In a stunning moment during a press briefing on Wednesday, Fox News reporter Steven Nelson asked retired Admiral John Kirby about the Biden family’s alleged corruption.
Kirby previously served as the Pentagon’s spokesperson and is currently Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council. He was clearly blindsided by the question from New York Post reporter Steven Nelson — who referenced a recent Harvard-Harris Poll indicating that over half of all Americans (53%) and 25% of Democrats believe that President Biden “was involved with his son in an illegal influence peddling scheme” while he was vice president.
“There have been many developments in investigations into the First Family’s international business dealings recently,” Nelson began.
“Amid all this, there was a Harvard-Harris poll that found that 53% of the public, including a fourth of Democrats believe, quote, ‘Joe Biden was involved with his son in an illegal influence peddling scheme,’” Nelson continued. “There’s of course evidence the president interacted with his relatives’ associates from China, Mexico, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Ukraine — so what do you say to the majority of Americans who believe that the president is himself corrupt?”
Kirby was unable to answer Nelson’s question directly.Another White House spokesperson next to the podium could be heard whispering in disbelief, “Jesus …”
“The president — the president — the president has spoken to this,” Kirby appeared to stumble through his response after nearly ten seconds had elapsed, repeating once again, “The president has spoken to this, there’s nothing to these claims.”
Nelson pressed Kirby, asking him if the White House was “concerned about the optics” of Hunter Biden’s business dealings.
Kirby again refused to answer Nelson’s question directly. Instead, he said that the White House was “not going to comment on Hunter Biden’s personal life.” However, Nelson pointed out that Hunter Biden’s business dealings were not a matter of his personal life, but rather a matter of national security.
Kirby was unable to respond to Nelson’s point. He simply stood there, speechless.
Q: “What do you say to the majority of Americans who believe that the President himself is corrupt?”
John Kirby: “Wow…”
Karine Jean-Pierre: “Jesus”
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) May 31, 2023
