Jen Psaki has edited her book to remove inaccurate claims about President Biden's behavior during a ceremony for fallen soldiers.
According to Daily Wire, the original version of the book included a claim that President Biden never checked his watch during a ceremony for soldiers killed during the 2021 withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. This claim was later proven false through media reports and photographic evidence.
Jen Psaki, former White House Press Secretary and current MSNBC host, has made significant changes to her new book, "Say More: Lessons from Work, the White House, and the World."
Psaki decided to remove 150 words from the book that misrepresented the event after receiving criticism. The revised version no longer mentions Biden looking at his watch. Instead, it states that Gold Star military families were upset because Biden talked about his deceased son, Beau Biden, during the ceremony.
Gold Star's parents publicly stated that Biden had checked his watch multiple times during the ceremony, which they found disrespectful.
Psaki initially denied these accusations despite photo evidence and media fact-checks confirming that Biden did check his watch. Additionally, the book incorrectly attributed a quote to The Washington Post that was actually from USA Today.
Psaki has announced that the details concerning the number of times Biden checked his watch will be removed from future reprints and the e-book. A press representative from Scribner, the book's publisher, confirmed that corrections will be made to the e-book and future printings. Several Gold Star families expressed their discontent with Biden's actions during the ceremony in a statement.
Shana Chappell, a Gold Star parent, expressed her frustration on Facebook:
I watched you disrespect us all 5 different times by checking your watch!!! What the f*** was so important that you had to keep looking at your watch????
Mark Schmitz, another Gold Star parent, testified before Congress, sharing his anger and disappointment in Biden's actions during the ceremony.
Psaki served as the White House press secretary from January 20, 2021, to May 13, 2022, and later joined MSNBC. House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul suggested that Psaki might be subpoenaed concerning her avoidance of an interview for an investigation into the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The editing of Psaki's book came after significant backlash and fact-checks contradicting her initial claims. The controversy over the book's content adds to the ongoing scrutiny and political debate regarding the handling of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Psaki's decision to edit her book underscores the sensitivity and public interest surrounding President Biden's actions during the ceremony.
Gold Star families have voiced their concerns and discontent, further fueling the debate over the accuracy and integrity of accounts related to the Afghanistan withdrawal. Psaki's book revisions aim to address these concerns and correct the misinformation initially presented.
Jen Psaki's decision to edit her book "Say More" reflects the backlash and factual inaccuracies surrounding her portrayal of President Biden's behavior during a ceremony for fallen soldiers. After media reports and photo evidence contradicted her claims, Psaki removed misleading content and corrected misattributed quotes. The controversy highlights the ongoing scrutiny of the withdrawal from Afghanistan and the actions of public officials. Psaki's revisions and the response from Gold Star families underscore the importance of accurate representation in public narratives.
