Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner appeared stunned to learn President Joe Biden in fact runs the White House despite the assurances of her guest, Republican Ari Fleischer.
Fleischer, who served as the White House Press Secretary under former President George W. Bush told Faulker that despite suggestions from Republicans that Biden has "handlers," he is very much in charge.
You can watch what happened in the video below.
lol, here we have Ari Fleischer being the voice of reason as Fox "straight news" anchor Harris Faulkner pushes a conspiracy about a shadow White House and president. pic.twitter.com/K1uhqCFezP
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) November 11, 2021
Faulkner led the exchange with the following question:
"Who is running the White House, in your estimation? You have been inside, you know what it looks like, is it fair to continue to question that?"
She appeared incredulous however at Fleischer's assurance that Biden is "unequivocally" in charge of the White House and asked why "turns his back to the media most of the time when he's with us," suggesting that Biden has been instructed not to speak with reporters.
Fleischer's response was straight and to the point:
"Because he doesn't want to talk to the media. Because he's running the show and he gets to make those kinds of decisions."
"I think it's overstated to make the case it's his advisers, it's other people. Presidents make the call, presidents make the decisions, and Joe Biden is well enough that he is making the decisions."
"So it's Joe Biden, he's just making the wrong decisions."
Faulkner's reaction to Fleischer's remarks soon took social media by storm and exposed her, often named among Fox's "straight news" anchors, to criticism.
Harris Faulkner is an embarrassment to her people https://t.co/gSEDQ0QIxA
— Dorsey Mc- Vaccines Work💉💉😷 (@313Eternal) November 12, 2021
And her entire argument rests on that fact Biden doesn't talk to the press much. She is not a serious person. https://t.co/6mJWzrND5V
— Q.H. "Sexual Anarchy" Stone (@GwjQhs) November 11, 2021
@HARRISFAULKNER @FoxNews What a flaming idiot https://t.co/HfD9HRa6YD
— Stix Barba (@StixBarba) November 12, 2021
This segment was so exhausting. How is this even news? She discusses nothing, just badges. Also, Trump walked away from reporters everyday.
— Lori H❤️ (@LHouzer5) November 12, 2021
When someone repeatedly shows you who they are, believe them: she's a moron. https://t.co/wL1JNjkYuF
— Scott Feinberg (@ScottFeinberg) November 11, 2021
She seems shocked that Ari isn't part of her reindeer game https://t.co/JjFmSfWtHZ
— Ray Pride (@RayPride) November 11, 2021
It's been 25 years. At what point will we stop feigning surprise when Fox News "straight reporters" do partisan shit? https://t.co/rAsRSnC1wr
— A.J. Bauer (@ajbauer) November 11, 2021
@HARRISFAULKNER It must be so embarrassing to look in the mirror every day. https://t.co/pvJP5klkhr
— bb (@Bwit716) November 11, 2021
"Straight news" my ass. She's always been just as bad as the rest of them. https://t.co/iphcbnO5gC
— Heather (@VideoCafeCnL) November 11, 2021
The suggestion that Biden is "mentally frail" has become a favorite talking point in conservative circles.
However, claims President Biden has a cognitive impairment are unfounded.
In September 2020, ABC News reported the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) withheld intelligence warning of Russian disinformation attacking Biden to promote "allegations about poor mental health."
The intelligence bulletin, titled "Russia Likely to Denigrate Health of US Candidates to Influence 2020 Election," said American intelligence determined Russian operatives are sowing disinformation to convince the American electorate Biden has dementia and would be unfit to serve in office.
But the fact that the bulletin has discredited allegations about Biden's mental health has not stopped Fox News anchors from claiming that Biden is very much at the mercy of his handlers, or even his wife.
In August, Fox News host Rachel Campos-Duffy claimed that Dr. Jill Biden, the First Lady was aware of President Biden's "frail" mental health yet allowed him to assume office anyway.
She went on to claim that the First Lady was responsible for the agreement to withdraw from Afghanistan and the release of thousands of Taliban leaders from prison, which were, in fact, under the administration of former President Donald Trump.
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