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Though never losing her noted calm demeanor and professionalism, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki showed little patience for Republicans calling for the resignation of President Joe Biden amidst the on-going withdrawal from Afghanistan at Thursday's White House press briefing.
The withdrawal came as a result of a diplomatic accord President Donald Trump created with the Taliban through his Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo. The Trump/Taliban accord included the release of several thousand Taliban leaders from prison.
A bombing at Afghanistan's Kabul Airport on August 26, left over 100 people dead, including 13 United States servicemembers.
The tragedy prompted Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley to demand President Biden resign immediately.
He tweeted:
To say that today\u2019s loss of American lives in Kabul is sickening does not begin to do justice to what has happened. It is enraging. And Joe Biden is responsible. It is now clear beyond all doubt that he has neither the capacity nor the will to lead. He must resign— Josh Hawley (@Josh Hawley) 1630009846
My further statement on Joe Biden\u2019s abject failure in Afghanistan that is costing American lives by the hourpic.twitter.com/KaHVMYbKTe— Josh Hawley (@Josh Hawley) 1630009951
In a statement Hawley shared, the Republican Senator declared:
"This is the product of Joe Biden's catastrophic failure of leadership. It is now painfully clear he has neither the will nor the capacity to lead. He must resign."
Fellow Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee also took to Twitter to call for President Biden's resignation.
Though Blackburn took it several steps further.
She also called for the resignations of Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Army General Mark Milley.
Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Antony Blinken, Lloyd Austin and General Milley should all resign or face impeachment and removal from office.— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@Sen. Marsha Blackburn) 1630003545
Neither of the GOP Senators gathered up the support they were likely expecting from their statements.
both of their Tweets were met with considerable backlash on Twitter.
A number of followers pointed out the troubles in Afghanistan began long before President Biden took office, while many claimed they were using the tragedy in Afghanistan purely for self gain.
Gee, maybe they\u2019re busy actually doing their jobs like Marsha should be doing.— Patricia McKinney (@Patricia McKinney) 1630012717
You only care about loss of life when you can use it to benefit your desire for power and money. You are the worst kind of person.— Jody Fowler \ud83d\udeabDMs (@Jody Fowler \ud83d\udeabDMs) 1630010121
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/verabergengruen/these-us-troops-were-killed-in-combat-during-trumps-first\u00a0\u2026— Annette Spencer (@Annette Spencer) 1630003838
Trying to politicize today's losses is disgusting. Every time I think you can't sink any lower you manage to find a way.— Bret (@Bret) 1630010339
Why? Because they are doing what Republicans haven't for the past 20+ years. Thank goodness they are in office. 83 million Americans feel so much better about our future now.— Tom Grissom (@Tom Grissom) 1630004215
You know we can read your other tweets where you blame him for not leaving sooner, right?— aj (@aj) 1630010591
Press Secretary Psaki seemed to be in agreement Blackburn and Hawley's calls for resignation were thinly veiled self-promotion.
When asked what the White House's response was regarding "two elected Republicans" calling for the President's resignation at Thursday's White House press briefing, Psaki delivered a pointed response.
Without ever mentioning either Hawley or Blackburn by name, Psaki stated this tragedy should not be a partisan issue. The only thing that should be on anyone's mind was to honor those killed in the attack.
You can see her remarks here:
She said:
"I would say first, this is a day where U.S. servicemembers... lost their lives at the hands of terrorists."
"It's not a day for politics and we would expect that any American, whether they are elected or not, would stand with us and our commitment going after and fighting and killing those terrorists wherever they live and to honoring the memory of these servicemembers."
"That's what this day is for."
Psaki's response was met with admiration on Twitter.
My God, What do we have to do to get her to stay? No one can slap back as well as her!— Bigmamma (@Bigmamma) 1630021115
Jen is the best!— Hoor \ud83d\udc9c (@Hoor \ud83d\udc9c) 1630021796
She handled it so perfectly. Not buying into their drama.— \ud83c\udf3b Pippin Rides Again \ud83c\udf3f\ud83c\udf3e (@\ud83c\udf3b Pippin Rides Again \ud83c\udf3f\ud83c\udf3e) 1630028527
She handled it so perfectly. Not buying into their drama.— \ud83c\udf3b Pippin Rides Again \ud83c\udf3f\ud83c\udf3e (@\ud83c\udf3b Pippin Rides Again \ud83c\udf3f\ud83c\udf3e) 1630028527
Jen Psaki is gonna be missed!— dimitrious gartrell (@dimitrious gartrell) 1630061155
PSAKI BOMB!!!— Pat Zimmerman (@Pat Zimmerman) 1630047530
Well said Jen .\n\nSomebody had to tell these fools how to be a decent human being and might as well be mom Jen the one...— RACKY1 (@RACKY1) 1630051420
Psaki will likely be facing several more press briefings with similar questions, as several more Republicans, including former Trump official Nikki Hayley and Georgia GOP Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, joined Blackburn and Hawley in calling for President Biden's resignation.
Psaki hinted she will be stepping down from her position in 2022 in order to spend more time with her family.
Few can argue Psaki's successor will have very big shoes to fill.