During CNN's “State of the Union” on Sunday, a group of experts debated President Biden's choice to use the word “illegal” in his speech to Congress last week.
After receiving a pin honoring 22-year-old Laken Riley from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), Biden addressed the issue of her death, reportedly caused by a Venezuelan migrant who entered the country unlawfully in 2022. heckled him
In his speech, Biden remembered Laken Riley, who was killed by an undocumented individual, remarking, “But how many thousands of people are being killed by legals?
There were differing opinions among CNN pundits regarding Biden's use of the term “illegal” and his subsequent retraction of the statement. remarks.
Republican strategist Scott Jennings commented on CNN’s “State of the Union,” expressing concern about Biden's apology for calling Laken Riley's murder illegal, emphasizing that he initially had it right in his speech. Jennings mentioned the parody of Sen. Katie Britt’s (R-Ala.) rebuttal to Biden’s address on “Saturday Night Live.” Co-host Jake Tapper pointed out that Biden had “corrected himself,” to which former White House communications director Kate Bedingfield responded, criticizing Jennings’ remarks as “ludicrous framing.”
Bedingfield highlighted the importance of language to Biden's efforts to build a diverse coalition for his reelection, contrasting it with Donald Trump's divisive language.
When Bedingfield suggested that migrants contribute to the U.S. economy, Jennings interrupted, questioning their impact due to criminals. Bedingfield dismissed Jennings’ comments as “disingenuous.”
She clarified that Biden was not apologizing to a criminal, and had simply bested Marjorie Taylor Greene's attempt to trap him on the issue during the State of the Union.
During CNN's “State of the Union,” a panel discussed Biden's use of the term 'illegal' in his recent address to Congress. This was in response to remarks made by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who heckled him over the death of 22-year-old Laken Riley, killed by an immigrant who entered the country unlawfully.
“He was not apologizing to a murderer. He stood up at the State of the Union and said this is horrible, it is horrific what happened. And he frankly bested Marjorie Taylor Greene in a very childish effort to try to get to try to trap Biden on the issue,” Bedingfield said.
