President Biden believed that a deceased congresswoman was still alive Wednesday because “she was on his mind,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre claimed during a press briefing.
Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (R-IN) was killed in a car crash in August. Biden publicly mourned her death and called for the White House to lower flags for two days in her memory. Still, Biden called for the deceased congresswoman multiple times — asking where she was — during his opening remarks at the White House’s Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health.
“Jackie, are you here? Where’s Jackie?” Biden asked as he scanned the audience, searching for the deceased congresswoman.
Later that day, Jean-Pierre fielded questions about the incident. during Wednesday’s press briefing
“What happened at the Hunger Event today? The president appeared to look around the room for an audience member, a member of Congress who passed away last month. Did he think she might be in the room? What happened there?” a reporter asked.
Jean-Pierre claimed that Biden had only wanted to recognize the work Walorski had done and that he was planning on visiting her family later in the week, adding, “she was on his mind, she was top of mind.”
.@CeciliaVega: "What happened at the Hunger Event today? [Biden] appeared to look around…for…a member of Congress [Jackie Walorski] who passed away last month…What happened there?"
KJP: He "was acknowledging her incredible work…She was on his mind…top of mind" pic.twitter.com/LhEECd4QBR
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) September 28, 2022
Reporters were understandably surprised at Jean-Pierre’s claim that Biden thought Walorski was alive and in the room because “she was on his mind,” drawing more questions.
A reporter asked, “The confusing part is why, if she and the family is top of mind, does the president think that she’s living and in the room?”
“I don’t find that confusing,” Jean-Pierre claimed. “I mean, I think many people can speak to sometimes when we have someone top of mind, they’re top of mind — exactly that … It happened at an event where we were calling out the champions, congressional champions in particular, of this issue.”
“I have John Lennon top of mind just about every day but I’m not looking around for him,” a reporter said.
“When you sign a bill for John Lennon as president, then we can have this conversation,” Jean-Pierre replied, before quickly moving on to the next question.
Reporter: "The confusing part is why, if she and the family is top of mind, does the president think that she's living and in the room?"
KJP: "I don't find that confusing."
Reporter: "I have John Lennon top of mind just about every day but I'm not looking around for him." pic.twitter.com/VUrXCmpcgl
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) September 28, 2022
