Need evidence the White House briefing is no longer much more than propaganda? Today’s briefing is being scrutinized perhaps more than any other briefing since Donald Trump took office nearly a year and a half ago. It was supposed to start at 1:15 pm, but ended up beginning almost four hours later. There are reports that White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders didn’t want to take the podium.
A White House official tells @jeffzeleny that @PressSec didn't want to do the briefing today amid questions on child separation policy, so @SecNielsen is being flown in from New Orleans to take questions.
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) June 18, 2018
If you want to know how Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen did today answering questions on children being separated from their parents at the border, take a look at Mika Brzenzinski’s twitter feed.
The Secretary of Homeland Security did not tell the truth about who created this problem
— Mika Brzezinski (@morningmika) June 18, 2018
Listening to the DHS Sec read this statement almost makes me miss @PressSec .. Almost. I honestly don’t know how these two sleep at night
— Mika Brzezinski (@morningmika) June 18, 2018
We encourage you to read her entire thread of tweets put out during the briefing. Brzenzinski isn’t the only one criticizing both Nielsen and Sanders’ performances today. It was one lie after another.
False claims by Nielsen: 1. parents allowed to call children 2. parents can claim custody of their kids when they are released (undocumented parents can be deported for coming forward) 3. illegal entry is a crime (previously could claim asylum when crossing between POEs)
— Julia E. Ainsley (@JuliaEAinsley) June 18, 2018
Nielsen also managed to answer most questions, on this very serious topic, with a smirk on her face.
In a single press conference, @SecNielsen destroyed her reputation. The video will be played for the rest of history showing how casually people slide into evil and lying. There are no rewards in history for those who appease & excuse child abuse, Sec Nielsen. Only condemnation.
— Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) June 18, 2018
https://twitter.com/CillizzaCNN/status/1008828600131473408
Nielsen refusing to acknowledge Trump policy as policy is a way to weasel-word around it by saying it’s DoJ enforcing the law. It’s a policy.
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) June 18, 2018
Someone might want to remind a Trump administration trying to blame Democrats for the immigration problems: Republicans control both chambers of Congress.
— Matt Viser (@mviser) June 18, 2018
They have been flashing across television screens and printed on the front page of newspapers for days. https://t.co/DpPXoXrfcF
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) June 18, 2018
DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen just said DHS isn't separating families who "legitimately" enter country through a port of entry. This is false. I covered story of a 1-year-old baby taken from asylum seeker at port, for @KPBSnews & @NewsHour : https://t.co/8kc16Ffdbj
— Jean Guerrero (@jeanguerre) June 18, 2018
https://twitter.com/andylassner/status/1008833446355931136
If you want to see the briefing for yourself watch above.