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White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki continued to prove she has little time for right-wing media pushing unsubstantiated conspiracy theories in the briefing room.
On Thursday, Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy, challenged Psaki with a question drawing on a discredited conspiracy theory regarding the origins of the viral pathogen responsible for the pandemic.
The Fox News reporter—son of Fox & Friends host Steve Doocy—referred to a lab leak hypothesis promoted by former President Donald Trump and other Republicans.
He asked:
"House Republicans are claiming that they have 'significant circumstantial evidence' that [the virus] originated in a lab."
"Has the White House seen any circumstantial evidence that it did not, originate in a lab?"
The rumored Republican proof—much like their proof of voter fraud—has never been provided to authorities or released to the public.
Before giving her usual informed response, Psaki had a note for Doocy.
"Well I think first I would caution you against disproving a negative there which is never the responsible approach in our view when it comes to getting to the bottom of the root causes of a pandemic that has killed hundreds of thousands of people in the United States."
Psaki then addressed Doocy's question and offered:
"I will say that our view continues to be there needs to be an independent, transparent investigation and that needs to happen with the cooperation and data provided from the Chinese government."
"We don't have enough information at this point to make an assessment."
You can watch the video of their interaction, here.
Doocy: Has the WH seen any circumstantial evidence that it did not originate from a lab? Psaki: I would caution yo… https://t.co/KBf7mu1OQe— Acyn (@Acyn) 1621532298.0
Twitter had plenty to say after observing Doocy and Psaki's latest interaction.
@Acyn @dcherring 💥 I love this woman. Meanwhile, Doocy is too dumb to understand the concept of “disproving a negative”— 🍸 Blondish 🍸 (@🍸 Blondish 🍸) 1621533374.0
@Acyn She’s soooo good!— Nana (@Nana) 1621532346.0
@Acyn .@FoxNews Really??? This thing is the best you can send to press conferences? Asking to prove a negative? How… https://t.co/pSBOKOrBd5— Human (@Human) 1621538836.0
@Acyn @David__Tibbs "I would caution you..." is the professional way of saying "Are you hearing the crap coming out… https://t.co/mMKDAMiFeM— Ash Okhotnik (@Ash Okhotnik) 1621535427.0
@Acyn I have a question. Has the WH seen any circumstantial evidence that Doocy did not originate from a lab?— Radical Liberal 🇺🇸 (@Radical Liberal 🇺🇸) 1621532921.0
@Acyn Jen Psaki giving new meaning to #DroppinADoocy— 𝙳𝚎𝚗𝚒𝚜𝚎𝚅𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚍𝙱𝚕𝚞𝚎 👣🦋♡ (@𝙳𝚎𝚗𝚒𝚜𝚎𝚅𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚍𝙱𝚕𝚞𝚎 👣🦋♡) 1621540200.0
@Acyn Yikes he just gets worse and worse. I think Fox news gives him fruit snacks as a reward instead of paying him.— Jake Tubesock (@Jake Tubesock) 1621543731.0
@Acyn Psaki was captain of the debate team while Doccy was getting D’s in lunch.— Dismantelope (@Dismantelope) 1621535708.0
Last month, Psaki called for China and the World Health Organization (WHO) to give international experts "unfettered access" to data and be allowed to ask questions regarding the beginnings of the outbreak.
Psaki told reporters the Biden Administration reviewed the WHO's 120-page report published by a team of international scientists about the origins of the virus.
They concluded:
"The report lacks crucial data, information and access. It represents a partial and incomplete picture."
She added:
"There's a second stage in this process that we believe should be led by international and independent experts. They should have unfettered access to data."