(Headline USA) White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre tried to walk back President Joe Biden’s declaration over the weekend that the COVID-19 pandemic is over, arguing that his policies regarding the virus have not changed at all.
During an interview with 60 Minutes on Sunday, Biden was asked about the state of the U.S.’s fight against COVID-19. He responded, “The pandemic is over. We still have a problem with COVID. We’re still doing a lot of work on it. But the pandemic is over.”
Leftists and mainstream media outlets immediately blasted Biden, accusing him of making light of the virus. But Jean-Pierre insisted during an interview with Morning Joe that what Biden really meant is that COVID is “now more manageable.”
“Just to step back for a second, what we saw during that interview, that 60 Minutes interview when he made those comments: He was walking through the Detroit Car Show, the halls of the Detroit Car Show, and he was looking around,” she said.
“We have to remember the last time that they had held that event was three years ago…. So we are in a different time. He’s been very consistent about that.”
An administration official made a similar comment to CNN, saying the president’s remarks “do not mark a change in policy toward the administration’s handling of the virus, and there are no plans to lift the Public Health Emergency.”
Republicans mocked the administration for trying to do damage control to appease the Left:
“Like clockwork. Biden’s handlers are out in force,” said Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.
Like clockwork.
Biden’s handlers are out in force. https://t.co/yfShFhtVLH
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) September 20, 2022
Conservative commentator Stephen L. Miller agreed:
Biden reportedly complains that he looks weak. This is why. His own administration undercuts him every time he opens his mouth. Is he in charge or not?
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) September 19, 2022
