Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre | Eastern North Carolina Now

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: When we talk about semi-fascism and you talk about the attack on our democracy, that's what we're talking about. Right? An attack on our democracy. That's what we're seeing - attack on our - on our freedoms. That's what we're seeing from the MAGA Republicans in Congress. That is what they're doing.

    That is - when you're talking about inciting violence, that's - that's - that is an attack on our democracy. And when you're -

    Q And -

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: - when you see a mob that is attacking the Capitol and you don't call that out, or you call it out one day and then change your mind the other day - another day, what is - what message are you say - saying about our democracy?

    Q But specifically with regards to limiting these freedoms - I guess my question is: The Supreme Court created this space for the anti-abortion movement at the state level and also perhaps at the federal level to try and restrict this freedom. Where do they fit into all of this? How would the President describe them after that decision? Were they just extremists, or were they, you know, part and parcel of a semi-fascist -

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, here's what I'll say: We continue to - continue to see attacks on people's fundamental rights - right? - of Americans with new abortion laws across the country.

    And when you have national Republicans who are - who are leaders in their - in their political party; who sit in office; who say that they want to take away the rights even in case of incest, in case - and not - and in case of rape; and taking away a woman's right to make a decision on her body - that's extreme.

    And - and, you know, the President is going to call that out. He's going to continue to do everything that he can to make sure that we protect people's freedoms. He's going to do everything that he can to call that out. And, you know, that is important to call out. That is important to talk about.

    And, again, we see a majority of Americans who disagree. And so, when you are not with where a majority of Americans are, then, you know, that is extreme. That is an extreme way of thinking.

    I'm not going to - that's what I have for you, Phil.

    Q Will he call out the Supreme Court tonight?

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I just laid out what he's going to talk about. It's not a political part- - it's not about a political person. It's not about a political party. It's about where we are currently today - where we are currently today with our democracy.

    Q Thank you, Karine.


    Q Thanks, Karine. Has the administration seen a spike in the request for COVID free at-home tests since the deadline is tomorrow? And has there been an increase this week on the website?

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah, there has been a significant increase this week in demand since we announced the suspension, as you know, which is happening tomorrow, of the COVIDTests.gov because of a lack of funding from Congress. And as we prepare ahead of the winter, we had to make some tough decisions.

    Look, millions of orders have been placed. This is a testament of how strong the demand of a popular program has been. Americans want ready access to tests to protect themselves and others.

    With more funding, we'd expeditiously resume the program. That's what we're hoping to do. And we're going to continue to work with Congress on getting that funding.

    Q But everybody who requested them this week will be able to get the order they placed?

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: We're going to do everything that we can to make sure that we get people their - their tests.

    Q And one more COVID question: With the new boosters likely rolling out next week after the FDA gave the EUA yesterday - with pharmacies now being told to retire the old boosters and now, going forward, only the new boosters will be given out, what happens to all of those old boosters? Can they be reused, repurposed? Can they be donated to other countries? Or will they be just wasted at this point?

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So that's something that I - I can't speak from here. That's going to be something that the FDA will clearly give some guidance on.

    Q Karine?

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I'll come back down.

    Q Thank you. Going back to tonight's speech, obviously, you said that the President is going be calling out these lawmakers that are MAGA lawmakers in Congress. But yet, 74 million people voted for Trump last time around. You said it's a small number that the White House believe are extremists. Can you give us an idea of a ballpark? Are we talking a million of that 74 million? Are we talking about 1 percent, 20 percent? What kind of number are we talking about?

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, I'm talking about - I'm talking about specifically of MAGA officeholders. That's what we're talking about. They're the ones -

    Q Not supporters?

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: We're - I'm talking specifically - I already answered this question about how, you know, we feel like we've touched a nerve - right? - when folks are saying that we're trying to be divisive or that we're talking about millions of voters. That's not what we're talking about here.

    We're talking about MAGA officeholders, who - who have put forth an agenda that is extreme; who have put forth an agenda that takes away people's rights; who have put forth agenda that, you know, want to give tax cuts to billionaires and corporations while raising taxes on millions of Americans.



