White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre faced mockery when she falsely stated that the 9/11 terror attacks took place in 2021. The verbal faux pas occurred during a press conference to mark 23 years since the atrocity that killed thousands of Americans and destroyed the landmark World Trade Center in New York.
Jean-Pierre faced intense criticism online following the error, with several people questioning why the White House still employed her. At the same press conference, the Press Secretary fielded questions about why President Biden donned a MAGA hat during a visit to Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where United Flight 93 crashed into a field after hijackers were challenged by passengers on the fateful day.
Following a short speech at the event, President Biden offered a hat with the Presidential seal to a man wearing a Trump cap, and the two men agreed to swap their headwear briefly. Jean-Pierre described it as a gesture of unity on a sacred day for the United States.
Nevertheless, media reports indicate that the man who offered the Trump cap to Biden delivered a few unpleasant remarks to the President, including him an “old fart” and asking if Biden knew his name. The President brushed off the comments.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump faced even more intense criticism for attending a Shanksville event with highly controversial online influencer Laura Loomer. Republicans have expressed concern about Trump’s relationship with Loomer, and some have reportedly urged him to keep his distance. The conservative commentator has a long history of making online remarks that many people consider outrageous.
In the latest scandal to engulf Ms. Loomer, she engaged in a ferocious row with Republican Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene after Loomer tweeted that the White House would smell of curry if Kamala Harris won the election in November. Taylor Greene said the remarks were “appalling and extremely racist” and did not represent the Republican Party or the MAGA movement.
Greene acknowledged that she “used to be friends” with Loomer but has since denounced her as “mentally unstable” and advised Donald Trump to cut her off. Mr. Trump does not appear to have heeded the warnings, however, and has repeatedly praised the influencer at his rallies and events.
