White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre blamed Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for an incident at the southern border in El Paso on Thursday, where a mob of illegal immigrants clashed with the Texas National Guard.
Quizzed about the incident during a press briefing on Friday, Jean-Pierre had said that it is not President Joe Biden’s responsibility, but Abbott’s.
Asked by reporters if Biden had seen footage of the incident, which made a very chaotic scene, Jean-Pierre said, “I mean look, I have not spoken to the president about that video. What I can say is this, you know, I really, truly believe that’s a question for the Republican governor of Texas.”
“This is something that he should address, that he should actually speak to. The president has worked with Congress, in the Senate, as I just spoke to, about getting an immigration bill done, making sure that we deal with the border challenges that we’re now seeing. And you have a governor of Texas who is continuing to politicize this,” she added.
She went on to suggest that the illegal immigrant problem at the border would be solved if Congress had passed the border bill blocked by the Senate GOP last month. It is, however, unclear how that has anything to do with Abbott, who has no votes on bills considered in Congress.
According to Jean-Pierre, the Biden administration has “done the work” at the border.
“We’ve done the work. We have, and we need more,” she claimed.
KARINE JEAN-PIERRE on border security: "We've done the work. We have! We have done the work!"
(She's lying) pic.twitter.com/1SYfLFIExd
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) March 22, 2024
Abbott and his office did not let the White House’s attempts at gaslighting slide, as Andrew Mahaleris, press secretary for Abbott, released a statement on Friday, saying, “The mental gymnastics from the Biden Administration are astonishing.”
“Yesterday’s surge in El Paso is the direct result of the unsustainable chaos President Biden has unleashed on the border. Texas will continue to utilize every tool and strategy to deter and repel illegal crossings as President Biden’s dangerous open border policies encourage migrants from over 150 countries to make unsafe and illegal crossings between ports of entry.”
Social media users also blasted Jean-Pierre for her remarks, which some found strange given the many attempts by the Biden administration to frustrate efforts by Abbott to secure the border.
TownHall.com web editor Rebecca Downs defended Abbott’s diligence on the border, writing, “The Republican governor who has done everything and then some to protect the people of his state!!!”
The Republican governor who has done everything and then some to protect the people of his state!!!
— Rebecca Downs🇺🇸🟦🇮🇱 (@RebeccaRoseGold) March 22, 2024
Republican communications expert Matt Whitlock said, “I’m not entirely sure KJP knows that her boss the President has repeatedly sued the Governor of Texas to PREVENT him from addressing it.”
I'm not entirely sure KJP knows that her boss the President has repeatedly sued the Governor of Texas to PREVENT him from addressing it. https://t.co/jCQjZOY6CV
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) March 22, 2024
RNCResearch Strategic Communications Director Tommy Pigott also weighed in to point out that Thursday’s border incident was a question for Biden, as he created that demon with his open-border policies and inaction.
“It’s actually a question for Joe Biden. Joe Biden has abdicated his responsibility to secure the border, created the crisis with his open-border agenda, refuses to end it by reversing his executive actions, and is actively undermining border security,” Pigott wrote.
It's actually a question for Joe Biden.
Joe Biden has abdicated his responsibility to secure the border, created the crisis with his open-border agenda, refuses to end it by reversing his executive actions, and is actively undermining border security. https://t.co/UAXGcacloL
— Tommy Pigott (@TommyPigott) March 22, 2024