Reporter Presses KJP On Whether Americans ‘Are Treated Fairly’ By Healthcare System After Murder Of CEO

The Associated Press reporter Josh Boak pressed White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre Tuesday on whether Americans “are treated fairly” by the current healthcare system following the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Thompson’s suspected murderer, 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, wrote a three-paged note lamenting how UnitedHealthcare and other prominent corporations allegedly “abuse” the U.S. to gather up “immense profit,” according to a published copy of the note. Citing the handwritten document, Boak asked Jean-Pierre if the White House has a message for Americans who may “sympathize” with Mangione’s grievances about the current healthcare system.

“Given the killing of the UnitedHealthcare executive, what would you say to Americans who might sympathize with Luigi Mangione’s purported manifesto indicating that insurance companies ultimately care more about their profits than the health of their customers? Is that premise accurate in any way?” Boak asked.

“We are grateful to law enforcement for apprehending the suspect and we are ready to provide any further support if needed and so while we certainly are not going to comment further on the investigation, we condemn violence in the strongest term,” Jean-Pierre said.

While refusing to comment further on the case, the press secretary offered her condolences to Thompson and his family.

Boak cited the administration’s economic priorities, including price gouging, to ask whether it is committed to making sure insurance companies treat customers “fairly.”

“But, let me follow, this administration had made price gouging a priority, it’s talked about junk fees, the president just outlined part of this in his economic speech,” Boak said. “Are Americans treated fairly by their insurance companies?”