Fox News reporter Jacqui Heinrich landed in the rough Wednesday when she asked White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre for comment on the PGA Tour’s merger with LIV Golf. (Watch the video below.)
Biden administration officials have repeatedly avoided addressing the matter. The president earlier this week replied to a query by taking a golf swing and joking: “I’m planning on playing in the PGA.”
But Heinrich took her shot.
She pressed Jean-Pierre on why the White House wouldn’t comment, and Pierre repeatedly pushed back.
“We’re not going to comment on it because it is a private entity. We’ve been consistent,” she said.
Heinrich noted that Jean-Pierre had confirmed Biden was briefed on the stunning golf deal, so why wouldn’t he have something to say?
“We’ve been consistent. He’s the president of the United States. He gets to know everything that’s going on in the — in the world and in the country — right? That is important for him to know. He is — he is one of the leaders of the free world,” Jean-Pierre said.
Heinrich pushed on, asking if it was typical to get briefed on private business, and got cut off one last time.
“I’ve answered your question,” Jean-Pierre said. “We’re moving on.”
Heinrich noted in her report that the administration has commented previously on private business moves, such as Twitter.
The merger announced Tuesday has reverberated far beyond the sports world. The PGA has been accused of partnering with a breakaway golf circuit backed by Saudi Arabia, a nation that produced the majority of the Sept. 11 hijackers who reportedly had ties to Saudi officials. And some lawmakers believe the alliance may be breaking antitrust rules regarding monopolies, in addition to enabling the gulf nation to “sportswash” its human-rights violations. They called on the Justice Department to investigate.
H/T: Mediaite
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