White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki is currently quarantining at home, giving President Joe Biden himself a chance to respond to reporters' questions. This includes "garbage" questions from Fox News reporter Peter Doocy—so of Fox & Friends host Steve Doocy.
Speaking with Doocy, Biden responded to his question about payouts to migrant families.
Biden's maintained the reporting was inaccurate.
Doocy asked about a situation reported by The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. According to reports, the Biden administration may be looking to pay families who had their children separated at the border under the previous President's administration.
Doocy asked:
"Do you think that that might incentivize more people to come over illegally?"
Biden was exasperated at the question:
"If you guys keep sending that garbage out, yeah. But it's not true."
Doocy responded:
"So this is a garbage report?"
Biden made his final retort:
"Yeah. $450,000 per person, is that what you're saying? That's not going to happen."
Online, people were pleased Fox News was called garbage by the President after the symbiotic relationship between the prior administration and the network known for sharing opinions, rhetoric and right-wing propaganda instead of facts.
It as if Peter Doocy enjoys getting dunked on
— J A Y 💫 (@That_NaijaGuy) November 4, 2021
That's not going to stop those right-wing turds from spreading that completely obvious lie.
Your republican Uncle Steve will be repeating
"All Illegals get $450,000 the second they cross the border"
at Thanksgiving every year for 4 years.
— Brett Somers Fan Club (@UncleArthur3) November 3, 2021
This. More of this. More DRAGGING. Every damn day.
— Debra 🐝 Resistance (@DebraResistance) November 3, 2021
Thank God! someone told Doocy he is speaking garbage. https://t.co/VonUWrYRbY
— Merigold321 (@merigold321) November 3, 2021
The question Doocy asked also lacked context.
The way it was phrased made it sound like anyone who crosses the border illegally can get a payout.
Instead, the reporting by WSJ and Washington Post is specifically talking about payments in response to a lawsuit filed by families who suffered under President Donald Trump's zero-tolerance policy at the border.
Under his rules, families at the US-Mexico border were forcibly separated and locked up. Even today, the Biden administration struggles to unite all the families once again.
Those who were affected are suing the federal government for the trauma caused, leading to talks of possible settlements to prevent more costly lawsuits and bigger payouts.
But the way Fox News portrayed it, it sounds like anyone can hop the border and expect money on the other side.
I may be the least qualified person on Twitter to address this, but my in-laws are up in arms about "millions of our tax dollars to pay illegals for coming here", so here's my own limited understanding of the issue, using analogies (short thread). https://t.co/q9iSxMxRJ7
— c0nc0rdance (@c0nc0rdance) November 6, 2021
Is the county *paying that bail jumpers* for failing to show to court? The answer is no.
They're settling for causing intentional distress to innocents, for violating the human rights of the families. The alternative is going to a jury trial and losing, badly, at higher cost.
— c0nc0rdance (@c0nc0rdance) November 6, 2021
This is a losing case in every single trial. The intent of the policy was always to punish the innocent, to cause emotional and physical distress to children and parents.
I'm angry at Trump for creating the *need for settlements*.https://t.co/vpc5aqtIMR
— c0nc0rdance (@c0nc0rdance) November 6, 2021
Doocy has become infamous for his bad faith questions at the press pool.
Jen Psaki often counters his rhetoric and propaganda posing as questions very well.
Recently she called him out for his claim tons of police and military members are walking off the job over vaccination requirements.
It's pretty easy to see why people love to joke about Doocy getting the verbal smack down.
Every show needs some form of comedy.
— Pierre 🏳️🌈 (@Manzel443) November 5, 2021
We shouldn't be paying that much. Send the bill to Donald Trump.
— Kwame (@Kwame09) November 4, 2021
He pulled the 1600 + 400 = 2000, we can't cancel student loans, and nothing that will actually help anyone is in the build back better plan.
Fox news really thinks he would follow through on that? https://t.co/s9JMqaOwaO
— Atlas2686 (@Atlas2686) November 4, 2021
Such a good point! Ty
— Carolyn Arndt 💙🐕🌊 (@ArndtCarolyn) November 4, 2021
While the family separation policy is tied to the former President, there was a collective effort by the past administration to pursue it as a deterrent.
The current administration is doing its best to resolve the residual issues they created.
