Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki has conceded to inaccuracies in her book's portrayal of President Biden's actions during a 2021 ceremony honoring fallen soldiers, as Gold Star families and media accounts contradict her initial claims.
Jen Psaki, the former White House press secretary under President Biden and current MSNBC host, has acknowledged the need to amend her recently released book, "Say More: Lessons from Work, the White House, and the World," following criticism over her account of the president's behavior during a solemn ceremony for fallen American service members in 2021.
Psaki initially asserted in her book that Biden "never looked at his watch during the ceremony." However, her version was challenged by photographs and firsthand accounts from Gold Star families who witnessed Biden checking his watch multiple times.
In response to the backlash, Psaki stated that she will revise future reprints and the eBook version of the book to remove the specific details about the number of times Biden looked at his watch. She also acknowledged that her reliance on a Washington Post passage to support her account was incorrect, as the sentences she cited actually originated from USA Today.
USA Today had initially issued a "fact check" claiming that Biden checked his watch only after the ceremony was over. However, the publication later issued a correction, acknowledging that Biden checked his watch multiple times, including during the ceremony itself.
Psaki's book aimed to provide insights from her experiences working for Biden and navigating challenging situations. However, the watch-checking incident has overshadowed some of the book's intended messages.
Critics on social media, particularly conservative commentators, have accused Psaki of minimizing the significance of the incident and misrepresenting the facts to protect Biden's image. Psaki has defended her record as White House press secretary, but her handling of the watch-checking controversy has raised questions about her credibility and objectivity.
Furthermore, Psaki's initial attempt to disparage those who criticized Biden's behavior has drawn scrutiny. She claimed that Biden's critics had misrepresented the facts to make him appear insensitive. However, Gold Star families and media outlets have consistently maintained that they witnessed Biden checking his watch multiple times during the dignified transfer ceremony.
The controversy surrounding Psaki's book highlights the importance of accuracy and transparency in recounting events, especially when dealing with sensitive topics that involve the sacrifices of fallen soldiers. Psaki's willingness to acknowledge her errors and correct her account is a step in the right direction, but it also underscores the need for greater care in presenting historical events.
As a former White House press secretary, Psaki held a position of significant influence. Her account of events during the Biden administration will inevitably be scrutinized, and any inaccuracies or embellishments will undermine her credibility and the effectiveness of her future endeavors.
