News/Commentary

Ouch! Psaki questions Doocy on his source of border crossing estimates and gets embarrassing burn

April 8, 2022 | | Print Article

It’s almost as if White House press secretary Jen Psaki has already checked out ahead of her upcoming departure, which will be followed by a reported MSNBC gig.

At least, that’s the impression she is giving in addressing questions from reporters. One such example was seen on Thursday when Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy asked Psaki about the effects on the border after the planned lifting of Title 42 on May 23 — according to the Department of Homeland Security, there are nearly 200,000 migrants perched on the other side of the border in Mexico who may storm the border when that occurs.

As for Psaki, not only did she dispute Doocy’s assessment of how many illegal immigrants may cross monthly, she shrugged off the whole matter, expressing a ‘wait and see what happens’ attitude — then again, there is little doubt that what’s happening on the border is precisely what this administration wants to happen.

“When Title 42 expires next month what is the plan for the 18,000 migrants a day that are gonna cross. Do you want them to get jobs here? Is there something else that you want these 18,000 a day to be doing?” Doocy asked.

“I don’t know where you’re basing your specific numbers on, Peter, but what I would tell you…” Psaki began, before Doocy interrupted to tell her the numbers came from the administration.

“I’ve got it right here,” he said. “Earlier this week the department (DHS) gave reporters an estimate that up to 18,000 migrants could be apprehended at the border each day if Title 42 expires.”

Not to be deterred, Psaki casually responded, “Well, ‘up to’… and we’ll see what happens.”

White House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield said last week that “there will be an influx of people to the border” when Title 42 is lifted, and DHS gave reporters an estimate that as many as 18,000 migrants could be apprehended at the border each day when that happens. Remarkable, there are already more than 5,000 migrant crossings per day with no plan in place to stop the flow.

It appears there is no plan in place… unless having no plan IS the plan. Either way, Psaki is getting outmatched in just about every encounter she has with Doocy and might help explain why she’s beating a hasty retreat out the ‘Exit’ door.

Here’s a quick sampling of responses to the story from Twitter:

Tom Tillison
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