In a telling statement Tuesday, Jean-Pierre refused to use the word "extremists" to describe the violent and unhinged pro-Hamas demonstrations on college campuses, where Jewish students have said they fear for their lives after the Oct. 7 attack in Israel.
Whether it’s been a Jewish girl crying and pleading for help from a University of Washington administrator during a campus rally, or in New York City where Jewish students barricaded inside a library while pro-Palestinian protestors pounded on doors and windows at Cooper Union University, or in Ithaca, New York, where threatening posts online prompted police to guard a Jewish center and kosher dining hall at Cornell University, support for Jews has been hard to find. In the crowds, meanwhile, Hamas is cheered and "occupation" is condemned.
Through it all the Biden administration that routinely throws around the word “extremism” to describe its political opponents refuses to identify student protesters in such a way.
"Does Biden think the anti-Israel protesters in this country are extremists?” Fox News’ Peter Doocy directly asked the press secretary during the press briefing.
"What I can say is what we have been very clear about this: When it comes to antisemitism, there is no place," she replied. "We have to make sure that we speak against it very loud and be very clear about that."
Just last week, however, Jean-Pierre was neither loud nor clear. Her refusal this week to label Jew-hating college students comes after she brazenly lied to White House reporters last week. Days earlier, the press corps witnessed the press secretary shrug off a question about threats to Jews then pivot and condemn "Islamaphobia" from a prepared statement. That brazen action went viral on social media.
Days later, in light of that criticism, her excuse was she had misheard the question about antisemitism. But the press secretary did understand the question because she said there are no "credible threats" against Jews. She then looked down and read from her notes about "Islamaphobia."
Doocy, a hero of the Right for his tough questions, asked the "extremist" question in some fashion three different ways.
On his second try, Doocy pointed out the White House routinely criticizes "MAGA extremists" but now protesters are making Jewish students fear for their safety.
“I’ve been very, very clear," Jean-Pierre replied, still being unclear. "We are calling out any form of hate. It is not acceptable. It should not be acceptable here, and we are going to continue to call that out."
Those terrible 'extreme MAGA Republicans'
At other times Jean-Pierre has had no problem identifying specific groups. In a press briefing in September of 2022, Jean-Pierre said, “You know, when you ask me about the MAGA agenda, especially as it relates to Congress, as it relates to elected officials, it is one of the most extreme agendas that we have seen, and it is a part of the — it is the extreme part of the Republican Party.”
In March of this year, Jean-Pierre criticized "extreme MAGA Republicans" in Congress.
During that second go-round with Doocy, Jean-Pierre also pivoted to Donald Trump. She criticized the former president and his so-called "Muslim ban" that restricted international travel. That executive order was entitled “Protecting The Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States.”
“Let me be very clear," she continued. "This is a President that has continued to have that fight (against hate) in his office, in this administration when he repealed Trump’s Muslim ban on his very first day in office. That is something this President did."
On his third attempt, Doocy asked if Biden was proud of the college students or believes the country is "doomed" by their conduct.
"Here's the thing: there's no place for hate in America," she replied.
