The White House on Tyre Nichols: 'He Put Out a Statement Yesterday' (January 27, 2023)

On January 27, 2023, Memphis officials were preparing to release video of the police beating of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man who was stopped by officers on January 7 and died three days later. The day before, five former Memphis officers had been charged with second-degree murder and other crimes [3][4]. At the White House that afternoon, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre opened her briefing with the case, and a reporter asked why President Biden was not addressing the country himself. This video shows that exchange. All quotes from the briefing are from the official transcript published by the American Presidency Project [1].

Key Moments

”Calling for protests to remain peaceful”

“I want to start by saying a word about the death of Tyre Nichols,” Jean-Pierre began. “Last night, the President extended condolences to the family of Tyre Nichols and to the entire Memphis community, and he addressed the pain this is causing across America, as, once again, we grapple with the fact that fatal encounters with law enforcement are disparately impacting brown and Black people. As the Department of Justice conducts a full investigation and state authorities continue their work, the President has joined Tyre’s family in calling for protests to remain peaceful.” She added that Biden had called on Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.

”Why doesn’t he want to speak directly to the American people?”

Later, a reporter pointed out that the White House had said it was important for the president to speak directly to the public about infrastructure, and asked: “Why doesn’t he want to speak directly to the American people now that some big cities are bracing potentially this weekend for riots?” Jean-Pierre answered: “So, he put out a statement yesterday. And I think when a statement comes from the President of the United States, it has a powerful impact. And he was very clear in that statement. He offered his condolences to the family of Ty- — Tyre Nichols. He also joined the family in calling for peaceful protests.” She said the White House had made similar calls after the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision and on Election Day, and concluded: “I think the President’s words really matter. They have weight."

"Don’t be too nice”

Another reporter noted that Biden’s predecessor had told police officers in 2017 “don’t be too nice” and asked whether Biden planned to speak to police groups about such behavior. Jean-Pierre said the president “has been very clear on the importance of having true reform” and pointed to the executive action he had taken on policing when Congress did not pass legislation.

Background: What Happened to Tyre Nichols

Nichols was pulled over in Memphis on January 7, 2023, for what police said was reckless driving, and died on January 10. Within 20 days of his death, the five officers involved had been fired and charged. They belonged to a street crimes team called SCORPION, which the Memphis Police Department launched in 2021 and said it would permanently disband the day after the video’s release [3][4]. The four videos, from police body cameras and street surveillance cameras, were posted shortly before 7 p.m. Eastern time on January 27 and showed officers kicking and punching Nichols [3].

Fact Check

“He put out a statement yesterday.” Accurate. Jean-Pierre’s opening remarks describe the statement the president issued the night before, extending condolences and calling for peaceful protest [1]. Biden issued a second statement that evening, after the video’s release (see below) [2].
“Some big cities are bracing potentially this weekend for riots.” The protests that followed the video’s release were mostly peaceful, according to NPR [5].

What Happened Next

A second statement: After the footage was released, Biden said: “Like so many, I was outraged and deeply pained to see the horrific video of the beating that resulted in Tyre Nichols’ death.” He added: “Violence is never acceptable; it is illegal and destructive. I join Mr. Nichols’ family in calling for peaceful protest” [2].
The federal trial: In October 2024, a federal jury acquitted three of the former officers, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith, of the most serious charges, that their actions led to Nichols’ death, but convicted them of obstruction of justice and witness tampering; Haley was also convicted of using excessive force. Two other officers, Emmitt Martin and Desmond Mills Jr., had pleaded guilty [6].
The state trial: On May 7, 2025, a state jury acquitted Bean, Haley and Smith of all state charges, including second-degree murder [7].
A new federal trial: In August 2025, a federal judge ordered a new trial for the three after defense lawyers argued that the judge who presided over their trial had been biased, believing that at least one of the men was in a gang [8].