WH explains Biden’s recent use of term ‘ultra-MAGA’
During the White House briefing on Tuesday, press secretary Jen Psaki took questions about President Biden’s use of the term “ultra-MAGA.” Psaki said the phrase describes what the president feels are the “extreme” policies and proposals coming from “a certain wing of the Republican Party.”
Video Transcript
- Here's a question on messaging. Who came up with this phrase "ultra MAGA"? Why the need to kick it up a notch? MAGA wasn't enough? I mean, why now use this phrase?
JEN PSAKI: I will tell you it's the president's phrase, and the president made those comments himself just last week, as you know. And I think what has struck him is how extreme some of the policies and proposals are that a certain wing of the Republican Party that is taking up too much of the Republican Party are for and are advocating for.
And you've heard the president talk about this. But it's not just, obviously, putting at risk a woman's right to make choices about her own health care. It is also, as you heard him talk about this morning, Rick Scott's extreme plan that will raise taxes on 75 million Americans making less than $100,000 a year. It is Rick Scott's plan to get rid of, eliminate-- that's what sunset means, get rid of-- Medicare and Social Security, something people over 70 in this country rely on. And it's also the obsession with culture wars and wars against Mickey Mouse and banning books.
President thinks that's extreme. That is not what the American people care about or what they want. And so to him, adding little ultra to it gave it a little extra pop. Go ahead.
- So then who is an ultra-MAGA Republican?
JEN PSAKI: I would say people who support that portion of the Republican agenda.
- So Rob Portman, Susan Collins, Mitt Romney-- would they be ultra-MAGA Republicans?
JEN PSAKI: They can all make their own choices, Ed. And I can-- we can let others evaluate that. But I would say that the president's view is those who support a plan by Rick Scott, by Chairman Scott, that would raise taxes on 75 million Americans and get rid of, sunset, eliminate, whatever you want to call it, Medicare and Social Security, that's a MAGA position.
And that includes the chairman of the Republican National Committee. That's a MAGA position. That is the chairman of the party. So that's what the president considers.
But also, obviously, given 2/3 of the American people, according to a Fox News poll, believe that women's-- that Roe v. Wade should be protected, if you're on the other side of that, you're supporting an ultra-MAGA position, in the president's view. So we'll let-- we don't need to name-call individuals unless they have positions that are aligned with what he feels is the ultra-MAGA wing of the party.
