White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre faced reporters Monday, her first appearance since President Biden pardoned his son, Hunter. The pardon came despite repeated assurances from both Biden and Jean-Pierre that it wouldn’t happen.
A reporter challenged her, asking if earlier denials about a pardon "could be seen as lies" to the public. Jean-Pierre responded, "One thing the president believes is to always be truthful with the American people," adding that Biden "wrestled with [the decision]."
Jean-Pierre fielded multiple questions about the pardon. She mostly reiterated Biden’s Sunday night statement, claiming Hunter was "singled out politically." Her answers leaned heavily on previously shared points.
She hinted at more pardons to come, saying Biden is "thinking through that process very thoroughly." "There’s a process in place," she said. "I’m not going to get ahead of the president, but you can expect more announcements at the end of this term."
The press secretary argued that Hunter was targeted "because his last name was Biden." She added, "The president believed enough is enough. He also believes they tried to break his son in order to break him."
Jean-Pierre spoke to reporters aboard Air Force One as Biden traveled to Angola. The trip aimed to promote a U.S.-backed railway project in Zambia, Congo, and Angola, part of efforts to counter China's influence in Africa’s critical minerals sector.
Her past denials of a possible pardon resurfaced. Since July 2023, Jean-Pierre had publicly ruled it out six times, even as Hunter faced prosecution.
Look if there's one thing I know about Karine Jean-Pierre it's that when she tells you something, you can take it to the bank https://t.co/cvBW24vzao pic.twitter.com/ozOIoWnoSd
— Peter J. Hasson (@peterjhasson) December 2, 2024
In November, after President-elect Trump’s 2024 victory, Jean-Pierre reaffirmed the stance. "We’ve been asked that question multiple times. Our answer stands, which is no," she said then.