White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has reaffirmed that President Joe Biden meant what he said in his remarks about "MAGA Republicans" being supportive of "semi-fascism."
Biden made the remarks while speaking at a fundraiser at a home in Bethesda, Maryland on Thursday.
"What we’re seeing now is either the beginning or the death knell of an extreme MAGA philosophy," Biden said. "It’s not just Trump, it’s the entire philosophy that underpins the — I’m going to say something, it’s like semi-fascism."
The president claimed that he respects "conservative Republicans," but not "MAGA Republicans.
"There are not many real Republicans anymore. By the way, your sitting Governor [Larry Hogan], he's a Republican you can deal with," Biden said. "I respect conservative Republicans. I don't respect these MAGA Republicans."
During Friday's White House press briefing, Jean-Pierre was asked if Biden's comments will be taken seriously or become something like the "basket of deplorables," which turned into a meme. Jean-Pierre: "What MAGA Republicans have done [is] the definition of facism... That is what that is." pic.twitter.com/4WMXk9Ga36
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) August 26, 2022
The press secretary was also asked if Biden respects the Americans who voted for Trump in 2020.
"The president yesterday suggested that Republican ideology is veering towards 'semi-fascism...' More than 70 million Americans voted for Trump in 2020. Does he not respect those voters?" the reporter asked. Reporter: "The president yesterday suggested that Republican ideology is veering towards 'semi-fascism...' More than 70 million Americans voted for Trump in 2020. Does he not respect those voters?"
Jean-Pierre: "I think he was pretty clear and he was very powerful last night." pic.twitter.com/srvEbzBIPX
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"I think he was pretty clear and he was very powerful last night. Look, what the president said last night was that when it comes to MAGA Republicans, when it comes to the extreme ultra wing of Republicans, they are attacking democracy. Right? They are attacking, taking away rights and freedoms," Jean-Pierre said.
Jean-Pierre asserted that the president "called it what it is" and claimed that historians will agree with him.
"They are using threats of violence. They are taking away voting rights. And he called it what it is. That's what he did. He called it what it is and what many, would argue, historians would agree with us on," she added.
Timcast has reached out to the White House press office to ask how "MAGA Republicans" can be considered an "extreme ultra wing" of the party when the majority of GOP voters did vote for the former president in 2020. We will update this story if a response is provided.
