The White House went to war with the mainstream media after reporters criticized President Joe Biden for delivering his address to the nation Thursday evening with two Marines standing guard behind him.
While accusing outlets of political bias against Donald Trump and the GOP, the White House said that Biden’s speech was not divisive and his use of Marines as a backdrop was not politicizing the military.
In fact, Biden’s team says the president carried out his ‘duty’ by defending democracy.
‘The presence of the marines at [Biden’s] speech was intended to demonstrate the deep and abiding respect the president has for these service members, to these ideals, and the unique role our independent military plays in defending our democracy,’ White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during her briefing Friday.
Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates pointed to several articles from outlets like CNN, CBS and Reuters that he claims are politically biased after reporters from those news sources spoke out against the show of force.
Reporters accused Joe Biden of politicizing the military by having two Marines stand guard behind him during his speech Thursday evening, which was largely seen as a political speech ahead of the 2022 midterms rather than a presidential address
Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates came to Biden’s defense, pointing to news articles he said are also ‘political’ because they cover the threat to American democracy – but there are not laws saying news outlets must stay apolitical
Biden delivered remarks from Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Thursday evening for the ‘battle for the soul of the nation’, a plea two months before the midterm elections for voters to keep Democrats and anti-MAGA Republicans in office.
But viewers were quick to point out that what was supposed to be a uniting speech, was actually quite divisive.
Many noted the red back lighting and obvious Marine presence gave Biden a ‘demagogic’ look reminiscent of ‘Nazi Germany’.
‘Whatever you think of this speech the military is supposed to be apolitical,’ CNN host Brianna Keiler posted to Twitter Thursday night. ‘Positioning Marines in uniform behind President Biden for a political speech flies in the face of that. It’s wrong when Democrats do it. It’s wrong when Republicans do it.’
Bates responded to the news anchor and military spouse with: ‘Except it’s not political. In the same way CNN isn’t political but has made the same warnings.’
Bates shot back at reporters who claimed the speech and use of Marines was political by linking to articles from their own outlets
One of the members of SEAL Team Six tweeted: ‘Imagine being one of these Marines’
He then linked to clips and articles from CNN ‘breaking down’ threats and events where protesters were ‘fighting for’ democracy.
Members of the U.S. Military are to remain apolitical, meaning they cannot be used to promote candidates or political ideas.
‘Imagine being one of these Marines,’ tweeted former Navy SEAL Robert J. O’Neill, who was part of SEAL Team Six.
Biden’s speech was seen as largely as a campaign speech as he rebuked Trump and the candidates he is supporting – actually using the former president’s name in his criticism.
‘Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans represented extremism that threatens the very foundations of our republic,’ Biden said during his speech.
While saying he doesn’t think every Republican is ‘extreme’ or a threat, he claimed that Trump supporters are the problem with the country.
‘There’s no question that the Republican party today is dominated, driven and intimidated by Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans,’ he said. ‘And that is a threat to this country.’
Ahead of the remarks Thursday evening, the White House said Biden would deliver an ‘optimistic, not a political speech.’
Regarding the use of two Marines to stand in the background of his remarks, CBS News’ Ed O’Keefe wrote: ‘Like or loathe what he said tonight, it should be noted: The president spoke tonight on the grounds of a national park, flanked by US Marines, and took direct, specific aim at his predecessor and members of the Republican Party.’
‘Another thing we don’t see everyday,’ he added.
Bates replied with, ‘No more political than this,’ and linked to three articles from O’Keefe’s outlet on the topic of threats to American democracy.
The White House appears to be arguing that because news outlets are political in their reporting, they also have a ‘duty’ to be political when it comes to defending their beliefs.
‘Many great journalists have reported as fact that the former President & his most loyal supporters in Congress are a threat to democracy. They tried to overthrow an election, including by force,’ Senior Advisor for Communications to the National Economic Council Jesse Lee tweeted – and Bates reposted.
Lee added: ‘The President bluntly described the same facts. It’s not ‘political,’ it’s his duty.’
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