KJP: Biden Walking Under the Umbrella; VP Harris: “Rev., I Love You. Ha Ha Ha Ha.”

On April 14, 2023, a compilation of events captured White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre providing running commentary on President Biden’s movements during his Ireland trip, Vice President Kamala Harris delivering fiery remarks at the National Action Network conference, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo admitting she did not know what her job entailed when she took it, and EPA Administrator Michael Regan addressing concerns about Chinese-made electric vehicle batteries. The day highlighted the administration’s messaging across multiple fronts and produced several viral moments.

KJP Narrates Biden Walking in Ireland

During President Biden’s visit to the Knock Shrine in County Mayo, Ireland, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was caught on a hot mic providing a play-by-play of Biden’s movements. The narration, which sounded like commentary on a remarkable achievement, drew widespread mockery.

As captured in the transcript, Jean-Pierre could be heard saying: “He’s walking under the umbrella. Can I share a picture? I want to know. That’s why I have my umbrella. Come on, insist. He’s walking right there. Thank you. I’m going to walk again.”

The pride and excitement in Jean-Pierre’s voice as she described the 80-year-old President simply walking drew attention because the narration treated routine ambulatory movement as though it were noteworthy. Critics suggested the commentary inadvertently highlighted concerns about Biden’s physical capabilities by treating his walking as an event worth narrating.

VP Harris Greets Al Sharpton at NAN Conference

Vice President Kamala Harris delivered remarks at the 2023 National Action Network conference on the same day. Her entrance included an effusive greeting to Reverend Al Sharpton, the organization’s founder: “Rev, I love you. And I thank you on behalf of all of us, everyone for all that you do and all that you are.”

Harris then launched into a speech that touched on voting rights, the Department of Justice, and Republican policy agendas. She opened with a call to action: “For everyone watching, please be clear. The voices of students, parents, teachers, and preachers will not be silenced and these voices must be heard. These voices must be heard. They will not be discouraged or deterred even if using a bullhorn becomes necessary.”

The remark about voices “not being silenced” and using “a bullhorn” if necessary came from an administration that had faced criticism for the Department of Justice’s treatment of parents who protested at school board meetings, which critics said contradicted Harris’s stated support for parental voices.

Harris on DOJ and Republican “Freedom Blueprint”

Harris credited the administration’s election victory with transforming the Department of Justice: “Because you voted in 2020 and we now have a Department of Justice that actually believes in the pursuit of justice.”

The statement was notable for its implicit criticism of the DOJ under the previous administration and its suggestion that the Department of Justice had not believed in “the pursuit of justice” prior to the Biden administration. Republicans argued the comment reflected a politicization of the DOJ.

Harris then took aim at Republican policy proposals, specifically targeting their use of the word “freedom” in branding their agenda: “These so-called leaders dare to tell us they are fighting for our freedoms. Don’t you find that interesting? Some have gone so far as to name and brand their agenda the quote, Freedom Blueprint. Don’t fall for the okey-doke. Don’t fall for the okey-doke.”

The repeated phrase “don’t fall for the okey-doke” became one of the more discussed moments of the speech, with supporters viewing it as effective rhetorical pushback and critics seeing it as unserious messaging from a vice president.

Commerce Secretary Did Not Know What Her Job Was

The video included a clip of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo making a surprisingly candid admission about her early days in the role. Raimondo told an audience: “When the president first gave me this job as Commerce Secretary, I’ll be very honest with you, I was like, what does a Commerce Secretary do? I wasn’t sure.”

She continued: “It turns out you do a lot. And it’s very varied. I manage the National Weather Service. So yeah, right. See if you want to know what the weather is, give me a call. The forecast.”

The admission that a Cabinet secretary did not understand the duties of the position when she accepted it drew criticism from those who expected senior government officials to have a clear understanding of their responsibilities before taking office. Raimondo attempted to turn the confession into a lighthearted moment, but the clip went viral as an example of perceived unpreparedness within the Biden administration.

EPA Administrator on Chinese EV Batteries

EPA Administrator Michael Regan faced pointed questions about the contradiction between the administration’s climate goals and its stated aim of reducing reliance on China. A reporter asked: “As I’m sure you know, most EV batteries right now are produced in China. So how do you balance the administration’s climate goals while also trying to achieve its goal of reducing reliance on China?”

Regan responded: “That’s a great question. And so we look at it in twofold. We have to walk and chew gum at the same time. This proposal doesn’t kick in until model year 2027. So we’ve got some years to ramp up. We hope that we can take advantage of that runway.”

The “walk and chew gum at the same time” answer was seen by critics as dismissive of a genuine policy tension. The fact that most EV batteries were produced in China meant that aggressive electric vehicle mandates could potentially increase American dependence on Chinese supply chains, even as the administration sought to decouple from Beijing on strategic industries.

New Mandates on Heavy-Duty Trucks

Regan also announced new proposed EPA standards targeting heavy-duty vehicles as part of the administration’s Clean Trucks Plan. As described in the transcript: “The second set of proposed standards would apply to heavy-duty vocational vehicles, such as delivery trucks, dump trucks, public utility trucks, transit, school buses, and more.”

Regan framed the standards as using “performance-based technology standards that enable manufacturers to achieve compliance efficiently based on the composition of their fleet.” The proposal complemented earlier heavy-duty nitrogen oxide standards established the previous December.

The new truck mandates were characterized by critics as “Green New Deal-type mandates” that would increase costs for the trucking industry and ultimately raise prices for consumers, while supporters argued they were necessary to reduce emissions from one of the largest sources of transportation pollution.

Additional Context

April 14, 2023, captured the Biden administration operating on multiple fronts simultaneously. Biden was wrapping up his four-day Ireland trip, which had been marked by multiple gaffes and teleprompter struggles. Harris was working the domestic political circuit at the NAN conference, rallying a key constituency ahead of the 2024 election cycle. Meanwhile, Cabinet members were rolling out major regulatory proposals on electric vehicles and heavy-duty trucks that would reshape the American automotive and transportation industries.

The hot mic moment of Jean-Pierre narrating Biden’s walking and Raimondo’s admission about not knowing her job duties contributed to a narrative of an administration where basic competence was sometimes in question, even as it pursued ambitious policy agendas on climate and industrial policy.

Key Takeaways

• Karine Jean-Pierre was caught on a hot mic narrating Biden walking at a shrine in Ireland with apparent pride: “He’s walking under the umbrella. He’s walking right there,” treating routine movement as a notable event.
• VP Harris greeted Al Sharpton with “Rev, I love you” at the NAN conference and warned the audience about Republican policies: “Don’t fall for the okey-doke.”
• Harris credited the 2020 election with creating a DOJ that “actually believes in the pursuit of justice,” implying the previous administration’s DOJ did not.
• Commerce Secretary Raimondo admitted she did not know what a Commerce Secretary does when she accepted the job: “I was like, what does a Commerce Secretary do? I wasn’t sure.”
• EPA Administrator Regan dismissed concerns about Chinese dominance in EV battery production by saying the administration needed to “walk and chew gum at the same time” while announcing new heavy-duty truck emissions mandates.