Karine Jean-Pierre, the press secretary for the White House, was somber on Monday when she was questioned about the differing COVID-19 vaccination program implemented by the Biden administration.
What is the background of this?
The legendary tennis player Novak Djokovic announced this week that he will not compete in the United States Open this year because he has not received a vaccination against COVID-19.
At this time, non-citizens of the United States are not authorized to enter the country if they have not been vaccinated against COVID.
Non-U.S. citizens and non-immigrants: Before boarding your plane to the United States, you are required documentation showing that you have obtained the primary series of an approved COVID-19 vaccination. If you do not have this documentation, you will not be allowed to board the aircraft. According to the recommendations provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are only a few notable exceptions.
What exactly went down with KJP?
During the press conference at the White House, Peter Doocy of Fox News brought up an obvious issue when he asked why Novak Djokovic couldn't enter the country for a tennis match but unvaccinated migrants were allowed to enter the country. Doocy's comment highlighted the hypocrisy of the situation.
He posed the following question: Why are tennis players of world-class level required to be inoculated in order to enter this nation, but refugees are not?
At first, Jean-Pierre sidestepped the problem by referring Doocy to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. By doing so, he exonerated the White House, which is responsible for monitoring both the executive branch and the CDC, from any responsibility. Doocy, on the other hand, did not give up.
Jean-Pierre affirmed that these are two separate and different things.
What makes you think they are two different things? The doozy was pressed. You make it clear that it is not acceptable for an airline passenger to arrive without having been inoculated. It is permissible for a person to remain in Texas or Arizona even if they are not vaccinated because they entered the state on foot. Why?
The press secretary continued by explaining that "that's not how it works" and that there is not a flood of immigrants arriving at the southern border of the United States.
It's not like anyone will just walk up to you; that's not how this works at all. Doocy spoke out and stopped Jean-Pierre in the middle of his sentence.
Everything you described is taking place right now! Doocy struck back in kind. At any given time, there are tens of thousands of people out for walks. Some of them give themselves up on their own will. Tens of thousands remain free each and every week, despite the fact that some are taken in. This is the situation that we are in.
Doocy's insightful response was met with complete silence from Jean-Pierre. When she did finally reply, she entirely sidestepped Doocy's question and praised President Joe Biden for what she described as his efforts to improve the situation at the border.
Doocy asked a follow-up question regarding the CDC's vaccination requirement for people arriving in the country by air travel as opposed to land entrance, and Jean-Pierre redirected the topic of discussion to Title 42 before moving on to the next reporter.
If it's any consolation, Title 42 gives the government the authority to refuse entry to migrants in order to prevent the further spread of disease, but it does not mandate that these individuals be given the COVID vaccine.
The preceding is a summary of an article that originally appeared on National Insider.
