Jen Psaki set to mend rift with Gold Star families over her comments on Biden’s watch-checking incident

WASHINGTON, DC: Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki is reportedly set to apologize to Gold Star families for her misleading comments about President Joe Biden checking his watch during a solemn ceremony.

According to Fox News, this development emerged following Psaki's recent closed-door interview with the House Foreign Affairs Committee regarding the botched 2021 evacuation from Afghanistan.

Psaki, who served as press secretary during the chaotic evacuation, faced questions about her past statements on the operation, which have been criticized for inaccuracies.

Jen Psaki asked multiple times during interview to address Gold Star families directly

During the interview, she was reportedly asked by the committee chairman if she had any remarks for the Gold Star families affected by her previous statements about the president’s conduct.

According to Leslie Shedd, spokesperson for the Foreign Affairs Committee, Psaki was asked multiple times to address the Gold Star families directly. "The chairman asked Ms. Psaki about her comments regarding President Biden looking at his watch while at Dover [Air Force Base] and asked her if she had anything she wanted to say to the families on the record," Shedd told the Washington Examiner.

Shedd added that Psaki ultimately requested the chairman to convey her apology to the families, expressing regret for the distress her comments may have caused.

GOP Rep Mike Waltz confirms Jen Psaki's apology request

This request for an apology was later confirmed by GOP Florida Rep Mike Waltz, who took to X (formerly Twitter) to commend Jen Psaki for her decision.

"Just left the House Foreign Affairs interview with Jen Psaki. She agreed to apologize to the 13 Afghanistan Gold Star families whom she falsely contradicted in her book when she said Biden didn’t look at his watch. This isn’t a partisan or gotcha moment. This is the right thing to do as fellow Americans and I pray she follows through," Waltz wrote.

Controversy over Joe Biden's watch incident highlighted in Jen Psaki's book

The controversy centers around a video and accompanying image showing President Joe Biden appearing to check his watch multiple times during a dignified transfer ceremony for the 13 US service members who died in a terrorist attack during the Afghanistan withdrawal.

Psaki's book, 'Say More', published in May, initially claimed that Biden only checked his watch after the ceremony had concluded and suggested that critics had misrepresented the facts.

In response to backlash from Gold Star families, Psaki was later compelled to amend and remove the controversial passage from subsequent editions of her book.

Reactions to Jen Psaki’s apology

Reactions to Jen Psaki’s recent apology have been polarized, reflecting deep dissatisfaction and skepticism from various quarters.

One user wrote, "She was under a lot of pressure and made a lot of mistakes. A lot of apologies are due. And I don't think the current one, J, is any better. Protecting Biden from being exposed got us in a mess."

Another user commented, "When was the last time a Press Secretary told us the truth? Not in the past four years four sure."

One user added, "She lied as easily as she breathed all the time. She is not connected to the truth not now not ever."

One said, "Wow, she is a rock of integrity! We all saw Biden checking his watch multiple times. We heard about it from multiple sources on the ground. NOW, she is coming clean!? How many years ago was that? Another left wing media hypocrite that bashes everyone else for zero integrity yet has a massive deficit of her own."

Another individual said, "Peppermint Patty lied?"

One commented, "She is one of the most arrogant and deceitful Press Secretaries to ever be appointed. Lying daily with no effort was her specialty, no wonder MSNBC hired her. Her forced apology means little."

Another replied, "Psaki lied because she is a cheap political hack."

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