White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre criticized Fox News’ Peter Doocy for suggesting his constant reference to Donald Trump as a “threat” to democracy was fueling violence.
Doocy asked Jean-Pierre “how many more assassination attempts” it would take before she chose a “different word” to describe the former president, just days after a man with a gun was spotted on Trump’s golf course.
The question came amid a news conference Tuesday, in which he repeatedly called Trump a “threat” and called for a “temperature” of political rhetoric to be cooled.
“It’s only been two days since someone allegedly tried to kill Donald Trump again, and you’re here at the podium in the White House briefing room calling him a ‘threat,'” Doocy said.
However, Jean-Pierre hit back at this “dangerous” line of questioning.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre criticized Fox News’ Peter Doocy for suggesting she was fueling political violence by referring to Donald Trump as a “threat.”
“I actually completely disagree with the premise of your question,” he said. “The question you’re asking is also incredibly dangerous in the way you’re asking it, because the American people are watching and saying that, saying that (about) an administration that has consistently condemned political violence.”
He went on to describe the various occasions when Democrats have spoken out against political violence, including on January 6, the attack on Paul Pelosi and the two assassination attempts on Trump.
The Republican presidential nominee survived his second assassination attempt in just a few months on Sunday when Secret Service agents foiled the plans of alleged sniper Ryan Routh, 58.
The incident came after the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, which left Trump with an ear injury after gunman Thomas Crooks opened fire.
But Jean-Pierre said his assessment of Trump is factual and valid in light of Jan. 6 and Trump’s unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud in 2020.
‘What I have said about the president, the former president, about January 6th are facts that all of you have reported.
Fox News’ Peter Doocy asked Jean-Pierre “how many more assassination attempts” it would take before she chose a “different word” to describe the presidential candidate.
‘There are people, law enforcement officers who died because of what happened at the Capitol and they were there because the former president told them to go there.
‘I mean, if that’s not a threat to our democracy, it was one of the darkest days of our democracy, January 6th.’
She agreed that it was acceptable to have a political debate, but inflammatory language had no place in elections.
However, Doocy persisted, asking if Jean-Pierre was concerned that people might take his language “literally.”
“We are setting examples. We are not just saying it for the sake of it,” Jean-Pierre replied.
‘January 6, Peter, January 6… wait, January 6. How many times do I say it? January 6, 2021. That’s a fact, what some of your colleagues reported, what happened that day.
‘I mean, and at the same time we have denounced political violence time and time again.’
Trump survived his second assassination attempt in just a few months on Sunday when Secret Service agents foiled the plans of alleged sniper Ryan Routh, 58.
He then went on a spiel about how the president decided to run again in 2020 to “save the soul of America,” before saying, “I’m going to keep going.”
This is not the first time the two have clashed. In April, Jean-Pierre lashed out at Doocy after he investigated Joe Biden’s claims that his uncle may have been eaten by cannibals in Papua New Guinea during World War II.
A month later, the press secretary appeared to mock Doocy again for his comments that Kamala Harris changes her accent.
“Do I hear a slight edge to your voice, Peter?” he asked after Doocy asked if Biden was bothered by people being happy about his retirement.