OPINION: This article contains commentary which reflects the author's opinion
“Does Joe Biden have a messaging problem?”
That’s the question that Fox News reporter Peter Doocy asked that completely stumped White House press secretary Jen Psaki.
During a press conference on Wednesday at the White House, Doocy cornered Psaki over migrant detention centers being open at full capacity while schools are closed amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The incident began after Doocy hammered Psaki over the ongoing border crisis, asking the press secretary if Joe Biden has a “messaging problem.”
“We’re working to fix the mess of the last couple of years. It’s going to take some time,” Psaki said.
“This is clearly a priority for the president. We are looking at a range of options, which include the opening of additional facilities. It includes steps we can take to expedite the processing. It includes application and implementation of CDC guidelines that just came that allow for more children to be housed safely in those communities,” she added.
Doocy went on to ask Psaki why the Biden administration is fine with opening migrant detainment facilities for children but not okay with opening schools at full capacity in the United States.
Psaki turned into a bumbling mess as she tried answering the question. The press secretary said that the CDC has steps for reopening schools.
Doocy shot back, “But since they are not all back, from an administration position, or from your perspective, have the border patrol unions and the HHS unions been easier to work with than the teacher’s unions?”
Psaki then accused Doocy of “mixing different circumstances,” however Doocy was right on her heels as he pointed out that the migrant children at the border are “all in tight quarters.”
Psaki clearly didn’t know what to say and even started laughing which then led Doocy to say, “It’s not funny.”
WATCH:
A new report from CBS News exposes just how bad the border crisis is under Joe Biden — and it is worse than most people may have thought.
During a segment on CBS News, host Norah O’Donnell revealed that the number of unaccompanied migrant children in Customs and Border Protection’s custody has nearly tripled in the last two weeks.
“CBS News has learned that the number of unaccompanied migrant children in @CBP custody has nearly tripled in the last 2 weeks,” journalist Norah O’Donnell tweeted Monday.
“The current number of children in CBP custody is the highest in the agency’s history, a former DHS official tells CBS,” she added in the tweet.
O’Donnell also shared a video clip of a segment covering the crisis.
BREAKING: CBS News has learned that the number of unaccompanied migrant children in @CBP custody has nearly tripled in the last 2 weeks.
The current number of children in CBP custody is the highest in the agency's history, a former DHS official tells CBS.@cbsmireya reports pic.twitter.com/TDoVR5wCj9
— Norah O'Donnell 🇺🇸 (@NorahODonnell) March 8, 2021
There are more than 3,200 unaccompanied minors in CBP’s care, with 1,400 who have remained in custody past the 72-hour limit.
“DHS has continued our close coordination with HHS as it increases its capacity to care for unaccompanied minors and place them with sponsors,” a CBP spokesperson said. “Our goal is to ensure that CBP has the continued capability to quickly and efficiently transfer unaccompanied minors after they are apprehended to HHS custody, as is required by U.S. law, and as is clear in the best interest of the children.”