Psaki Calls Abbott’s Bus Plan a “Publicity Stunt”; Abbott Says “We’re Taking the Border to Biden”; Pelosi Kissing Biden Wasn’t “Close Contact”

On 4/7/2022, Psaki dismissed Governor Abbott’s plan to bus migrants to Washington, D.C. as a “publicity stunt,” while Abbott said he was “taking the border to Biden” since the president refused to visit. DHS estimated up to 18,000 migrants per day could be apprehended if Title 42 was lifted. In a separate absurdity, Psaki claimed that Pelosi kissing Biden on camera did not constitute “close contact” under CDC guidelines because it didn’t last 15 minutes.

Abbott: “Taking the Border to Him”

Abbott announced the bus program with a direct challenge to Biden. “Joe Biden has refused to come to the border to see the chaos he has created by his open border policies,” Abbott said. “So we’re going to take the border to him by transporting the people that he is dropping off in local communities and sending them to Washington by plane or by bus.”

Abbott explained the logic. “As they move across the entire country, what better place for them to go than the steps of the United States Capitol? They’re going to see the wonderful Capitol, but also get closer to the people who are making these policies that are allowing people to come across the border illegally,” Abbott said.

When asked whether migrants would volunteer, Abbott confirmed. “You will make the offer, and it’s up to them to say yes or no to get on board that bus,” Abbott said. “This has been happening for weeks if not months now. It’s just a matter of relocating the drop-off point.”

Psaki: “A Publicity Stunt”

Psaki attempted to dismiss the bus plan. “I’m not aware of what authority the governor would be doing that under. I think it’s pretty clear this is a publicity stunt,” Psaki said. “His own office admits that a migrant would need to voluntarily be transported. He can’t compel them because enforcement of immigration laws lies with the federal government, not a state.”

Abbott’s team noted the irony. “The Biden administration has been transporting these people across the country. The same principle applies — they can’t be kidnapping people either. They have to get their permission,” an Abbott official said.

18,000 Per Day

Doocy pressed on the numbers. “When Title 42 expires next month, what is the plan for the 18,000 migrants a day that are going to cross?” Doocy asked.

“I don’t know where you’re basing your specific numbers,” Psaki began.

“18,000 — I’ve got it right here. DHS gave reporters an estimate that up to 18,000 could be apprehended each day if Title 42 were lifted,” Doocy said.

“Up to. And we’ll see what happens. Obviously we’re taking steps to convey that this is not the time to come,” Psaki said.

Pelosi’s Kiss: Not “Close Contact”

Doocy caught a revealing contradiction. “How do you guys say that President Biden was not a close contact with Speaker Pelosi when there is video of the Speaker kissing him?” Doocy asked.

“The way that it is defined is by the CDC — 15 minutes of contact within a set period of time and within six feet. It did not meet that bar,” Psaki said.

A reporter pressed further, noting Biden had been “face-to-face with many individuals right up in their mugs for extended periods of time” at the event, and not everyone had been tested in advance.

“If individuals are within six feet of him for 15 minutes or more, that’s considered a close contact. No one in there was — that I’m aware of,” Psaki said.

Student Loans vs. Title 42

A reporter caught a contradiction between extending the student loan pause — because pandemic recovery wasn’t complete — and lifting Title 42. “The President continued the pause on student loan payments and said it provides a continued lifeline as we recover. Why then is Title 42 going to be lifted? Have we recovered from the pandemic at the border?” the reporter asked.

“The decision about Title 42 is made by the CDC, a public health decision. It’s not immigration authority or policy,” Psaki said — the same distinction the administration used to avoid accountability for the border.

Key Takeaways

• Abbott announced buses to send migrants to D.C.: “Joe Biden refuses to come to the border, so we’re taking the border to him.”
• Psaki dismissed it as a “publicity stunt” and said the governor couldn’t compel anyone to ride; Abbott’s team noted Biden was transporting migrants too.
• DHS estimated up to 18,000 migrants per day if Title 42 was lifted; Psaki said “we’ll see what happens.”
• Psaki claimed Pelosi kissing Biden was not “close contact” because it didn’t meet the CDC’s 15-minute threshold.
• A reporter exposed the contradiction between extending student loan pauses for pandemic recovery while lifting Title 42 at the border.

Transcript Highlights

The following is transcribed from the video audio (unverified — AI-generated from audio).

• Joe Biden has refused to come to the border. So we’re going to take the border to him.
• I think it’s pretty clear this is a publicity stunt. He can’t compel them because enforcement lies with the federal government.
• 18,000 migrants a day. I’ve got it right here — DHS gave that estimate. Up to. We’ll see what happens.
• How was Pelosi kissing Biden not close contact? The CDC defines it as 15 minutes within six feet. It didn’t meet that bar.
• The pause on student loans is because of recovery. Why then is Title 42 being lifted? It’s a CDC decision.
• What better place for them to go than the steps of the United States Capitol?

Full transcript: 1315 words transcribed via Whisper AI.