Democrat President Joe Biden’s White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has refused to condemn the sabotage of posters identifying Israeli nationals who were kidnapped by Hamas terrorists.
Numerous videos have gone viral showing hundreds of anti-Semites tearing down posters for the hostages who were taken during the October 7 terrorist attack that killed 1,400 in southern Israel.
The posters have been put up in cities across the world but mostly in the U.S. and Europe.
However, a large number of video clips have emerged showing radical activists pulling down the posters shortly after they were put up.
Jean-Pierre was asked about the matter during Tuesday’s White House press conference.
Reporters specifically asked if the White House believes those who are tearing down the posters “should be condemned.”
Jean-Pierre was also asked whether Biden and his administration believe that pulling down the posters constitutes a form of “peaceful protest.”
“Look, I, eh, I, I, I’ve sort of kind of seen the reporting here and there, I think it was from last week, right?” Jean-Pierre responded.
The reporter fired back by noting that “there’s been like 30 million videos that have gone around on this.”
“No, I know. I hear you. I hear you,” she responded.
“I’m just not going to – We’re not going to, I’m not going -”
She was pressed again on whether people should be pulling down the posters of kidnapped Israelis.
“I’m just not going to go into specifics on that particular thing,” Jean-Pierre responded.
She said that there were “real violent protests and threats that are happening right now” and that’s what the White House is focused on.
When pressed again on the matter, she once again refused to answer.
WATCH:
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre refuses to condemn anti-Israel activists who tear down signs of kidnapped Israelis:
"I'm not going to go into specifics on that particular thing." pic.twitter.com/5qxBk1xTn9
— Conservative War Machine (@WarMachineRR) November 7, 2023
Jean-Pierre’s response, or lack of, sparked a wave of backlash across social media.
“Are you kidding me? You call that an answer?” former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer wrote.
“This Administration is so weak they won’t denounce the people who tear down posters of hostages whose loved ones are crying out for support.
“It’s infuriating how feckless an answer this is.”
“Incredible,” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton wrote.
“Biden WH afraid to confront the pro-terrorist left.”
“2020: ‘Decency is on the ballot.’ 2023: Ripping down pictures of kidnapped Jewish children? ‘meh,’” Never Back Down national press secretary Dave Vasquez wrote.
“It’s obvious she despises Israel and Biden’s support of Israel,” commentator David Marcus wrote.
“First KJP denies that there have been antisemitic threats and violence,” Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN).
“Now she’s flippantly refusing to discuss that anti-Semites in America are desecrating posters of kidnapped Jewish children.
“Why won’t the White House clearly and convincingly condemn this vile conduct?”
“The easiest question botched again by the most incompetent press secretary to step foot in that room,” radio host Jason Rantz wrote.
“Would she have no comment if this sickening trend aligned with the WH’s big new anti-‘Islamophobia’ push?” commentator Guy Benson wrote.
“We all know the answer.
“This evasion is disgusting.”
“Try to think of a reasonable explanation why KJP couldn’t respond to a question about the tearing down of anti-Semitic posters,” retired Army colonel James Hutton wrote.
After garnering significant backlash online, Jean-Pierre was forced to publish a post on Twitter/X condemning the act of pulling down the posters.
“As a result of the Hamas terrorist attacks, communities and families are grieving,” she said.
“For the past month, the families of those who have been taken hostage have lived in agony.
“Tearing down pictures of their loved ones – who are being held hostage by Hamas – is wrong and hurtful.”
As a result of the Hamas terrorist attacks, communities and families are grieving. For the past month, the families of those who have been taken hostage have lived in agony. Tearing down pictures of their loved ones – who are being held hostage by Hamas – is wrong and hurtful.
— Karine Jean-Pierre (@PressSec) November 7, 2023
Jean-Pierre was also criticized last month after she appeared to downplay a question about anti-Semitism and pivot to condemning attacks against Muslims.
She later said she had misheard the question and called anti-Semitism abhorrent.
Jean-Pierre has also called out the far-left “Squad” from the podium in an unusual display of intra-Democratic Party fighting.
She called their remarks after the initial Hamas terrorist attacks “repugnant.”
