Former President Donald Trump's fourth and final White House press secretary—Kayleigh McEnany—accepted a position with the conservative Fox News network after Trump's tenure in the White House concluded.
There, she's reliably slammed the new Democratic administration of President Joe Biden, often taking diametrically opposite positions of what she defended in the Trump administration.
Such was the case after President Biden weighed in on the trial of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd, whose death last summer sparked nationwide protests against racist police violence.
Biden said:
"[The Floyds are] a good family, and they're calling for peace and tranquility, no matter what that verdict is. I'm praying that verdict is the right verdict, which I think it's overwhelming, in my view. I wouldn't say that unless the jury was sequestered now."
On Fox, McEnany accused Biden of inflaming tensions.
The former press secretary said:
"Look, I'm glad he at least waited until the jury was sequestered, but I think that the country is such a tinderbox right now ... I think it's the role of the President of the United States to stay back, to not inflame the tensions ... It's such a tinderbox moment and I think he should've just reserved comment and said he's praying for the family, as we all are."
The remark is absurd coming from McEnany, considering the numerous times her former boss—Donald Trump—inflamed tensions in similar situations.
After Kyle Rittenhouse shot and killed two protesters last year with no immediate repercussions from police, Trump planned a visit to Kenosha, Wisconsin, where the shooting took place. This was despite pleas from local officials imploring Trump not to come.
In a letter asking then-President Trump to reconsider, Wisconsin governor Tony Evers said:
"I am concerned your presence will only hinder our healing. I am concerned your presence will only delay our work to overcome division and move forward together."
Trump visited Kenosha anyway after defending Rittenhouse and further demonizing protesters.
This was but one instance of Trump inflaming tensions in what McEnany would call a "tinderbox moment." As pandemic deaths continued to mount, Trump encouraged armed militias descending upon state capitols to protest against public health measures—even though his own CDC issued the measures.
He amplified conspiracy theories that MSNBC host and Trump critic Joe Scarborough murdered a former staffer. He told state officials to get "MUCH tougher" on racial justice protesters. His administration gassed peaceful protesters outside the White House to clear a path for him to stage a photo with a Bible.
And that was just from this past summer—before Trump inflamed tensions with lies about the validity of the 2020 election—pressuring courts and state officials to overturn the results in swing states he lost. These lies culminated in a deadly failed insurrection against the United States Capitol—minutes after Trump urged his supporters to walk down to the Capitol and "fight" to make their voices heard.
People found McEnany's hypocrisy laughable.
The irony was too much.
Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all counts for the murder of George Floyd.
@GregAbbott_TX/X
