Joe Biden has yet to visit the border as president, despite presiding over a humanitarian crisis in the region. In fact, Biden’s own staff has reported only one visit to the border during his 49 years in Washington.
But White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre laughed off a question about another visit.
Fox News White House Correspondent Peter Doocy asked, “Kevin McCarthy says that he invited President Biden down to the border. Has the President RSVPed?… The possible next Speaker says that he wants him to go with him. So, is he going to?”
Jean-Pierre laughed.
“So, look, he’s been there. He’s been to the border,” Jean-Pierre said. “Since he took office, the — President Biden has been taking action to fix our immigration system and secure our border. And that’s why, on day one, he put forward an immigration — immigration reform — a piece of legislation to deal with what is currently happening at the border.”
Jean-Pierre also dismissed a trip to the border as a “political stunt,” according to the White House transcript.
“We’re not seeing that from Republicans. We’re not seeing a willingness to work with us on — on, you know, fixing a situation that’s been around for decades now,” Jean-Pierre said. “Instead, they’re — they’re doing political stunts. That’s what they want to do. That’s how they want to take care of this situation.”
Jean-Pierre appeared downright annoyed when fielding the reporter’s next question, about Elon Musk’s Twitter.
Jen Psaki, the previous press secretary, made similar remarks last year.
Psaki once dismissed a trip to the border as a “photo op.” She added at the time, “He does not need a visit to the border to know what a mess was left by the last administration. That’s his view.”
Take a look at Jean-Pierre’s annoyed laugh —
Doocy: "Kevin McCarthy says that he invited President Biden down to the border…We know the president has never been down to the border."
KJP: "He's been to the border."
Doocy: "When did he go to the border?"
KJP: "He is taking action."pic.twitter.com/9lrIantSwH
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) November 30, 2022
Peter Doocy makes KJP do a double-take after asking if the White House will delete their Twitter account
LOL!
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) November 30, 2022
Biden drove past the border while campaigning in 2008, according to White House press materials.
In 2008, the U.S. had already started constructing a fence, but Donald Trump had yet to expand the border barrier.
Still, Psaki denied any changes to the border since 2008.
She was asked last year, “Has anything changed at the border between 2008, when he drove by, and 2021?” She replied, “No. But we need to work with Democrats and Republicans to get that done.”
The Horn editorial team