White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had a sharp retort for Fox News reporter Peter Doocy following his query regarding Vice President Kamala Harris’ purported Southern accent during recent speeches. This interaction occurred a day after Jean-Pierre characterized a similar question from Doocy as “insane.”
On Tuesday, September 3, Doocy posed a question to Jean-Pierre about Harris’ method of speaking, implying that the Vice President had taken on a Southern accent during campaign functions. Jean-Pierre dismissed the query outright, proclaiming, “I’m not even going to entertain some question about… it’s just, hearing it sounds so ridiculous.”
The Press Secretary stressed that the American public is more focused on substantial matters such as the economy, healthcare, and cost reduction, rather than the subtleties of the Vice President’s spoken language.
The following day, the subject was revisited when Doocy presented Jean-Pierre with a new question. He asked, “President Biden’s approval rating is soaring, it’s up 13 percent all the way to 48 percent—does it bother the president that people are so pleased that he’s retiring?”
In a quick-witted exchange, Jean-Pierre countered by asking Doocy, “Am I hearing a little twang in your voice, Peter?” This smart retort prompted laughter from the briefing room occupants. A seemingly surprised Doocy responded, “I know better, I know better.”
This conversation underscored the ongoing discord between the White House and certain media channels, especially Fox News, known for its critical coverage of the Biden administration.
The debate about Harris’ accent started following her Labor Day visit to Detroit, Michigan. Some conservative pundits and social media users claimed to detect a change in her speech pattern, describing it as “cringe and fake.” The Trump campaign attempted to underscore these perceived changes by sharing comparative clips of Harris speaking at rallies in Detroit and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
However, many supporters of the Vice President suggested that the changes in her speech could be due to code-switching, a prevalent practice among Black individuals and other minority groups. Code-switching involves amending one’s language and expression based on the environment and audience.
This is not the first instance where Harris has been examined over her manner of speaking. She has previously been accused of changing her accent in different settings, like using a perceived Southern accent during a rally in Atlanta, Georgia, and even adopting what some described as a “French accent” while visiting a COVID-19 lab in France.
The manner in which Jean-Pierre dealt with the situation illustrates the White House’s approach to handling what they regard as minor or distracting questions. By dismissing the initial query and then redirecting the question back to the reporter, the press secretary effectively diverted attention away from the accent dispute.
As the 2024 presidential campaign season begins to heat up, it’s probable that scrutiny of both the President and Vice President will increase. The Biden administration seems prepared to counter what they perceive as petty criticisms while highlighting their policy successes and rising approval ratings.
