A Republican senator is issuing a challenge to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre after she appeared to insist that illegal immigrants were not just walking across the southern border.
During an appearance on Fox News’ “Hannity” Tuesday night, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said, “We saw Karine Jean-Pierre stand up and say, people are not crossing the border, they’re not walking across the border. Listen, we’re used to flacks spinning. This was a flat-out lie. It’s an objective lie. It is 100% false.”
“I invited her to come down to the border to see it. Her response was, ‘I don’t need to be lectured by Republican senators.’ I’ll tell you what, I’m going to give a challenge, Karine Jean-Pierre, right now: Come to the border, spend 60 minutes, one hour, with me and the border patrol union. We will experience dozens if not hundreds of illegal immigrants coming across,” he continued.
Finally, Cruz upped the ante by raising the prospect that he could wind up publicly admitting to being wrong.
“Let’s bring the entire White House press corp and one of two things will happen. If we don’t encounter anyone, I’ll stand up and say I was wrong. But when we encounter hundreds of people crossing, do you have the courage and integrity to stand in front of the press corp you’re lying to and say, ‘I lied to you’? That’s what an honest White House press secretary would say.”
Sen. @tedcruz issues a challenge to Karine Jean-Pierre to spend 1 hour at the southern border with him and the border patrol union. pic.twitter.com/CinKV2sW5u
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) September 7, 2022
Cruz’s challenge comes days after Karine Jean-Pierre seemed to suggest that illegal immigrants are not walking across the border.
Fox News’ Peter Doocy asked the press secretary why international travelers entering the country have to be vaccinated, but illegal immigrants do not need to be vaccinated when they cross the border.
“That’s not how it works,” she responded.
However, Doocy pushed back, arguing, “That’s not what you guys want to happen, but that is what is happening.”
“But it’s not like somebody walks over and… that’s not… that’s not how…” Jean-Pierre said.
The Fox News reporter shot back, “That’s exactly what’s happening.”
“Thousands of people are walking in a day. Some of them turn themselves over,” he continued. “Some of them are caught. Tens of thousands a week are not. That is what is happening.”
Cruz previously suggested that Jean-Pierre should travel to the border to witness immigrants entering the country.
“I’ve been to the border. I went in 2018. I stood outside facilities where the Trump administration was separating families, tearing babies out of their mothers’ arms. Some of those kids still haven’t been reunited with their families,” Jean-Pierre said on Tuesday after she was asked about the Texas senator’s initial comments.
REPORTER: "Senator @tedcruz has…suggested that you come down and see for yourself whether migrants are actually crossing the border by foot."
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) September 6, 2022
KJP: "I've been to the border…I certainly don't need lectures or invitations from Republicans about the border or border policy." pic.twitter.com/08vLrz3MpQ
She added, “And so, one thing I will say is, I certainly don’t need lectures or invitations from Republicans about the border or border policies. And I certainly won’t take advice on the border from anyone who voted against securing [a] record level of funding for the Department of Homeland Security.”
