Jen Psaki ‘Happy’ to Challenge Kayleigh McEnany On Fox News
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said she’d be happy to confront Kayleigh McEnany on Fox News in the form of an interview.
The news came after Fox News revealed that McEnany had accepted a position as a contributor.
“A little bit of news on the media front. Your predecessor, Kayleigh McEnany, has just signed on as a Fox News contributor,” a reporter told Psaki during the Tuesday press briefing. “I’m wondering if you have any good wishes for her, advice, and if she does have a show, if you’d be willing to go on it.”
“Sure,” Psaki responded. “I’ve done Fox News Sunday twice now. I’m happy to go on a range of shows.”
“I will say that I knew Kayleigh a little bit, not well,” Psaki continued. “I met her when we were both CNN contributors and we did a few shows — I’m not sure how many — together.”
Psaki emphasized that while she and her predecessor disagreed politically, they were on a polite speaking basis.
“Like many Americans, we disagree on political issues, but we talked about our families, our spouses, sports, all sorts of things in the green room, and I certainly wish her the best in her future endeavors,” she added.
Before leaving her post, McEnany publicly wished Psaki good luck.
“Sending my prayers as you begin your service to the American people!” McEnany tweeted alongside photos of greeting cards.
Wishing all the best to President @JoeBiden’s incoming press & communications team.
Left these notes for @PressSec, @K_JeanPierre, @SymoneDSanders & @KBeds — sending my prayers as you begin your service to the American People! pic.twitter.com/CFsVGSRDiC
— Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) January 20, 2021
.@PressSec: “Like many Americans, we disagree on political issues, but we talked about our families, our spouses, sports, all sorts of things in the green room.”
Well said! ⬇️
pic.twitter.com/763k2GBe3j— Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) March 2, 2021
According to the Daily Caller, McEnany’s treatment from the press is contrasted by the level of hostility in the questions asked.
“It’s different in a big way,” McEnany said, according to The Daily Caller. “I’ll never forget watching one of the early press briefing and [Psaki] was asked about the Antifa riots and I believe said she hadn’t spoken to the president about that and they let her move on.”
“Whereas, if I would have been asked that about violence on the other side of the aisle, that wouldn’t have been an answer that flew. Nor should it have. And so I think just the standards are different,” McEnany explained.
McEnany was known for her sharp and well-prepared responses against an adversarial press during White House briefings.
In December, McEnany reflected on her time as Press Secretary, focusing on the treatment of conservatives.
“No matter what Republican administration it is, Republican women are just treated differently by virtue of their party ideology,” McEnany said. “It’s unfortunate, but if you are a Republican, male or female, you will be attacked particularly in the Trump administration because the media always is keen to demonstrate their innately liberal bias.”
