“Debt Ceiling Debate Heats Up: White House Press Secretary’s Misleading Claim on CNN This Morning Debunked”
It was still early in the morning when the White House press secretary appeared on “CNN This Morning” and made a statement so misleading that host Poppy Harlow had to correct her before most people had finished their morning coffee.
During the interview, Jean-Pierre went on a passionate rant against a Republican-proposed bill called the Limit, Save, Grow Act, which aims to raise the debt ceiling until March 2024 while also cutting spending, as reported by Fox News.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy had praised the measure as a responsible way to rein in government spending and safeguard against a potential government shutdown, while criticizing Democrats for their perceived inaction. “While President Biden and Senate Democrats waste time, House Republicans are taking action,” McCarthy said from the House floor, accusing Democrats of being “missing in action” on this issue. “America has a $31 trillion debt. Washington is on the clock. But what are Democrats doing? President Biden is skipping town to deliver a speech in Maryland rather than sitting down to address the debt ceiling,” McCarthy noted.
McCarthy also took a jab at Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who recently declared March as Maine’s maple syrup month, but seemed uninterested in addressing this critical issue. However, Jean-Pierre attempted to misrepresent the details of the legislation and McCarthy’s intentions.
“He sided with the MAGA wing of his conference – the extreme Republican wing of the conference – to put forth a legislation, a blueprint, that will devastate – let’s be very clear – devastate hardworking American families,” Jean-Pierre stumbled through her passionate rant about McCarthy. “And not only that, they’re doing that, is doing that while also putting at risk, putting hostage, our American economy so that they can take a hatchet to the programs that matter to everyday Americans so they can make sure that they make ends meet,” she continued. Jean-Pierre went on to list the proposed cuts before imploring McCarthy not to “play chicken” and risk a U.S. default on its debt.
Harlow allowed Jean-Pierre to share her talking points but interjected with an important fact check.
“Just to be clear, this bill would actually prevent a default,” Harlow corrected Jean-Pierre.
“But as I understand it, none of this is something that the White House will agree to,” she fed as an opportunity for Jean-Pierre to respond. Although this moment was brief, it serves as another challenging moment for Jean-Pierre, who has faced criticism in the past.
The Republican National Committee wasted no time in sharing this embarrassing moment, and it quickly gained traction throughout the day.
CNN’s Poppy Harlow corrects Karine Jean-Pierre on the @HouseGOP debt limit plan: “Just to be clear, this bill would do that — it would avoid a default.” pic.twitter.com/yevl9GEDoU
Advertisement— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) April 20, 2023
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