Internet aghast as WH says Biden didn't apologize for calling Laken Riley's alleged killer an 'illegal'

WASHINGTON, DC: In the wake of the furor ignited by President Joe Biden's use of the term "illegal" to describe the migrant accused of killing Laken Riley, the White House has pushed back against claims of an apology.

The controversy erupted just days after the President's State of the Union address, during which he used the controversial term.

Joe Biden 'regrets' using the term illegal for Laken Riley's alleged killer

Biden, 81, faced significant backlash from fellow Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, for his use of the term "illegal" when referring to Jose Antonio Ibarra, the accused in Riley's tragic death.

However, in a subsequent interview aired on MSNBC, Biden appeared to backtrack, expressing regret for his choice of words and advocating for the use of the more neutral term "undocumented."

“I shouldn’t have used illegal, it’s undocumented,” he told MSNBC’s Jonathan Capehart. “And look, when I spoke about the difference between Trump and me, one of the things I talked about in the border was his, the way he talks about vermin, the way he talks about these people polluting the blood. I talked about what I’m not going to do. What I won’t do."

“I’m not going to treat any, any, any of these people with disrespect. Look, they built the country. The reason our economy is growing. We have to control the border and more orderly flow, but I don’t share his view at all,” Biden continued.

“So, you regret using that word?” Capehart asked.

“Yes,” Biden replied. 

White House says Joe Biden 'absolutely did not apologize' 

Despite Biden's regret, the White House deputy spokesperson Olivia Dalton asserted that "the president absolutely did not apologize."

“There was no apology anywhere in that conversation,” the White House spokesperson told reporters on Air Force One. “He did not apologize. He used a different word. I think what we should be really clear about is the facts.”

“In addition to the fact, that you know, the president did not apologize, I want to make another thing clear — the president spoke directly to this in the State of the Union address, naught four nights ago, when he spoke passionately about knowing what it means to lose a child and extended his deep grief and condolences to Laken Riley’s family in front of the entire country in the House chamber,” Dalton added, referencing Biden’s viral SOTU moment after being prompted by Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga) to speak about Riley.

Instead, she criticized certain factions for politicizing Riley's tragic murder, particularly slamming House Republicans for impeding bipartisan efforts on border security, allegedly under pressure from Trump. Dalton said it was “unconscionable” how “some people” were “playing politics with this young woman’s tragic murder.” 

Joe Biden mispronounces slain student Laken Riley's name

Biden has reiterated his call for House Republicans to pass a bipartisan bill aimed at enhancing border security measures. However, some GOP lawmakers have criticized the proposed legislation, citing concerns over redundant presidential powers and its linkage to funding for Ukraine and Israel.

The discourse surrounding Biden's language escalated further with criticisms from Republicans, who lambasted the president for mispronouncing Riley's name as "Lincoln" during the State of the Union address.

“I know how to say her name,” Biden responded to Greene after the latter yelled out from the crowd, holding up a Laken Riley pin that she gave him. However, during his speech, the President called her “Lincoln — Lincoln Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal."

Trump - who met with the victim's family ahead of his rally in Rome, Georgia - also blasted Biden for fumbling her name and declared the president was “apologizing” when he said he had “regret” over saying “illegal” — a term that many on the left deem politically incorrect.

Despite these criticisms, Biden has maintained his stance on the need for "an orderly process at the border," rejecting dehumanizing language often associated with immigrants, the New York Post reported.

Internet slams White House for saying Joe Biden didn't apologize

Meanwhile, the White House's assertion that Biden did not apologize has drawn sharp rebuke from critics, with many pointing to video evidence contradicting the claim.

"So … what people saw with their own eyes didn’t happen now? Right," one posted on X.

"There is literally a video," another wrote.

"It's worse than that. Technically, you could even say he apologized to Laken Riley's killer," someone else added.

"No one gaslights like the Biden regime," a comment read.

"Not the first time he's denied doing something on camera. But his voters will still believe him," another chimed in.

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