KJP: “Don’t Need Lectures From Ted Cruz” on Border — Cites 2018 Visit Under Trump; Kerry Says “Nobody Should Be Fooled” on Climate

On 9/6/2022, KJP dismissed Senator Cruz’s invitation for her to visit the border by citing a 2018 trip — four years earlier under the Trump administration — and said she “certainly don’t need lectures or invitations from Republicans about the border.” Climate envoy John Kerry warned “nobody should be fooled” into thinking the Ukraine energy crisis meant the climate agenda could be set aside. KJP also deflected questions about multiple vacant Inspector General positions and confirmed Obama and Michelle Obama would return for their portrait unveiling — a ceremony that “didn’t happen under the last administration."

"Don’t Need Lectures From Ted Cruz”

A reporter relayed Cruz’s invitation. “Senator Ted Cruz has publicly suggested that you come down to see for yourself whether migrants are actually crossing the border by foot. Is that something you would take him up on?”

“Who?” KJP asked.

“Senator Ted Cruz of Texas,” the reporter said.

“I’ve been to the border. I went in 2018. I stood outside facilities where the Trump administration was separating families,” KJP said. “One thing I will say is I certainly don’t need lectures or invitations from Republicans about the border or border policies. And I certainly won’t take advice on border from anyone.”

The response was notable for several reasons. KJP’s 2018 visit was four years prior, under a completely different administration and different border conditions. Encounters had surged from roughly 400,000 annually under Trump to over 2 million under Biden. And her refusal to accept “advice on border from anyone” seemed to include not just Republicans but any external input.

Kerry: “Nobody Should Be Fooled”

Climate envoy John Kerry used the energy crisis to reinforce the climate agenda. “Replenishing some of what we needed to keep Europe and its economy humming will be necessary in the short term of the transition,” Kerry said.

“But nobody should be fooled into thinking, ‘Oh wow, because of Ukraine, we can just forget about going ahead and dealing with the climate crisis.’ No, no, no — you can’t forget about that crisis. It has to be dealt with simultaneously,” Kerry continued.

He acknowledged the scale of the infrastructure challenge. “We have to basically double the size of the nation’s electric grid with clean energy,” Kerry said. “The grid’s got to be ready.”

Inspector General Vacancies

A reporter pressed on multiple vacant Inspector General positions across the government. “The State Department hasn’t had a permanent IG since before President Biden took office. What is the President doing to find permanent IGs?” the reporter asked.

“It’s a great question. I don’t have anything here. I would refer you to the State Department,” KJP said.

“These are the President’s nominees. The State Department doesn’t make that decision,” the reporter noted.

“You also asked me what we’re doing — so that’s why I said you should go to the State Department to figure out what’s going on,” KJP said — deflecting a presidential responsibility to a cabinet agency.

Obama Portrait Ceremony

KJP confirmed the Obamas would return for their portrait unveiling. A reporter asked: “Would President Biden hold the same ceremony for President Trump should his portraits be done before his first term?”

“We defer those questions to the White House Historical Association,” KJP said.

Biden’s Civil Rights Story

Biden again referenced his civil rights involvement. “I got elected — I got very engaged in the civil rights movement. As a kid, I worked a lot in the movement,” Biden said. “The Democratic Party in Delaware was a Southern Democratic Party then. We were more a Southern state than a Northeastern state.”

Russia “Weaponizing Energy”

KJP addressed Russia’s shutdown of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline. “What we see Russia doing, and we’ve been very clear about this, is weaponizing energy,” KJP said. The shutdown added to European energy fears heading into winter.

Key Takeaways

KJP dismissed Cruz’s border invitation by citing a 2018 visit under Trump — four years earlier under radically different conditions — and said she “won’t take advice on border from anyone.”
Kerry warned “nobody should be fooled” into thinking Ukraine meant the climate agenda could pause, saying the electric grid needed to “basically double.”
Multiple Inspector General positions remained vacant; KJP had no information and deflected to the State Department despite nominations being a presidential function.
The Obamas would return for portrait unveiling — a ceremony that “didn’t happen under the last administration.”
Russia was “weaponizing energy” by shutting down Nord Stream 1 heading into European winter.

Transcript Highlights

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

Senator Ted Cruz suggested you come see for yourself. Who? I’ve been to the border — in 2018. I certainly don’t need lectures from Republicans.
Nobody should be fooled into thinking because of Ukraine we can forget about the climate crisis. No, no, no.
The State Department hasn’t had a permanent IG since before Biden took office. I’d refer you to the State Department. These are the President’s nominees.
Would Biden hold the same portrait ceremony for Trump? We defer to the White House Historical Association.
We have to basically double the size of the nation’s electric grid with clean energy.
Russia is weaponizing energy — the shutdown of Nord Stream 1.

Full transcript: 757 words transcribed via Whisper AI.