The White House has attempted to downplay Joe Biden’s behavior after the Democrat president started calling out for a dead congresswoman in the middle of a speech this week.
As Slay News reported, during the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, Biden asked the crowd to point out Republican Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN).
However, Walorski has been dead for nearly two months after she was killed in a car crash in Indiana.
Biden was thanking lawmakers from both sides of the aisle for their help with his plan to end hunger in the United States.
Next, he called out for the deceased Indiana congresswoman.
“Jackie, are you here?” he said, slurring his words.
“Where’s Jackie?” he asked before mumbling.
“She must not be here.”
WATCH:
"Jackie, where's Jackie?," Joe Biden says about Rep. Jackie Walorski who died in a car accident a few months ago. pic.twitter.com/khdiesmEsx
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) September 28, 2022
The incident has sparked serious questions about Biden’s fitness for office after videos of the moment went viral on social media
However, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre refused to explain why Biden said what he did.
Instead, she chose to gaslight reporters who raised questions about the incident.
“The president was naming the congressional champions on this issue and was acknowledging her incredible work,” she said during the daily press briefing at the White House.
“Of course, she was on his mind,” Jean-Pierre added.
“She was on top of mind for the president.”
WATCH:
.@CeciliaVega: "What happened at the Hunger Event today? [Biden] appeared to look around…for…a member of Congress [Jackie Walorski] who passed away last month…What happened there?"
KJP: He "was acknowledging her incredible work…She was on his mind…top of mind" pic.twitter.com/LhEECd4QBR
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) September 28, 2022
Jean-Pierre said that Biden planned to meet with members of Walorski’s family on Friday to sign a bill renaming a Veterans Affairs clinic in her honor and that she happened to be on his mind.
Several other reporters asked Jean-Pierre to explain the president’s comments, some appearing incredulous at her response.
“I think the confusing part is why, if she and the family is top of mind, does the president think she is living and in the room?” one reporter asked.
“I don’t find that confusing,” Jean-Pierre replied.
“I mean I think many people can speak to sometimes when you have people top of mind, they are top of mind, exactly that.”
When a reporter tried to ask her again about Biden’s statement, she said she did not understand why they kept asking about his comments.
“I’m not sure why. Why? Why one more time?” she asked.
Asked whether Biden was confused or misread the teleprompter, Karine Jean-Pierre appeared indignant.
“I mean you’re jumping to a lot of conclusions,” she replied.
“No, but I … I’m answering the question, you’re jumping to a lot of conclusions I just answered your question.
“If that had been the case, I would have stated that.”
“What I have said is that she is on top of mind,” Jean-Pierre added.
WATCH:
Reporter: "The confusing part is why, if she and the family is top of mind, does the president think that she's living and in the room?"
KJP: "I don't find that confusing."
Reporter: "I have John Lennon top of mind just about every day but I'm not looking around for him." pic.twitter.com/VUrXCmpcgl
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) September 28, 2022
After another reporter tried to clarify her response, she replied, “My answer is certainly not going to change.”
