Democrats, including the Biden administration, haven't exactly kept it a secret how they feel about Elon Musk owning Twitter. Just in case anyone's been able to forget, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reminded everyone as much during Monday's press briefing.
The reporter who brought up weekend tweets from Musk during the press briefing referred to them as "a series attacks," which he himself admitted included mere memes. "What's your response, uh, first of all to the, specifically to the attacks on, uh, Dr. Fauci," the reporter asked.
"So look, we've been very clear about this, uh, these attacks, these personal attacks, uh that we have been seeing are dangerous, uh--uh on Dr. Fauci, and other public health professionals as well, Jean-Pierre quickly answered. Despite how Jean-Pierre often has to dance around her responses to even the most basic of questions, there was no spin needed here, as again, the administration has been clear that they see Musk as a threat. She added that "they are disgusting and they are divorced from reality."
KJP calls @elonmusk's tweets about Dr. Fauci "dangerous," "disgusting," and "divorced from reality." pic.twitter.com/deBI4aqrym
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) December 12, 2022
The tweets in question, as Townhall highlighted on Sunday, included a mockery of both Fauci and pronouns.
Truth resonates …
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 12, 2022
The Branch Covidians are upset lol
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 12, 2022
There was also a meme about Fauci's support for lockdowns, even if they're never-ending, under the guise of "just one more."
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 11, 2022
In addition to his support for lockdowns, which he knew would cause harm, as well as downplaying and even justifying China's use of "zero COVID" policies that have led to protests in China, Fauci has also been less than forthcoming about the origins of the virus. And he's certainly taken on a smug sense of entitlement when it comes to anyone who dares to question his authority, which ranges from smug responses to Fauci portraying himself as a martyr.
While Musk's tweets earned the ire from not just the White House Press Corp and Jean-Pierre, as well as Alexander Vindman, there were also those who applauded his move. Jack Posobiec expressed hope that this may result in editions of the "Fauci Files," just as there have been releases in recent days of the "Twitter Files."
Drop the Fauci Files next https://t.co/DeHmLA0Fq5
— Jack Posobiec 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) December 11, 2022
As a reminder, the White House has not only balked at answering questions when it comes to the "Twitter Files," though that certainly has been the case, especially when it applies to Hunter Biden.
President Joe Biden himself, in a press conference the day after last month's midterm elections, laughed when asked if Musk was "a threat to national security," before claiming that "Elon Musk's cooperation and/or technical relationships with other countries is worthy of being looked at." He wouldn't go into specifics of how he can look into Musk, other than to say "there's a lot of ways."
REPORTER: "Do you think @elonmusk is a threat to national security...?"
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) November 9, 2022
Biden: "Hahahaha" pic.twitter.com/hMKeMfbPWC
White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan also gave a non-answer to a reporter's question that same week about why Musk would be a security risk.
Jake Sullivan totally dodges a question wondering why Joe Biden is planning to investigate @elonmusk as a national security threat. pic.twitter.com/Bo2JxnRoPm
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) November 10, 2022
Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) has also threatened that Twitter "will pay a price if they don't put safeguards in place."
.@SenMarkey threatens @elonmusk: "You cannot ignore what the federal government is requiring of your company, and that goes for ... guardrails that have to be built around social media ... They will pay a price if they don't put safeguards in place at Twitter" pic.twitter.com/HkQLNmN01Q
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) November 16, 2022
Fauci has trended in multiple ways over Twitter on Monday night, including when it comes to "#FauciForPrison," "#FauciLied," and "The Real Anthony Fauci."
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