During the press briefing at the White House on Tuesday, Fox News Channel correspondent Peter Doocy pressed National Security Council member John Kirby on the ongoing border crisis. This time, the two went head to head over a recent Supreme Court ruling that would allow Customs and Border Patrol to cut razor wire along the Rio Grande border between the United States and Mexico.
Doocy didn’t hold back, asking Kirby directly, “Why are you guys making it easier for people to enter the country illegally?” Kirby struggled to respond, saying “I don’t believe we are. Why do you think we are?”
But Doocy was relentless, pointing out that the White House had sued to cut razor wire that had been put in place by Texas officials. Kirby finally dropped the act, admitting that the goal was to make it easier for Border Patrol agents to do their jobs.
What sort of idiot removes a barrier that’s clearly working? I digress…
But Doocy persisted, asking if the White House believed they knew better than the Border Patrol union, whose president had said the Supreme Court decision would encourage more illegal immigration. Kirby stuck to the response that the razor wire was hindering Border Patrol’s job and that the solution was to provide more funding for agents.
Doocy then posed a simple question, “Does razor wire work?” Kirby’s response was focused on the Border Patrol’s need for access, claiming that removing the razor wire would allow them to better process those trying to enter the country. But Doocy remained unconvinced, referencing officials who had credited the razor wire for keeping even more migrants from crossing.
Meanwhile, The Independent’s Andrew Feinberg approached the issue from the left, questioning why President Biden hadn’t federalized the Texas National Guard and ordered them to stop putting up razor wire instead of relying on the court system for a resolution. Kirby skirted around the question, emphasizing the importance of respecting the chain of command.
Just to give you an idea of how ole Kirby’s night went: Another journalist, Anita Powell of Voice of America, took a completely different angle, asking about the impact of U.S. ammunition being sent to Israel and Ukraine on climate change. This bizarre question was met with a surprised response from Kirby, who redirected the conversation back to the border.
Imagine that…
Throughout the press briefing, Doocy and Kirby’s exchange highlighted the ongoing controversy and chaos at the southern border. Doocy called attention to the record-breaking number of illegal border crossings in recent weeks and pressed for a clear plan from the White House to address the issue.
While Kirby affirmed the Biden administration’s commitment to immigration reform, it was clear that concrete solutions have yet to be implemented—And they never will at this rate!
The heated discussion between Doocy and Kirby only underlined the urgency and complexity of the border crisis. With competing perspectives on how to address the issue, it remains to be seen what actions will actually be taken to secure the border and manage the influx of migrants.