She’s taking the flak.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre faced criticism this week after dismissing recent videos showing President Joe Biden appearing frail and confused as “cheap fakes,” allegedly edited by political opponents to mislead the public.
One viral video depicted Biden seemingly freezing onstage during a fundraiser at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, where he was assisted by comedian Jimmy Kimmel and former President Barack Obama. This incident followed other widely circulated videos questioning Biden’s physical and mental acuity, including one at the G7 summit in Italy where Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni redirected him during a parachute exhibition.
Criticism intensified after former President Donald Trump shared a video on Instagram mocking Biden’s moments at the G7 summit, set to the theme of “Visiting Angels,” a service for elderly care.
In response to the uproar, Jean-Pierre vehemently denounced these videos during a White House press briefing, labeling them “cheap fakes” created in bad faith. She emphasized that such manipulated content distracts from discussing Biden’s legislative achievements and contributions to the country.
Despite attempts to clarify her statement, Jean-Pierre’s remarks were met with skepticism and backlash, with critics accusing the White House of attempting to distort reality and discredit legitimate concerns about Biden’s public appearances.
The controversy prompted various reactions from lawmakers and commentators, with some likening the administration’s denial to Orwellian tactics and others criticizing the response as evasive and dishonest.
As the debate over Biden’s public appearances continues to unfold, the incident underscores broader concerns about the intersection of politics, media manipulation, and public perception in today’s digital age.
