KJP Struggles to Answer Lemon’s Question on Biden’s Semi-Fascism Quip

On CNN’s Don Lemon Tonight on CNN, host Don Lemon asked White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre to explain what President Joe Biden meant when he accused Republicans of holding a political philosophy of “semi-fascism.” Since nobody in the country including, presumably, the President knows what that means, Lemon thought it would be wise to ask his spokesperson Jean-Pierre. Unfortunately for Lemon, it was clear she was struggling to define it as well. 

Lemon got right to the question at the beginning of the interview: “the President likened what he called extreme MAGA philosophy to semi-fascism. What exactly is semi-fascism, Karine?” 

Jean-Pierre went into a long monologue about what Biden has allegedly done for the country: 

Let me just first say this tonight, what you heard from this President, Don — and again, thank you for having me, because this is really important. The American people have a choice in front of them, and the President laid that out very clearly, very powerfully tonight. When you look at what Democrats are doing and what they are delivering and what they have done, Don, in less than two years, which is lowering costs on prescription drugs, lowering the energy costs, making sure that we have this historic legislation for to really deal with climate crisis, all of these things are important, standing up for women. 

Clearly frustrated with her filibustering and avoiding the question posed to her, Lemon interjected “with all due respect. We have a short amount of time. I want to get to all those things  But if you’ll answer my question, we can get to those things.” 

Lemon posed the question again “what exactly is semi-fascism?” 

Instead of answering, Jean-Pierre got snotty with Lemon shrieking “by having this back and forth we are actually taking away from the time.” 

Jean-Pierre falsely claimed Republicans are “attacking our democracy, they are taking away our freedom, and they are trying to put on the chopping blocks Medicare and Social Security.” 

“If you look at the Republican Party, it’s being done by this element, this MAGA element of the Republican Party, and that’s what we are trying to prevent. That’s what you heard from the President today,” she continued. 

Despite her lies and not actually defining what “semi-fascism” is, Lemon responded, “thank you for answering that question.” 

This segment was made possible by CarFax. Their information is linked so you can contact them. 

To read the transcript click “expand”: 

CNN’s Don Lemon Tonight
August 25, 2022
10:19:07 p.m. Eastern

DON LEMON: Let’s start with what the President said at a fundraiser tonight. Just before his rally. The President likened what he called extreme MAGA philosophy to semi-fascism. What exactly is semi-fascism, Karine? 

KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: Let me just first say this tonight, what you heard from this President, Don — and again, thank you for having me, because this is really important. The American people have a choice in front of them, and the President laid that out very clearly, very powerfully tonight. When you look at what Democrats are doing and what they are delivering and what they have done, Don, in less than two years, which is lowering costs on prescription drugs, lowering the energy costs, making sure that we have this historic legislation for to really deal with climate crisis, all of these things are important, standing up for women. 

LEMON: And they are, Karine. 

[crosstalk]

LEMON: I want to get to all those things, with all due respect. We have a short amount of time. I want to get to all those things  But if you’ll answer my question, we can get to those things. 

JEAN-PIERRE: I am, I am. 

LEMON: What exactly is semi-fascism? 

[crosstalk]

JEAN-PIERRE: Don, I was just about to get to your question. 

LEMON: Ok.

JEAN-PIERRE: I really was. But you brought me on the show for a reason, and I have to talk about what the President talked about tonight. 

LEMON: I understand. I just have limited time with you, I just want to make sure we get all the answers. 

JEAN-PIERRE: By having this back and forth we are actually taking away from the time, so here we go. So what we are seeing from Republicans and what we have seen from Republicans these past several years is that they are attacking our democracy, they are taking away our freedom, and they are trying to put on the chopping blocks Medicare and Social Security. 

That’s what we are seeing, and it’s being done. If you look at the Republican Party, it’s being done by this element, this MAGA element of the Republican Party, and that’s what we are trying to prevent. That’s what you heard from the President today, that choice, what we’re doing for Democrats. Because that’s why I said that to you. 

I start off because I wanted to show what we’re doing, and what we have done, and also make that contrast, because that’s what we’re seeing from Republicans, this MAGA element, and we’re going to continue to make that choice, make sure we’re making it very clear for the American people, and that’s what the President did tonight in Maryland, and he’s going to continue to do that across the country. 

LEMON: Thank you for answering that question.