Did Hunter Pay His Way to Ireland? Jean-Pierre: 'There's No There There' (April 18, 2023)

President Joe Biden had just brought his son and sister to Ireland on Air Force One, and a reporter wanted to know who paid. “Listen, just to close the book on Ireland, since we just got back. It was a highly personal trip. There were a lot of cousins there. Did Valerie and Hunter — (laughter) — and Hunter Biden — they flew on Air Force One. Did they contribute? Did they pay for airfare, accommodations, ground transportation?” the reporter asked on April 18, 2023, according to the official White House transcript [1].

“Look, we took — we’ve — this is not the first time. Let’s be very, very clear. It is consistent with other presidents when they’ve had family travel with them abroad. This is nothing new,” Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre answered [1].

“And, of course, we followed every protocol that any other president or every other president has taken when they — when their family has traveled. And so, yes. All right. I’m going to go,” she said [1].

The video above shows the exchange at the end of the April 18, 2023, briefing. Quotes are from the official White House transcript and the other sources listed below [1][2][3].

”’Yes’ What?”

The reporter would not let it go. “‘Yes’ what?” [1]

“So we — we took every protocol that is necessary and needed when a family traveled. We did nothing different than past presidents. And so, yes, they paid — they paid for their way,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

“They paid for their share,” the reporter said. “Yeah. Like every other — this is — this is not unusual. This is not the first time that families have traveled with presidents. So, there’s — there’s — there’s nothing — there’s no ‘there there,’ as they would say. All right. Thank you,” Jean-Pierre said, and the briefing ended at 4:03 p.m. [1]

“Unanimously Con- — Confirmed”

Earlier, a reporter asked about Julie Su, Biden’s pick for Labor Secretary. “Julie Su’s confirmation hearing is set for this Thursday. Given how some Democrats have been talking about their reservations when it comes to her and her record, is the White House confident that she will have the votes needed to get her through?” [1]

“And that’s why Julie was unanimously con- — confirmed as a Deputy Secretary of Labor. Let’s not forget: She actually went through this process before. It was done by all Senate Democrats at that time,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

It was not unanimous. “The Senate has confirmed Julie Su as deputy labor secretary, after a 50-47 vote on July 13,” Safety+Health magazine reported in 2021. “Su’s support came from the Senate’s 48 Democrats and two independents.” [2]

“We do feel confident about Julie’s confirmation process,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

”MAGA Attacks on the Inflation Reduction Act”

The briefing came the day after Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s Wall Street speech on the debt. A reporter asked about Republicans wanting to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act in their debt-limit package [1].

“So let’s be clear what MAGA attacks on the Inflation Reduction Act would mean for American families,” Jean-Pierre said. “Increase the deficit in the name of special interests like Big Pharma and billionaires — because, as we know, the Inflation Reduction Act actually helps in reducing the deficit.” [1]

“And guess what? This is an unpo- — unpopular agenda that the Americans do not support,” she said [1].

“10 Billion Dol- — 10 Billion Tons”

A reporter Jean-Pierre called Steve asked about Biden’s tailpipe rule. “The first: Senator Manchin has a statement today in which he indicates he would support a resolution disapproval of the EPA’s emission standards that were announced last week when we were in Ireland. He says that they would increase reliance on Chinese-made batteries, make a more energy-secure and powerful China. Do you have a response to that?” [1]

Jean-Pierre said the rules would “save American drivers and truck companies an average of $12,000 over the lifetime of their vehicle, which is incredibly important. They — they’ll cut nearly 10 billion dol- — 10 billion tons of CO2 emissions.” [1]

“And they’ll put the United States on a path to outcompete China — you hear us talk about that often — for jobs and investments, building the future of transportation,” she said [1].

AM Radio in Electric Cars

A reporter raised a fight that mattered to talk radio listeners. “The seven last FEMA administrators have objected to and were — raised a serious safety concern about the idea that electric vehicles are not able to receive the stations that have been licensed by the federal government to operate on the — on the AM band,” the reporter said. “Last week, Sean Hannity suggested that this had something to do with trying to snuff out conservative voices.” [1]

“So, totally hear the questions. Look, while AM stations have — is a critical tool to get information to the American people, there — it’s not the only tool, and there are other — there are other ways of doing that,” Jean-Pierre answered [1].

“FEMA works with dozens of wireless service providers and commercial and public radio and TV stations to get key alerts out,” she said [1].

By the Numbers

50-47: the 2021 vote confirming Su as deputy secretary [2].
0: Republican votes for Su in that 2021 vote, per Safety+Health’s count of 48 Democrats and two independents [2].
10 months: how long Su’s Labor Secretary nomination stalled, per HR Dive [3].
4:03 p.m.: when the briefing ended, right after the Ireland answer [1].

What Happened Next

Su never got the votes. “Su’s nomination stalled in the Senate for 10 months, meeting opposition from Republican senators and business groups,” HR Dive reported in January 2024, when Biden renominated her [3].

“The Senate rejected Julie Su as Labor Secretary on a bipartisan basis last year because of her gross mismanagement and anti-worker agenda,” Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., said, according to HR Dive [3].

For McCarthy’s Wall Street speech the day before, see HYGO News’ page on April 17, 2023. For Biden’s union speech the next day, see the page on April 19, 2023.