WATCH: Karine Jean-Pierre loses her cool over Peter Doocy's 'ridiculous' question about Harris' accent
WASHINGTON, DC: White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre interrupted Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy after he questioned whether Vice President Kamala Harris had adopted a Southern accent during her rally.
The exchange occurred on Tuesday, September 3, during a White House briefing. Doocy claimed that Harris' speeches in Detroit and Pittsburgh sounded different, sparking an intense back-and-forth with Jean-Pierre.
Karine Jean-Pierre LOSES her mind when Fox Newsβ Peter Doocy asks an absolutely legendary question on why Kamala Harris seems to develop a Southern accent when speaking to certain crowds, otherwise known as code-switching or shameless pandering. pic.twitter.com/UhrAkRy2yn
β Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) September 3, 2024
Kamala Harris trolled for adopting Southern accent
Notably, Kamala Harris faced criticism for her Labor Day rally speech in Detroit, Michigan, on Monday, where some listeners perceived a shift in her accent.
Critics online compared her speech pattern to that of Foghorn Leghorn, a character from Looney Tunes.
"You better thank a union member for the five-day workweek. You better thank a union member for sick leave. You better thank a union member for paid leave," Harris said during the Detroit rally.
"You better thank a union member for vacation time." It was during this part of her speech that some detected a noticeable change in her dialect, which quickly became a topic of discussion on social media.
Kamala Harris turned into Foghorn Leghorn πππ€£
β AJ Huber (@Huberton) September 2, 2024
in Detroit, Michigan vs. in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania pic.twitter.com/jdbso3IT86
Peter Doocy questions Karine Jean-Pierre over Kamala Harris' accent
Peter Doocy brought up this observation during the White House briefing. "Since when does the Vice President have what sounds like a Southern accent?" asked Doocy.
In response, Jean-Pierre immediately dismissed the question, replying, "I have no idea what you're talking about."
Doocy persisted, explaining that Harris seemed to use a different tone of voice when discussing unions in Detroit compared to Pittsburgh.
"She used the same line in Pittsburgh, and it sounded like she at least had some kind of a Southern drawl," he added.
Jean-Pierre, visibly frustrated, responded, "I mean, do you hear the question that you're [asking]? I mean, do you think Americans seriously think that this is an important question?"
She then redirected the conversation to more pressing issues, stating, "You know what they care about? They care about the economy. They care about lowering costs. They care about health care. That's what Americans care about."
When Doocy pressed her again, she replied, "I'm not even going to entertain some question about the... It's just... Hearing it sounds so ridiculous."
"The question, I'm talking about the questions, is just insane," she continued. Doocy again asked, "Is that how she talks in meetings?"
"I'm just... Peter, we're moving on. We're so moving on," Jean-Pierre said, Raw Story noted.
Internet calls Peter Doocy 'national treasure' for questioning Kamala Harris' accent
Despite Karine Jean-Pierre's dismissal, the interaction sparked a range of reactions online, many of which supported Peter Doocy for raising the 'fair' question.
One user commented, "It was a fair question. Does Kamala Harris talk like this during closed-door meetings?" Another joked, "He should have just switched to asking the question with a southern drawl and see if she notices."
Someone else praised Doocy, writing, "I freakin love Peter," while another added, "Peter Doocy!!! What would we do without you? Thank you! β¦and yes, we care! Why the sudden southern drawl, Kamala?"
Another user claimed, "Sheβs lying! Thatβs all they know how to do. She hears it."
One wrote, "Doocy is the ultimate press conference troll. Heβs great. We need more in the press corps that will ask questions," while another joked, "She knows what Peter Doocy is talking about too."
"Peter Doocy is a national treasure," writes one. One more said. "This is classic gold! Right on Peter Doocy!!"
He should have just switched to asking the question with a southern drawl Nd see if she notices
β RC (@RCallsign) September 3, 2024
Peter Doocy!!! What would we do without you? Thank you! π€£π€£π€£πΊπΈπΊπΈπΊπΈβ¦and yes, we care! Why the sudden southern drawl, Kamala?
β N. Davis Gibby (@ndgibby) September 3, 2024
Sheβs lying! Thatβs all they know how to do. She hears it.
β Jay πΊπΈ (@AngryOlderDude) September 3, 2024
Doocy is the ultimate press conference troll. Heβs great.
β Kevin M. Nelson (@KevinMNelsonUSA) September 3, 2024
We need more in the press corps that will ask questions.
She knows what Peter Doocy is talking about too
β Phantom Platypus (@PhantomPlatypus) September 3, 2024
Peter Doocy is a national treasure π
β Tonya Hess (@TonyaMHess) September 3, 2024
pic.twitter.com/LBs3WKTM1X
This is classic gold! Right on Peter Doocy!! @pdoocy ππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππ https://t.co/WYprEccH4y
β Miss Mary (@DivintyMary) September 3, 2024
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.