    We just had a back-and-forth about how they want to do a national ban. They've called for a national ban on abortion. Those are extreme - that's an extreme agenda that is not in line where a majority of Americans are.

    I know, you're asking me about 10 - millions of voters out there, but we're talking about - if you look at the items that I just listed, a majority of Americans don't support what the MAGA Republicans in Congress are doing. That's a fact. That's what polling shows us.

    When you're talking about an agenda from Republicans in the Senate who are talking about getting rid of Medicare, putting that on the chopping block; putting Social Security on the chopping block - that's not popular. That's not something that a majority of Americans want.

    Q So if it's MAGA officeholders, we've seen Democratic groups, something like the Democratic Governors Association, boost Trump candidates - like Maryland, if you think of Dan Cox, who just got the nomination. Is that then hypocritical if you're saying, "We've got to make sure these MAGA supporters are not in office," but you've got Democratic groups that are boosting their campaigns in the primary election?

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, I can't talk about campaigns and what another - another candidate is doing or a committee is doing. I can't speak from that from here.

    Look, I can say this: The President has been - has always been clear: There are going to be people who disagree with his programs and legislative priorities, and that's what democracy is all about. Like, we understand that, right? But people accept elections, and we move forward as a nation, right?

    But there is a growing number of people who refuse to accept the results of free and fair elections, people who actually - openly talking about subverting elections in the future. This is not a speech where he's going to tell people to vote for one party or the other. That's not what he's going to do. He's going to -

    Q He did that in Wilkes-Barre.

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I'm talking about tonight. I'm talking about tonight.

    He's going to talk about uniting the people of this country who believe in equality and democracy. And this is about bringing people together who believe in America. That's what this speech is going to be about and that's what he's going to focus on.

    Q And obviously, there has been a lot of focus on previous speeches, previous comments, the one in Maryland the other day. Is it only on the far right that deserves to be called out? Or are there elements of the far left that also deserve to be either scrutinized or lectured?

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, I'm - I just laid out there's going to be some people who agree with him and who disagree with him, who agree who - whether its legislative initiatives or programs. That's going to happen. But what we're going to hear from him is how to move the country forward. That's going to be the focus of the speech tonight.

    He's going to be - it's going to be optimistic, it's going to be hopeful, and it's - but it's also going to lay out what's going on currently in this moment. That's what you can expect from him tonight. And - and, you know, we're going to try and see how we can move this country forward.

    Q Last one from me is: You know, he's going back to Pennsylvania tonight. He's going on Monday for Labor Day. He's doing Wisconsin. You know, everybody here has been asking about Mississippi. No plans to go see what's going on on the ground?

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I just said the FEMA Administrator -

    Q FEMA is going. What about the President?

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I just - I just said the FEMA Administrator is going there tomorrow. That's going to be important. She is - she is the Administrator of FEMA, one of the most important agencies, as we're - as we're dealing with - with this catastrophe that we see in Jackson. That is not unusual. That is not new for her to be the first one on the ground to make sure - to get a sense of what's happening and what is going on.

    We're - you know, we have the EPA - EPA, who's also involved. The EPA agency is also involved as well.

    The President is going to continue to have conversations with local governments, the local elected officials in the state, and - and our team is going to continue to do that.

    I just don't have anything else to preview. But it is not unusual - right? - to have the FEMA coord- -


    Q So she goes first and then the President goes?

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I'm not saying that. I just said I don't have anything to preview. But it's not unusual for her to go down there, as you've seen with other - where we have other catastrophes, sadly, across the country. And FEMA takes - takes action, and then they take the lead.

    Q Karine, can I have a follow-up on the speech, please?

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yes, go ahead.

    Q Thank you. So you mentioned autocracies and democracies will be part of the theme that the President will touch on today. Does that mean he's returning to - you know, to the, kind of, foreign policy theme that he's often highlighted in the beginning of his administration? Will there be a foreign policy component in the speech? And he will he mentioned specific countries?