NBC News’s Peter Alexander asked Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in a briefing on Tuesday if the White House condemns the growing act of anti-Isreal Americans pulling down posters showing Israeli civilians being held hostage by Hamas. Jean-Pierre did her usual non-response song and dance but later had to walk back her wishy-washy performance in a tweet.
Alexander’s question was straightforward: “A lot of videos of individuals who have been tearing down signs, many of these taking place in New York City, of Israelis presently being held hostage in Gaza. There have been some tense confrontations that have taken place there. Is the White House’s view that these actions should be condemned, the pulling of the pulling down of them, or that that’s a form of peaceful protest?”
“Look, I haven’t, I’ve sort of kind of seen the reporting here and there. I think it was from last week,” Jean-Pierre replied, but Alexander did not let her slide.
“There’s been like 30 million videos that have got around,” he responded.
“No, I know. I hear you …I’m just not going to. We’re not going to. I’m not going.”
“Is that peaceful protest to pull that down?” Alexander kept pushing.
“I’m just not going to go into specifics on that particular thing. What I can say there are real but violent protests and threats that are happening right now. And senior administration officials are aware of these reports which are deeply concerning. And that is something that we’re focused on,” Jean-Pierre said before moving on.
Later in the day, she tried to clean up her spineless remark with a stronger message on Twitter.
As a result of the Hamas terrorist attacks, communities and families are grieving. For the past month, the families of those who have been taken hostage have lived in agony. Tearing down pictures of their loved ones – who are being held hostage by Hamas – is wrong and hurtful.
— Karine Jean-Pierre (@PressSec) November 7, 2023
