(Scypre.com) – White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre found herself in a heated exchange with Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy during a recent press briefing. The controversy centered on the Biden administration’s decision to send $157 million in additional aid to Lebanon while North Carolina struggles to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Helene.
"Your whole premise of the question is misinformation, sir."
— The Recount (@therecount) October 7, 2024
— White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre slams Fox News' Peter Doocy's question about federal hurricane relief funding pic.twitter.com/IWyCbGnCpZ
During the press conference, Jean-Pierre was questioned about Vice President Kamala Harris’ recent pledge of financial aid to Lebanon amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Harris described Lebanon as facing an “increasingly dire humanitarian situation,” justifying the allocation of U.S. funds to assist the country during its crisis. However, Doocy pressed Jean-Pierre on why the administration needed congressional approval to release disaster loan funds for North Carolina, but not to send aid abroad.
“On this issue of funding, the administration has money to send to Lebanon without Congress coming back. But Congress does have to come back to approve money to send to people in North Carolina. Do I have that right?” Doocy questioned.
Jean-Pierre defended the administration’s actions, citing a “whole-of-government response” to North Carolina’s disaster recovery and emphasizing that over $200 million had already been allocated to the affected regions. She further criticized Doocy’s line of questioning, accusing him of spreading “misinformation.” In response, Doocy pushed back, claiming that a legitimate question could not be labeled as misinformation.
Jean-Pierre clarified that while there were existing funds to assist survivors in the hurricane-hit areas, Congress needed to return and approve additional disaster relief funding. “Congress needs to come back and do their job,” she said, noting that the president and vice president were committed to securing more resources for the region.
The tension in the room escalated, and the exchange ended abruptly with Jean-Pierre leaving the briefing room.
The Biden administration has faced growing criticism over its handling of disaster relief efforts in North Carolina, particularly following statements from Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who acknowledged that FEMA lacks sufficient funds to handle the entire hurricane season. Critics on social media have taken aim at Harris, accusing her of prioritizing foreign aid over domestic disaster relief.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott voiced his frustration on X, formerly known as Twitter, remarking, “Kamala is touting giving money to the people of Lebanon—while stiff-arming the humanitarian crisis in North Carolina. This is Kamala’s Katrina.”
Republican Congressman Nick Langworthy of New York echoed these sentiments, calling the administration’s response “tone deaf” and highlighting the suffering of Americans in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Former President Donald Trump also weighed in, branding the federal response to the storm as the “most incompetently managed ‘storm’ at the federal level, ever seen before.”
As public pressure mounts, the administration continues to defend its decisions, stressing the importance of supporting both domestic recovery efforts and international humanitarian causes. However, critics argue that the priorities are misplaced during a time of crisis on U.S. soil.