A video shared on Instagram claims White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre left the White House briefing room following a question from Fox News journalist Peter Doocy about the second alleged assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
Verdict: False
The claim is false. Both a transcript and a full video of the press briefing indicate Jean-Pierre answered Doocy’s question.
Fact Check:
Ryan Wesley Routh, the man accused of allegedly attempting to assassinate Trump, was reportedly described as “delusional” by a Ukrainian solider, according to BBC News. Routh tried to recruit foreign soldiers to serve in the Ukrainian military amid the country’s war with Russia, the outlet reported.
The Instagram video, liked over 2,000 times as of writing, claims Jean-Pierre purportedly left the briefing room following Doocy’s question about the second alleged assassination attempt on Trump. The video opens with Doocy asking Jean-Pierre why the Biden-Harris administration continues to label Trump as a “threat” in light of the two assassination attempts made against him. Jean-Pierre then appears to leave the podium without answering Doocy’s question.
The claim is false, however. Both a transcript and a full video of the briefing indicate Jean-Pierre did, in fact, answer Doocy’s question.
According to the same transcript, Jean-Pierre said the following in part:
“Peter, if anything from this administration, I actually completely disagree with the premise of your question. The question that you’re asking, it is also incredibly dangerous in the way that you’re asking it, because American people are watching. And to say that — to say that from a administration who has consistently condemned political violence; from an administration where the president called the former president and was thankful, grateful that he was okay; from an administration who has called out January 6th, called out the attack of Paul Pelosi, called out and said we need to lower the temperature after the Butler incident — and now for you to make that kind of comment in your question — because it — your question involved a comment and a statement — and, you know, it is — that is also incredibly dangerous when we have been very clear in — in condemning political violence from here.”
Likewise, the claim is neither referenced on the White House’s website nor its verified social media accounts. In addition, Jean-Pierre does not appear to have publicly commentedon the claim. (RELATED: Was Trump’s Would-Be Assassin A Registered Republican?)
Check Your Fact also found no credible news reports to support the claim. Actually, the opposite is true. Both Lead Stories and PolitiFact reported the claim was false, with each outlet citing the transcript and full video of the press briefing.
Check Your Fact has contacted the White House for comment.