The White House claims on Monday that President Joe Biden did not issue an apology during his interview on MSNBC, where he expressed regret for referring to the suspect in the murder of 22-year-old college student Laken Riley as an ‘illegal.’ Principal Deputy Press Secretary Olivia Dalton emphasized that there was no apology made during Biden’s conversation with Jonathan Capehart. Dalton denounced the politicization of Riley’s murder, stating, “The president absolutely did not apologize. There was no apology anywhere in that conversation.”
Dalton further highlighted Biden’s expression of grief and condolences to Riley’s family during his State of the Union address. She stated, “Biden was speaking passionately about knowing what it means to lose a child and extended his deep grief and condolences to Laken Riley’s family in front of the entire country, in the House chamber.” Dalton criticized those who sought to exploit Riley’s tragic murder for political gain, labeling such actions as “unconscionable.”
The remarks followed pressure from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene during the address for Biden to address Riley’s case. Prior to his arrest for murder, the suspect, Jose Ibarra, had been apprehended for illegally crossing into Texas in September 2022. Biden faced criticism, including from Democrats like Rep. Ayanna Pressley, for his use of the term ‘illegal.’
In a subsequent interview with Capehart, Biden expressed regret for using the term, stating that he should have said ‘undocumented’ instead. He stated, “And look, when I spoke about the difference between Trump and me, one of the things I talked about at the border was his, the way he talks about vermin, the way he talks about these people polluting the blood. And I talked about what I’m not going to do, what I won’t do, I’m not gonna treat any, any, any of these people with disrespect. Look, they built the country.”
The comments drew criticism from conservatives, including former President Donald Trump, who lambasted Biden during a rally in Georgia.
Trump met with the family of Laken Riley, a nursing student who was murdered on the University of Georgia campus.
At his rally, Trump was accompanied by Riley’s parents, her sister, and friends, whom he met with before taking the stage. They received a warm welcome with a standing ovation, and the campaign distributed large signs featuring Riley’s photograph alongside the words “SAY HER NAME!” and “REMEMBER OUR ANGELS” on the back.
In his address, Trump conveyed his sympathy, stating, “We share your grief.”
During his extensive speech lasting nearly two hours, Trump blasted Biden’s approach to the border situation and his mispronunciation of Laken Riley’s name during his recent State of the Union address, where he referred to her as ‘Lincoln.