White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reacted in real-time to the news that Queen Elizabeth II had died.
During a press conference on Thursday, Fox News’ Peter Doocy asked a question about inflation, “A majority of Americans now say that price increases are causing them financial hardship. That is more than at the start of the year. So where’s the inflation reduction for everything else?”
“So here’s the thing. The Inflation Reduction Act…” Jean-Pierre began to respond.
Reporters interrupted and could be heard saying, “The Queen has died.”
“So that’s been confirmed?” she asked.
After being informed that the news had come from the royal family, Jean-Pierre said, “Okay. The royal family. So as I said earlier, you know, our hearts and our thoughts go to the family members of the queen, goes to the people of the United Kingdom.”
“And I said this earlier, our relationship with the people of the United Kingdom, and this is something that the president has said himself, has grown stronger and stronger. And the United Kingdom is one of our closest allies,” she continued.
Finally, she added, “And again, our hearts go to the people of the United Kingdom, to the Queen, and to her family.”
Watch the video below:
Karine Jean-Pierre reacts to the breaking news of Queen Elizabeth II's death. pic.twitter.com/1iNBKxnMdX
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) September 8, 2022
Earlier on Thursday, Buckingham Palace said in a statement that the queen’s doctors were concerned about her health.
Hours later, the royal family’s Twitter account announced that she had passed away at age 96.
Queen Elizabeth II was Britain’s longest-serving monarch, and her death led to an outpouring of tributes from world leaders.
In a statement, President Joe Biden said the Queen “was a steadying presence and a source of comfort and pride for generations of Britons” and “a stateswoman of unmatched dignity and constancy who deepened the bedrock Alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States.”
Our statement on the death of Queen Elizabeth II. pic.twitter.com/0n7pmVVg2w
— President Biden Archived (@POTUS46Archive) September 8, 2022
Her eldest son will become the King of England and will be known as King Charles III.
“The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family,” he said in a statement. “We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved mother.”
