WASHINGTON, D.C. – A White House press briefing on Thursday, September 21, took an intense turn when Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy posed a direct question to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre regarding immigration, leading to a heated exchange.
The discussion revolved around the recent surge in illegal border crossings, which reached a staggering 10,000 in a single day along the U.S.-Mexico border, as reported by Fox News.
Doocy wasted no time getting to the point. He inquired, “So, what do you call it here at the White House when 10,000 people illegally cross the border in a single day?”
However, things quickly escalated as Jean-Pierre attempted to shift the conversation by referring to actions taken by the GOP in the past. Doocy objected, pointing out that his question was met with another question.
“Doocy responded firmly, “So, what do you call it, Peter, when [the] GOP put forth a – wait, no, no, no, no, no, you can’t.”
“I’m answering – OK, we’re going to move on,” Jean-Pierre declared as they both spoke over one another.
“Karine, please,” Doocy requested.
Amid the overlapping voices, Jean-Pierre firmly stated that they would be moving on, refusing to engage further with Doocy. Despite his pleas to continue, Doocy’s questions were met with resolute dismissal.
The surge in illegal border crossings has been a pressing issue throughout September, with Fox News obtaining drone footage capturing a group of over 2,000 migrants crossing near Eagle Pass, Texas. This marked one of the largest single groups recorded in recent times.
Data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) revealed that encounters with migrants surged to over 7,500 in a single day, with notable concentrations in Rio Grande Valley, Texas; Del Rio, Texas; Tucson, Arizona; and El Paso, Texas. This number soared to over 10,000 later in the week, as reported by CBP.
The contentious exchange underscores the gravity of the immigration issue and the challenges faced by the Biden administration in managing the situation.
As the situation at the border continues to evolve, it remains a focal point of national debate and policy discussions.