White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki and Fox News reporter Peter Doocy—son of Fox & Friends host Steve Doocy—sparred in the press room again after Doocy suggested President Joe Biden is "stranding" Americans in Afghanistan.
Doocy made his remarks as President Biden pledged to complete the evacuation operation from Kabul by an August 31 deadline.
The President acknowledged extending the deadline might be necessary as circumstances evolve.
Doocy suggested the way the administration has handled the evacuation left civilians and allies "stranded."
You can watch their exchange in the video below.
Doocy said:
"Does the president have the sense that most of the criticism is not of leaving Afghanistan, it's the way that he has ordered it happen by pulling the troops before getting these Americans that are now stranded?"
"Does he have a sense of that?"
Psaki's response was straight and to the point, calling Doocy's insinuation the administration is purposely abandoning Americans "irresponsible."
She further stressed the administration's commitment to Americans still on the ground.
"First of all, I think it's irresponsible to say Americans are stranded. They are not."
"We are committed to bringing Americans who want to come home home."
"We are in touch with them via phone, via text, via email, via any way we can possibly reach Americans to get them home if they want to return home."
To which Doocy responded:
"So there are no Americans stranded is the White House's official position on what's happening in Afghanistan right now?"
Psaki then rebuked him:
"I'm just calling you out for saying that we are stranding Americans in Afghanistan when we have been very clear that we are not leaving Americans who want to return home."
"We are going to bring them home, and I think that's it's important for the American public to hear and understand."
Video of the exchange has been viewed over two million times.
Doocy was harshly criticized and Psaki was widely praised.
Psaki is no stranger to Doocy's loaded questions.
Earlier this month, she and Doocy butted heads after he implied the Biden administration is not helping out landlords who are facing financial troubles as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Psaki also recently shut down Doocy after he suggested former President Barack Obama is a "super spreader" and not following Covid-19 guidelines.
Just another day in the life of Jen Psaki.
