An April Fools' joke from White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre appeared to fall flat with the press corps Monday.
“So President Biden is scheduled to announce he is revoking the Hatch Act," Jean-Pierre said as she started her press conference. "So as a gift to all of you, so now I can actually take all your questions about 2024!”
The joke was met with groans and a few titters out of courtesy, but it is fair to say it did not land particularly well.
"No? I thought you would love that? All right. OK. April Fools, April Fools, April Fools, it is April 1st."
Enacted in 1939, The Hatch Act is a federal law in the United States that aims to prevent federal employees from engaging in certain political activities to ensure they remain impartial and nonpartisan while carrying out their duties.
This includes activities such as fundraising for partisan political candidates or parties, campaigning for or against partisan political candidates, and using one's official authority or position to influence the outcome of an election. As a result of The Hatch Act, Jean-Pierre is unable to talk about Biden's 2024 presidential campaign.
Such floundering is, of course, typical of Jean-Pierre, who is well known for her incompetence and less-than-mediocre ability behind the podium. Many have put this down to the likelihood that she was a diversity hire, as the Biden administration prioritized putting a black lesbian above whether she was actually up to the job.
During the press conference, Jean-Pierre was asked about Joe Biden's decision to proclaim Sunday—which was Easter Day this year—a "Transgender Day of Visibility," a decision which caused widespread anger toward the supposedly "devout Catholic" president.
"Every year, for the past several years, on March 31st, Transgender Day of Visibility is marked. And as we know — for folks who understand the calendar and how it works, Easter falls on different Sundays every year," she responded. "And this year, it happened to coincide with Transgender Visibility Day. And so, that is the simple fact. That is what has happened. That is where we are."
More KJP:
Join the conversation as a VIP Member