Democrat President Joe Bidenโs White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre provoked a backlash from all sides when she appeared to downplay a rise in anti-Semitism.
During Mondayโs White House press briefing, Jean-Pierre was asked about the rise in anti-Semitism following the recent attacks against Israel from Islamic terrorist group Hamas.
However, rather than address the issue, Jean-Pierre refused to comment and, instead, swiftly pivoted to condemn anti-Muslim attacks.
Following a widespread backlash, Jean-Pierre is now trying to gaslight the American people by claiming she didnโt hear the question.
โYes, I did mishear the question,โ Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
โAs I have footstomped many times from the podium and on the air, anti-Semitism is an abomination that this president has fought against his entire life; and I feel strongly about that work.
โThatโs why, in the briefing room, I have blasted the repulsive increase in anti-Semitic rhetoric, conspiracy theories, and hate crimes in our nation, calling out that, tragically, this is a rising threat,โ she claimed.
โAnd itโs a threat the president is taking concrete action every day to fight.โ
The ordeal began when Jean-Pierre was asked aboutย President Bidenโs โlevel of concernโ about anti-Semitism.
Anti-Semitism, specifically among Muslim and left-wing groups, has bubbled up across America since Hamas terrorists invaded Israel on October 7.
โWe have not seen any credible threats, I know thereโs always questions about credible threats, and so I just want to make sure thatโs out there,โ Jean-Pierre said, seemingly responding to the question that she didnโt โmishear.โ
โBut look, Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim have endured a disproportionate number of hate-fueled attacks, and certainly President Biden understands that many of our Muslim, Arab, Arab-American, and Palestinian-American loved ones and neighbors are worried about the hate being directed at their communities and that is something you heard the president speak to in his address just last Thursday,โ Jean-Pierre added.
Anti-Defamation League (ADL) CEO Jonathan Greenblatt posted on Twitter/X that he had โno clueโ what Jean-Pierre was trying to say.
โOf course, all hate crimes are bad, but the question was about antisemitism,โ Greenblatt wrote.
โ@ADL has tracked a massive increase in antisemitic incidents in the past 2 weeks โ on top of the historic levels of anti-Jewish hate weโve already been seeing.
โFrom college campuses to social media, workplaces to public spaces, thereโs an antisemitism crisis in America,โ Greenblatt continued.
โMore people will get hurt if this doesnโt stop.
โThis is not a matter of politics but of good vs. evil.
โIโm glad @POTUS gets it โ but there should be no confusion here.โ
Greenblattโs ADL has kept a running list of antisemitic incidents worldwide, listing everything from Holocaust memorials being defaced to death threats against a Jewish family.
The group reported over 100 anti-Semitic incidents in the United States since the October 7 terrorist attack in Israel by Hamas.
In addition, there have been multiple caught-on-camera incidents of people tearing down posters meant to raise awareness for the kidnapped Israeli civilians who were taken by Hamas terrorists.
Greenblatt wasnโt the only person stunned by Jean-Pierreโs answer on Monday.
Fox News Radio host Guy Benson wrote, โNo credible threats?
โItโs *everywhere* right now.โ
Journalist Yashar Ali called Jean-Pierreโs answer โodd.โ
โItโs not an issue that she talked about Muslims and Arabs, rather that she seemingly dismissed antisemitism threats,โ Ali wrote.
He also shared a clip from earlier this year of Jean-Pierre discussing the White Houseโs plan toย combat anti-Semitism.
This is oddโฆ
Karine Jean-Pierre was asked about antisemitism and said there were no credible threats and pivoted to talking about anti-Muslim/anti-Arab hate.
Itโs not an issue that she talked about Muslims and Arabs, rather that she seemingly dismissed antisemitism threats.โฆ pic.twitter.com/ZJ0rcK54eA
โ Yashar Ali ๐ (@yashar) October 23, 2023
Fox Newsโ Joe Concha quoted a clip of Jean-Pierreโs answer and simply wrote, โWhat the actual hell?โ
Many others pointed out that there have been โgas the Jewsโ chants, while others responded with personal stories of recent anti-Semitism.
Author Christina Hoff Sommers asked, โMight she have misheard?โ
Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) blasted the โweakโ answerย from Jean-Pierre.
โWhat a weak answer,โ Moskowitz wrote.
โAnd why are you looking in the book?
โWhatโs the approved answer?
โThe simple answer is yes, you are concerned about the rise of antisemitism.
โOf course, we are also worried about hatred against Muslim Americans. Must do better.โ
During another exchange on Monday, Jean-Pierre insisted the White House would โalwaysโ denounce anti-Semitism.
However, she seemingly defended pro-Hamas demonstrations by arguing that Americans have a right to peacefully protest.
The press secretary also responded to the criticism herself on social media, responding to Aliโs video of her widely panned answer.
โTo be clear: the President and our team are very concerned about a rise in antisemitism, especially after the horrific Hamas terrorist attack in Israel,โ Jean-Pierre wrote.
To be clear: the President and our team are very concerned about a rise in antisemitism, especially after the horrific Hamas terrorist attack in Israel. https://t.co/oMeFDmZK66
โ Karine Jean-Pierre Archived (@PressSec46) October 23, 2023
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