Karine Jean-Pierre: Republicans Trying To Get More Funds To Secure The Border A ‘Political Stunt’

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre claimed this week that attempts by House Republicans to get more funding to secure the southern border — in exchange from them approving funding Ukraine — was a political stunt.

A reporter asked Jean-Pierre during the White House press conference on Monday about House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) saying that “he wants any additional funds for Ukraine tied to congressional action on border security.”

“Is that something that the White House would consider supporting for a vote on Ukraine funding?” the reporter asked.

Jean-Pierre claimed that Americans were “fed up” over these “political games” and “political stunts that House Republicans are doing on our national security and also our government.”

She claimed that President Joe Biden “has delivered record funding” for Border Patrol and then demonized what she said were “extreme House Republicans.”

WATCH:

KJP calls House Republicans wanting funding to secure the southern border a "political stunt." pic.twitter.com/tfp1lIfNPk

— Conservative War Machine (@WarMachineRR) October 2, 2023

Later in the press conference, Jean-Pierre was asked about New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s remarks that the border was “too open right now” and whether Biden agreed with those remarks.

“The President, on his own, without the help of Republicans in Congress — let’s not forget, he put forward a comprehensive piece of legislation to deal with immigration reform,” she claimed. “Remember, this — this immigration system has been broken for decades. And it’s been three years. That’s been almost three years since he put forth that piece of legislation.”

She claimed that the administration has added “deterrence” factors to discourage people from illegally entering the country.

The reporter pushed back and again asked Jean-Pierre if Biden believes that the border is closed after she did not answer the question the first time she was asked.

Jean-Pierre again refused to answer the question and claimed that Republicans were “trying to politicize it and make it worse — make it worse.”

“That’s what Republicans are trying to do and turn it into a political stunt,” she claimed. “The President is actually dealing with the issue that’s in front of him by getting record funding, 25,000 federal agents at the border. That is something that this President has been able to do.”

WATCH:

.@Hillary__Vaughn: "So, when [Biden] looks at what's happening at the border, he seems [one] that is effectively closed?"

KJP: "What I'm saying is that [Biden]…is doing everything that he can to deal with the border…[Republicans] are trying to politicize it & make it worse" pic.twitter.com/jkiO6IVNEH

— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) October 2, 2023