Will Joe Biden's dog Major be euthanized? Jen Psaki appalled by reporter's question amid WH biting incident
When it comes to the president, even the most trivial subjects can turn into a red-hot, controversy-generating scandal. Such was the case when it was reported on Monday, March 8, that President Joe Bien's dog, Major had been taken back to Delaware, the POTUS' home state, after he bit a security guard. As a result, when White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki got up to address the press pool during her daily briefing on Tuesday, March 9, she was showered with questions about the president's pet.
Even after clarifying that the biting accident occurred after Major was "surprised with an unfamiliar person" at the White House, the reporters had more follow-up questions, some of them a little more bizarre than the others.
Psaki confirmed "the dogs will return to the White House soon" and that the person he attacked had only suffered a "minor" injury in this incident and was treated by the White House medical unit. Following the incident, both Major and Biden's other pet dog, Champ, had been taken back to Delaware.
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Will Major be euthanized?
“It had been previously planned already for the dogs to be cared for by family friends in Delaware during Dr. Biden's travels to military bases this week, she has a three-day trip this week," Psaki said. One of the reporters then asked: "Can you also reassure the public that Major Biden will not be euthanized as a result of this?"
Overlooking how bizarre the question was, Psaki said the shelter dog, which was adopted by Biden in November 2018, would not. "Well, certainly, Major Biden is a member of the family, so I can assure you that," she replied.
A reporter asks Jen Psaki if there are plans to euthanize one of Biden's dogs pic.twitter.com/qT6eHr6kg6
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 9, 2021
When asked by a reporter whether it was a Secret Service agent who was bitten, Psaki replied that she didn't "have any more details on the individual" involved in the accident.
Once the clip of the press briefing with the questions about Biden's dog was posted on Twitter, it immediately went viral. Many were appalled at the fact that reporters had wasted their energies on asking such silly questions.
"I bet the new cat is happy, though," one of them said, while another wrote, "The dog scandal 2021." One more noted, "Absolutely not! What an asinine question." The next commented, "This is what happens when the press can’t make the transition from reality tv journalism following the reality tv president to professionalism while following a professional president and administration." Another quipped, "We need a new press Corp." One more noted, "After the last four years, I’ll take this level of drama."
This is what happens when the press can’t make the transition from reality tv journalism following the reality tv president to professionalism while following a professional president and administration.
— preising (@preising) March 9, 2021
After the last four years, I’ll take this level of drama.
— Miles (Henry H) Morales (@CalvinEllis1988) March 9, 2021
One person reacted with, "Similar to her Ooooo! Space Force! reaction. Smooth and creamy snark. I love it." One more remarked, "I give up on our press." A commenter tweeted, "The real scandal is that #MajorBiden bit the Cat in the Hat and now we must #ImpeachBiden" Another said, "Oh for Gods sake. That would never happen." The next commented, "That's too many times with NONSENSE quest."
Similar to her Ooooo! Space Force! reaction. Smooth and creamy snark. I love it.
— Suzie McQ (@McQzan) March 9, 2021
The real scandal is that #MajorBiden bit the Cat in the Hat and now we must #ImpeachBiden
— Richard James (@pennnursinglib) March 9, 2021
A White House official previously told NBC News: “Yes, they will be back” referring to the first couple’s two dogs. With the first lady traveling for three days, Champ and Major went to Delaware to stay with family friends.” On March 9, Psaki had suggested to MSNBC that the dogs were only temporarily relocated. "Major and Champ are part of the Bidens' family. They're members of the family," she said. "They often go to Delaware when the first lady's traveling and they're adjusting to their new home. I don't have any more on those reports, I just know that they're beloved members of the family."
Sources told CNN that Major, who is three years old, had shown agitated behavior on more than one occasion, including “charging” at staff, jumping, and barking. The two dogs moved into the White House less than a week after Biden was inaugurated in January 2021.
Last month, Jill Biden told Kelly Clarkson, “I’ve been getting obsessed with getting our dogs settled because we have an old dog and we have a very young dog.”