White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre answered two pointed questions about incoming President Donald Trump's social media comments on Friday.
The first had to do with Trump's assertion on TruthSocial that "The Democrats are all 'giddy' about our magnificent American Flag potentially being at 'half mast' during my inauguration. They think it's so great and are so happy about it because, in actuality, they don't love our country, they only think about themselves.
"In any event, because of the death of President Jimmy Carter, the Flag may, for the first time ever during an Inauguration of a future President, be at half mast. Nobody wants to see this, and no American can be happy about it. Let’s see how it plays out. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"
The first reporter asked, "President-elect Trump seemed to take issue today with the fact that flags will be flown at half mast at the time of his inauguration, considering the passing of former President Jimmy Carter... Is that a position that the White House would consider reversing or re-evaluating?"
Jean-Pierre answered simply and curtly, "No."
Former President Carter, a Democrat, died Dec. 29 at the age of 100. President Biden ordered flags lowered to half staff in tribute for 30 days from Carter’s death, which encompasses Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20.
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NBC's Kelly O'Donnell asked about the "misinformation" Trump has been peddling on social media about Biden's "open border policy" being responsible for the New Year's Eve terrorist attack in New Orleans.
"President-elect Trump had communicated on his social media some inaccurate information relating to New Orleans this week," O'Donnell said. "Is the president at all concerned about the flow of information, and briefing, and access to whatever intelligence or whatever he might need in terms of this transition. Is he comfortable with the information flow to the president-elect?" O'Donnell asked.
Jean-Pierre began her answer by giving props to the media.
"I'm actually glad you asked this question because one of the things that you all do as a journalists' body is that you were able to fact check and say that what was stated by the president-elect was simply false. And, I think that is important, right? Which is why we respect the hard work that all of you do.
"As it relates to the president and the information that he gets, obviously that's something that's for ODNI if it's related to intelligence and specific information and that nature. I'm not going to speculate beyond that, and I'm just going to leave it there."
Watch the White House press briefing below or at this link.
