Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy got into a heated spat with White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre at Monday’s briefing as she accused him of spreading “misinformation.”
Doocy questioned why President Joe Biden’s administration is awaiting Congress’ approval to send fund to North Carolinians impacted by the ravages of Hurricane Helene, but is able to send $157 million to Lebanon without Congress being in session. Jean-Pierre said the framing of Doocy’s question is “misinformation,” sparking a clash between the two.
“But President Biden is fond of saying ‘show me your budget, and I will tell you what you value.’ If he’s got money for people in Lebanon right now without Congress having to come back, what does it say about his values? There is not enough money right now for people in North Carolina who need it,” Doocy said. “That’s not misinformation.”
“No, that is. Your whole premise of the question is misinformation, sir,” the press secretary said.
“Excuse me?” Doocy pushed back.
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The press secretary said the administration provided more than $200 million to people impacted in North Carolina, and argued that it is Congress’ duty to allocate funds toward disaster relief. She said the administration is currently awaiting Congress’ approval to make that additional funding available for the impacted population in the area.
“You can’t call a question you don’t like misinformation,” Doocy said during the press secretary’s answer. “That’s crazy.”
“I actually said we have the money available to help survivors of Hurricane Helene and also Hurricane Milton. Now, there’s going to be a short fall because we don’t know how bad Hurricane Milton is going to be, and so we’re going to need additional funding,” Jean-Pierre said, with Doocy replying that he already asked about that.
Jean-Pierre heatedly told Doocy that his real question is asking “why Congress needs to come back and do their job.”
Biden requested Congress to return to session and approve additional funding for hurricane relief in a Friday letter. House Speaker Mike Johnson said there is no need for Congress to return from recess, but assured that they appropriated $20 billion additional dollars to the Federal Emergency Management Agency right before Hurricane Helene made landfall.
The death toll from Hurricane Helene rose to 227 Saturday as authorities have recovered more bodies in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas, The Associated Press reported.
(Featured Image Media Credit: Screenshot/White House press briefing)
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