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It’s been nearly a week since President Joe Biden issued a pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, and the White House is finally addressing the fallout. On Friday, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stepped to the podium amid mounting scrutiny over the administration’s yearlong assurances that no such pardon would occur. Would the press let her evade accountability?
The answer: not entirely. But Jean-Pierre certainly tried. She avoided calling on outlets like Fox News and others likely to ask the most pointed questions. Still, other reporters pressed her, resulting in one of the most brazen press conferences in recent memory.
Jean-Pierre even went so far as to cite a misleading poll, claiming, “64 percent of Americans approved of the pardon.” In reality, the figure was just 34 percent—a glaring distortion.
Here’s one notable exchange:
MILLER: “You told us in July this would not happen, and it did. I’m asking, for yourself, not the presidency—do you feel like you are owed an apology by the president, and do you owe one to the American people?”
JEAN-PIERRE: “Zeke, I just laid out the president’s thinking. He laid it out in his own words—how difficult this decision was. He wrestled with it this weekend, both as a president and as a father. He made this decision thoughtfully, and I encourage people to read his statement.”
MILLER: “Why should Americans trust anything else you’ve said?”
JEAN-PIERRE: “I think the American people understand how difficult this decision was. There’s even a poll—a US Gov poll—which many of you reported on, showing 64 percent of Americans agreed with the pardon.”
Jean-Pierre’s claim misrepresents a YouGov poll, which actually showed 64 percent of Democrats approving the pardon, not the American public as a whole. Her conflation of partisan support with national consensus is emblematic of her broader handling of the controversy.
As for Biden’s purported moral struggle over the decision, Jean-Pierre painted a melodramatic picture, saying the president “wrestled with it” as though deciding to declare war. In reality, critics argue, the pardon was a foregone conclusion, planned from the moment Hunter Biden’s legal troubles surfaced.
Jean-Pierre’s attempt to spin this as a last-minute, agonizing choice rings hollow when paired with her previous categorical denials that a pardon was on the table. If the White House knew this decision was unresolved, why insist otherwise?
As for her performance overall, Jean-Pierre’s tenure as press secretary continues to draw sharp criticism. Her frequent missteps and combative tone have led many to regard her as the weakest press secretary in recent history. Whether it’s deliberate misrepresentation or tone-deaf messaging, Jean-Pierre’s response to the Biden pardon debacle exemplifies why trust in this administration’s communication is eroding.
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