White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre responded swiftly to Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy’s questions regarding the Vice President Kamala Harris’ alleged use of a Southern accent during recent speeches. Jean-Pierre had dismissed a similar question from Doocy as “insane” the previous day.
On Tuesday, September 3, Doocy posed a question to Jean-Pierre concerning Harris’ speaking style, implying that the Vice President had adopted a Southern accent during campaign events. Jean-Pierre promptly dismissed the question, declaring, “I’m not even going to entertain some question about… it’s just, hearing it sounds so ridiculous.”
Jean-Pierre stressed that Americans are primarily concerned with significant issues such as the economy, healthcare, and cost reduction, rather than the subtle details of the Vice President’s accent.
The next day, the subject arose again when Doocy proposed a new question to Jean-Pierre. He asked, “President Biden’s approval rating is soaring, it’s up 13 percent all the way to 48 percent—does it bother the president that people are so pleased that he’s retiring?”
In a sharp rejoinder, Jean-Pierre countered Doocy by asking, “Am I hearing a little twang in your voice, Peter?” This quick-witted response drew laughter from others in the briefing room. Doocy, taken by surprise, responded, “I know better, I know better.”
This interaction underscored the ongoing friction between the White House and some media entities, notably Fox News, which is known for its critical coverage of the Biden administration.
The controversy over Harris’ accent started after her Labor Day visit to Detroit, Michigan. Some conservative commentators and social media users claimed they noticed a change in her speech pattern, describing it as “cringe and fake.” The Trump campaign tried to highlight these alleged differences by showing side-by-side clips of Harris speaking at rallies in Detroit, Michigan and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
However, many supporters of the Vice President argued that the changes in her speech could be attributed to code-switching, a common practice among Black individuals and other minority groups. Code-switching involves adjusting one’s language and expression based on the environment and audience.
This is not the first occasion where Harris has been scrutinized over her speaking style. Harris has previously been accused of changing her accent in different situations, like adopting a perceived Southern accent at a rally in Atlanta, Georgia, or even using what some interpreted as a “French accent” while visiting a COVID-19 lab in France.
Jean-Pierre’s approach to the situation exhibits the White House’s strategy in handling questions they view as nonessential or distracting. By refusing to address the initial question and subsequently redirecting the focus towards the reporter, the press secretary effectively diverted attention away from the accent controversy.
As the 2024 presidential campaign season approaches, it’s expected that scrutiny of the President and Vice President will increase. The Biden administration seems prepared to address what they view as trivial criticisms while highlighting their policy successes and improved approval ratings.
