston (@holmes_ziggy) January 21, 2021
The press are relentlessly hammering this new administration
— Kevin Dalton (@NextLAMayor) January 21, 2021
Speaking the truth to power.
— D. Dean Johnson (@ddeanjohnson) January 21, 2021
Tomorrow’s hard-hitting question: “Does the President prefer chocolate or rainbow colored sprinkles with his ice cream cone?”
— Brandon Cummings🇺🇸 (@brandongc2021) January 21, 2021
There’s that hard hitting journalism we’ve been waiting for!#Fakenews
— Southern Doc (@cognac62) January 21, 2021
Those ARE the hard questions…
— America’s Hat© (@ianslessor) January 21, 2021
— Ed Gary (@d_rufo) January 21, 2021
It’s either that or gender studies overseas. Pick one.
— Rob (@ReclaimerRob) January 21, 2021
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Frieda@bizpacreview.com
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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