White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had no time for the games during a daily press briefing on Tuesday. Fox News’ Peter Doocy asked her a question about Vice President Kamala Harris’ “accent” during a recent campaign rally in Detroit.
Jean-Pierre quickly shut down the inquiry. Doocy, who has been the network’s White House correspondent for the last three years, asked: “Since when does the vice president have what sounds like a Southern accent?”
The press secretary, who was visibly caught off-guard, replied “I have no idea what you are talking about.” Doocy remained adamant on making whatever point he tried to make.
“[Harris] was talking about unions in Detroit using one tone of voice,” he continued. “She used the same line in Pittsburgh and it sounded like she at least had some kind of a Southern drawl.”
He was referring to Harris’ Labor Day rally, in which she gave an enthusiastic speech about unions because she was—wait for it—speaking in front of Detroit union workers.
“You better thank a union member for sick leave, you better thank a union member for paid leave, you better thank a union member for vacation time,” Harris boisterously remarked to applause.
However, Trump’s official campaign account on X tweeted the speech in an effort to mock Harris’ delivery. During the press briefing exchange, it was clear that Doocy was trying to embarrass Harris.
However, he was embarrassed by Jean-Pierre instead. “Do you think Americans seriously think that this is an important question?” she asked Doocy. Jean-Pierre then dismissed Doocy entirely before moving onto another reporter. “I’m not even going to entertain some question about… it’s just, hearing it sounds so ridiculous. The question is just insane.”
Harris has been picked apart ever since she became the Democratic presidential nominee in July. Doocy’s desperate question was just another example of the right using whatever they can to critique her.