White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre slammed Fox News Peter Doocy for suggesting her constant reference to Donald Trump as a threat to Democracy was fueling violence.
Doocy asked Jean-Pierre how many more assassination attempts it would take before she picked a different word to describe the former president - just days after a man with a firearm was spotted on Trumps golf course.
The question came amid a press briefing on Tuesday, in which she repeatedly called Trump a threat while calling for the temperature of political rhetoric to cool.
It’s been only two days since somebody allegedly tried to kill Donald Trump again, and you’re here at the podium in the White House briefing room calling him a "threat," Doocy said.
However, Jean-Pierre hit back at the dangerous line of questioning.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has slammed Fox News Peter Doocy for suggesting she was fueling political violence by referring to Donald Trump as a threat
I actually completely disagree with the premise of your question, she said. The question that you’re asking, it is also incredibly dangerous in the way that you’re asking it, because the American people are watching and to say that, to say that [about] an administration that has consistently condemned political violence.
She went on to outline the various times the Democrats have spoken out against political violence, including January 6th, the attack on Paul Pelosi and the two assassination attempts against Trump.
The Republican nominee survived his second assassination attempt in just a few months on Sunday when Secret Service agents managed to foil alleged would-be sniper Ryan Routh, 58.
The incident followed the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania which resulted in Trump sustaining an ear injury after gunman Thomas Crooks opened fire.
But Jean-Pierre claimed her assessment of Trump is factual and valid in light of January 6th and Trumps baseless claims about election fraud in 2020.
What I have said about the president, the former president, about January 6th is facts that you all have reported.
Fox News Peter Doocy asked Jean-Pierre how many more assassination attempts it would take before she picked a different word to describe the presidential hopeful
There are people, law enforcement officers who died because of what happened at the Capitol and they were there because the former president told them to go there.
I mean, if that’s not a threat on our democracy — it was one of the darkest days of our democracy, January 6.
She conceded that it was acceptable to have political debate, but inciteful language has no place in the election.
However Doocy doubled down, asking if Jean-Pierre was concerned that people could be taking her language literally.
We’re using examples. We’re not just saying that just to say it, Jean-Pierre replied.
January 6th, Peter, January 6th — wait, January 6th. How many times do I — January 6th, 2021. That is a fact, what was reported, what happened on that day by some of your colleagues.
I mean, and we have at the same time denounced political violence over and over and over again.
Trump survived his second assassination attempt in just a few months on Sunday when Secret Service agents managed to foil alleged would-be sniper Ryan Routh, 58,
She then went on a spiel about how the president decided to run again in 2020 to save the soul of America, before snapping, Im moving on.
It is not the first time the two have clashed. In April, Jean-Pierre rounded on Doocy after he probed about Joe Bidens claims his uncle may have been eaten by cannibals in Papa New Guinea during World War Two.
A month later, the press secretary appeared to tease Doocy again over his comments that Kamala Harris changes her accent.
Am I hearing a little twang in your voice Peter? She asked after Doocy inquired whether Biden was bothered that people were pleased he is retiring.