Former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre's recent social media post praising her communications team sparked a wave of criticism from conservative commentators and journalists. Jean-Pierre, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), shared a picture with President Biden and her staff, calling them the "best team in the business." This prompted a backlash, with many questioning her assessment and accusing the team of misleading the public during Biden's presidency.
Critics pointed to various instances where they felt the administration's communication had been lacking or dishonest, including concerns about President Biden's health and the handling of the Hunter Biden situation. Commentators like Tim Young and Tim Murtaugh criticized what they saw as a pattern of non-answers and misleading statements. Murtaugh specifically mentioned the team's portrayal of Biden's fitness for office. Others, such as Eli Lake and Michael Berry, questioned the team's competence more broadly.
Several journalists also weighed in. Chuck Ross of the Washington Free Beacon suggested the team's perceived failures would ironically lead to lucrative positions in Washington. David Marcus criticized the team for allegedly obscuring the truth about Biden's health and other key issues. Bonchie of RedState.com commented on what he perceived as a lack of accountability from Jean-Pierre. Mollie Hemingway, editor-in-chief of The Federalist, also criticized the team's performance.
The criticism of Jean-Pierre and her team comes as her tenure ends, marked by several controversial moments. These included a clash with CBS reporter Ed O'Keefe over questions about Biden's health, defending the President's rhetoric regarding Donald Trump, and dismissing videos of Biden appearing frail. This latest incident underscores the ongoing debate surrounding the administration's communication strategy and its relationship with the press.
