In anticipation of President Joe Biden’s speech addressing the January 6 attack inspired by Trump, a reporter questioned White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre about the readiness of the U.S. for free and fair elections in November.
President Biden intended to commemorate the January 6 anniversary with a speech in Valley Forge, PA, focusing on threats to democracy, including the insurrection.
During the White House press briefing, Trevor Hunnicutt from Reuters asked whether the President believes any specific policy changes are necessary to strengthen democratic institutions ahead of the elections.
Jean-Pierre responded that she had no policies to announce or preview at that time. She reiterated the President’s stance on the unprecedented nature of the January 6 attack, emphasizing that it was an assault on core principles, democracy, the rule of law, and the Constitution.
Despite not providing specific policy details, Jean-Pierre affirmed the President’s commitment to a functioning democracy and free and fair elections. When pressed specifically on whether the United States is ready for such elections in November, she reiterated the importance of having free and fair elections.
While she did not announce any new policies, she mentioned that various agencies were working to ensure that Americans could vote freely in the upcoming November elections. The exchange reflected the administration’s acknowledgment of the significance of preserving democratic processes and the ongoing efforts to safeguard the integrity of the electoral system.
Q THANKS, KARINE. ON THE — THE SCHOLARS AND HISTORIANS MEETING, THAT STATEMENT REFERENCED THREATS TO DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS IN THE COUNTRY. DOES THE PRESIDENT THINK THAT THERE ARE ANY SPECIFIC POLICY CHANGES THAT ARE NEEDED TO STRENGTHEN INSTITUTIONS AHEAD OF THE ELECTIONS?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I DON’T HAVE ANY POLICIES TO ANNOUNCE OR PREVIEW FOR YOU AT THIS TIME.
LOOK, THE PRESIDENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN CLEAR. I’VE BEEN CLEAR FROM THIS PODIUM AS WELL. WHAT HAPPENED ON JAN- — JANUARY THE 6TH WAS UNPRECEDENTED — AN ATTACK ON OUR CORE PRINCIPLES, AN ATTACK ON DEMOCRACY. WHAT WE SAW WAS AN ATTACK ON OUR RULE OF LAW, ATTACK ON OUR CONSTITUTION.
WE SAW THE CONFEDERATE FLAG IN — IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CAPITOL BUILDING. IT IS — IT WAS A — A TERRIFYING AND HORRIFIC DAY AND A — YOU KNOW, A DARK DAY IN OUR HISTORY, SADLY.
BUT I JUST DON’T HAVE — AS FAR AS POLICY-WISE AND OUR — STRENGTHENING OUR INSTITUTIONS, I DON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO SHARE AT THIS TIME.
Q BUT SPECIFICALLY, DOES HE THINK THE UNITED STATES IS READY TO HAVE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS IN NOVEMBER?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: WELL, IT’S — WE HAVE TO. I MEAN, THAT IS WHAT WE NEED — WE HAVE TO. THAT’S WHAT THE PRESIDENT BELIEVES IN. RIGHT? HE BELIEVES IN HAVING A DEMOCRACY THAT WORKS, ON HAVING A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION. THAT’S SOMETHING THAT HE HAS SPOKEN TO, OBVIOUSLY.
BUT I DON’T — AS FAR AS OUR POLICIES FOR OUR INSTITUTIONS, ANNOUNCING ANY NEW POLICY, I DON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO ANNOUNCE AT — AT THIS TIME. BUT CLEARLY, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES WHO ARE INVOLVED ARE CERTAINLY MAKING SURE THAT WE — WE GET TO A PLACE THAT WE’RE — WE’RE — YOU KNOW, WE’RE — WE’RE — AMERICANS ARE ABLE TO — TO VOTE FREELY ON — IN NOVEMBER
