Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki has faced scrutiny for her portrayal of an incident involving President Biden in her new book, “Say More.” Psaki claims that President Biden checked his watch only after a ceremony honoring soldiers killed during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan had concluded. This account has been contested by several sources, including firsthand accounts from Gold Star families, photographic evidence, and media fact-checks, which confirm that Biden checked his watch during the ceremony itself.
The Associated Press photographer at Dover Air Force Base captured images of Biden checking his watch multiple times during the ceremony. These images were substantiated by fact-checkers from USA Today and Snopes, who noted the timing of these checks. Family members of the fallen soldiers, including Mark Schmitz and Shana Chappell, have publicly expressed their dismay at Biden’s actions during the ceremony, stating that it appeared disrespectful.
Jen Psaki Busted in Lie, Removes Passage from Her New Book
In her new book “Say More,” former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki wrote that Biden “looked at his watch only after the ceremony had ended. Moments later, he and the First Lady headed toward their car.”
Even… pic.twitter.com/1qxSyhVL6Z
— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) May 13, 2024
In response to the backlash, Psaki stated that any inaccuracies regarding the specific number of times Biden checked his watch would be corrected in future editions of her book. She emphasized that the broader narrative of her book focuses on the challenges of conveying difficult feedback within the context of the administration’s handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal.