White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre firmly dismissed a question regarding Vice President Kamala Harris’ alleged use of a “southern accent” during a recent public appearance. The matter came up during Jean-Pierre’s daily press briefing on Tuesday when Fox News reporter Peter Doocy asked about the vice president’s apparent change in dialect during a Labor Day rally in Detroit, which had gained attention over the weekend.
Doocy inquired, “Since when does the vice president have what sounds like a southern accent?” Jean-Pierre, visibly irritated by the question, responded, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
JUST IN: Karine Jean-Pierre gets flustered after Fox News’ Peter Doocy asks about Kamala Harris’ new southern accent.
Doocy: “Since when does the vice president have what sounds like a Southern accent?”
KJP: “I have no idea what you’re talking about… I’m not even going to… pic.twitter.com/dAAFcjdyOh
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 3, 2024
Despite her evident frustration, Doocy persisted, asking whether Americans would consider the question important. Jean-Pierre, clearly exasperated, retorted, “You know what they care about? They care about the economy, lowering costs, health care. That’s what they want to hear… democracy and freedom. I’m not going to entertain such a ridiculous question.”
Undeterred, Doocy further asked if Harris ever uses the accent in White House meetings. Jean-Pierre, unwilling to continue the conversation, bluntly replied, “We’re moving on. We’re so moving on.”
The controversy centers on Harris’ Labor Day speech in Detroit, where she addressed a crowd of union workers, urging them to appreciate the contributions of labor unions to workers’ rights. Her perceived shift in speech drew attention online, with some conservative commentators criticizing it as “cringe and fake.”