Doocy Corners KJP: Did Biden’s Debate Challenge Aim to Shift Focus from Negative Poll Numbers?

Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy cornered White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre during Wednesday’s briefing, asking her whether President Joe Biden had suddenly offered a debate challenge to “distract” from his plummeting poll numbers.

Doocy referenced Biden’s surprise debate challenge — issued via a 15-second video that included at least five jump cuts and Biden uttering the phrase “make my day” — and pressed Jean-Pierre on the reason behind it.

“I know you don’t want to talk about campaign stuff —” Doocy began, and Jean-Pierre agreed. “So I would just look for your insight then.”

“It’s not even that I don’t want to. I can’t. I can’t —” Jean-Pierre objected.

“How about your — insight as the most prominent political communicator in the world. The White House press secretary,” Doocy said then, asking, “Does a person generally want to debate when they are winning or losing?”

“I am not going to do political punditry from here, my friend. I’m just not going to do it,” Jean-Pierre said.

WATCH:

DOOCY TIME: “I know you don’t want to talk about campaign stuff, so I would just look for your in —”

KJP: “I really don’t.

Doocy: “— I would just look for your insight then —”

KJP: “It’s not even when I don’t want to. I can’t. I can’t —”

Doocy: “— then how about your —”

KJP:… pic.twitter.com/6O74rQS3xT

— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) May 15, 2024

“Should we see this sudden offer from the President to debate as a signal that you guys realize you need to change the subject after some really bad polling?” Doocy asked then.

Jean-Pierre skirted the question, instead talking about some of the things she viewed as Biden’s successes. “You know, we went to — had a back and forth on polling yesterday. Um — and — I — you know, it just goes back to — very — the core of what I said to you, which is, look, this is a President that has had a pretty successful legislative — especially legislative tenure in the first three and a half years and has delivered on many things that are popular to the American people and we’re going to continue to talk about it.”

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“As it relates to the debate, you gotta talk to the campaign about it. That is a question for the campaign, and I’m sure they are eager — eager to answer your questions, Peter,” Jean-Pierre concluded.

WATCH:

Doocy: “Then not a debate-specific question, but debate prep —”

KJP: “Oh gosh!”

DOOCY: — is something that traditionally can happen here at the White House. Who is going to stand in during the prep for Donald Trump?”

KJP: “Who’s going to stand in? Do you want to stand in for… pic.twitter.com/b6epGZB6qe

— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) May 15, 2024

“Then not a debate-specific question, but debate prep is something that traditionally can happen here at the White House. Who is going to stand in during the prep for Donald Trump?” Doocy asked.

Jean-Pierre joked that perhaps the Biden campaign would invite Doocy himself to fill that role.

“Who’s going to stand in? Do you want to stand in for Donald Trump? Do you want to do that? I can connect you with the campaign. That might be fun for you,” Jean-Pierre suggested.

“Actually, so you’re saying I can go debate Joe Biden behind the scenes?” Doocy asked, clearly surprised — and several of the reporters in the briefing room laughed at the prospect. “For as long as I want? Actually, YES!!”

“I think — I think that might be fun for both of you. It might be fun for both of you. I think — I think that might be fun. I don’t have anything for you on that, but I appreciate the question. I appreciate you trying,” Jean-Pierre said, before moving on to the next question.

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