White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki deflected pointed comments directed at the Biden administration from conservative journalists at a press briefing held on Monday.
Psaki held a briefing to discuss the rise of Coronavirus cases in the United States. COVID-19 cases are skyrocketing among the unvaccinated and the White House is urging anyone who has not done so to get vaccinated against the virus as soon as possible to avoid lengthening the pandemic.
During the briefing, two conservative journalists began suggesting the reason many citizens aren't getting vaccinated is because President Joe Biden isn't giving former President Donald Trump enough credit for the vaccines.
Watch video footage here:
Fox News WH correspondent Peter Doocy asks if Biden would ever call Trump for help on a vaccine PSA.\n\nWH Press Sec. Psaki says \u201cwe\u2019ve seen almost every former president play a role \u2026 we don\u2019t believe that requires an embroidered invitation.\u201dpic.twitter.com/0bKZNOwNOU— The Recount (@The Recount) 1626715767
One of the journalists, Fox News' Peter Doocy, asked Psaki if the Biden administration had specifically reached out to Trump to organize some kind of bipartisan PSA to convince more people to get vaccinated.
He asked:
"Would President Biden ever call Trump and say, 'I need your help, let's cut a PSA and tell people to go do it'?"
Psaki responded, arguing the research on vaccine hesitancy suggests doctors, pastors, and local civic leaders are much more effective at convincing people to get vaccinated than politicians.
She also said "almost every former President" has put out some kind of outreach to urge citizens to get vaccinated against the Coronavirus.
She then slammed back Trump could easily do the same and put out his own PSA without Biden's backing.
Psaki said:
"We don't believe that requires an embroidered invitation to be a part of."
Another conservative journalist, Jeff Mordock of The Washington Times, suggested to Psaki the reason people aren't getting vaccinated and are dying from the virus is because Biden isn't giving Trump enough credit for the creation of the vaccines.
The "credit" for the vaccines Mordock discusses is in reference to efforts by the Department of Health and Human Services funding some companies in their efforts to create and distribute COVID-19 vaccines during Trump's presidency.
Mordock asked:
"Would [the Biden administration] consider highlighting or acknowledging in a greater way [Trump's] role in creating the vaccines to assure the rural voters that still support President Trump that are hesitant to get the vaccine?"
Psaki, refusing to dignify the idea people are refusing vaccinations because Biden isn't praising Trump enough, retorted:
"Do you have data to suggest that that's the issue that's preventing people from getting vaccinated?"
Mordock fought back.
He argued while he didn't have evidence to back up his claim, the fact was many of the unvaccinated are people living in rural areas—many of whom are Trump supporters.
Watch here:
Psaki: What I\u2019m asking you is if information related to whether or not the former President got credit is leading people not to get vaccinated\u2026pic.twitter.com/M82veiA7sf— Acyn (@Acyn) 1626717101
Psaki continued:
"What I'm asking you is if information related to whether or not the former president got credit is leading people not to get vaccinated, or is it information like 'Microchips in vaccines' and 'It'll cause infertility issues, causing health issues'?"
"Because you're drawing a few conclusions there that I haven't seen in data but maybe you have that information."
In response to this, Mordock shot back it was "common sense" nonvaccinated rural people care more about Biden being nice to Trump rather than not getting vaccinated due to online vaccine misinformation.
Psaki then shut down the argument, saying:
"What we're seeing is misinformation, traveling in a range of means—whether it's social media platforms, some forms of media, some elected officials is the biggest factor as it related to individuals not getting vaccinated."
People are loving seeing Psaki totally shutting these reporters down.
And she's hitting them into the upper deck!— Scottie Sippin' (@Scottie Sippin') 1626716749
Way to clap back at his stupid question WH Press Sec. Psaki. #PressSecJanPsaki— Rey (@Rey) 1626716040
Doochy Ouchy from Psaki!\nHow may times does she have to kick him in the "self-esteem" area?— \ud835\udd9b\ud835\udd8e\ud835\udd93\ud835\udd8e\ud835\udd8b\ud835\udd97\ud835\udd86 (\u2696\ufe0f & \ud83e\udd4b & 6 RPIMa\ud83e\ude82) (@\ud835\udd9b\ud835\udd8e\ud835\udd93\ud835\udd8e\ud835\udd8b\ud835\udd97\ud835\udd86 (\u2696\ufe0f & \ud83e\udd4b & 6 RPIMa\ud83e\ude82)) 1626716352
She nailed it\u2026 as always.— Anastasia Gallagher (@Anastasia Gallagher) 1626715913
Others are agreeing with Psaki Trump doesn't need Biden's invitation to put out his own PSA urging his voters to get vaccinated.
Exactly, why should Biden have to call, why doesn't the former guy just do it for the good of the people?— The Original Squid (@The Original Squid) 1626721397
So do I, and I'd bet it's the latter. All the difference between them and him.— Bob Carducci (@Bob Carducci) 1626717570
Donald Trump could have spent his last months in office making vaccine PSAs, @pdoocy. Maybe you can tell us what he decided to do instead.https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1417174760040112135\u00a0\u2026— Alternative Fax (@Alternative Fax) 1626716488
Others still are flabbergasted at the idea Biden not being nice enough to Trump is why people are refusing vaccines.
I am so annoyed that reporter is trying to imply that the reason people are not getting vaccinated is that some Trump voters are like: \u201cWell nobody is giving TRUMP enough credit, so I will just not get a vaccine that I have no other issues with.\u201d— Dani (@Dani) 1626723917
Seconded.\nSomeone needs to tell this news punk that correlation doesn\u2019t equal causation, and \u201cit\u2019s only common sense\u201d does NOT equal data.— Melissa Jo Peltier (@Melissa Jo Peltier) 1626723679
She could have also mentioned that everyone knows Trump was vaccinated as was his family. If that's not enough to convince them, giving him some sort of "credit" is irrelevant.— Go Phillies??? (@Go Phillies???) 1626721456
With the pandemic still in force and a spike in new COVID-19 cases, hopefully more people will get vaccinated and keep themselves and those unable to be vaccinated safe.
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