Joe Biden Calls Out For Deceased Congresswoman At White House Hunger Event

Officials from the White House tried to explain why President Joe Biden called out a name of a dead congresswoman at an event about hunger and nutrition on Thursday.

“Jackie, are you here? Where’s Jackie?” Biden said at the event, a reference to Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN), who was killed in a car accident during the summer.

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White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that the president had Walorski on “top of mind” at the event, as she had helped organize it and because Biden plans to participate in a ceremony for her later this week.

“The president was naming the congressional champions on this issue and was acknowledging her incredible work,” she said. “He had already planned to welcome the congresswoman’s family to the White House on Friday. This Friday will see a bill signed. She was naturally on his mind. She was always top of his mind. … He very much looks forward to discussing her remarkable legacy of public service with them when he sees her family this coming Friday.”

Asked again, Jean-Pierre said, “I totally understand. I just explained. She was on top of mind.” Biden will sign legislation to rename a clinic in honor of the congresswoman.

She later said, “that is not an unusual scenario there.”

A reporter then asked, “I have John Lennon top of mind just about every day, but I am not looking around for him anywhere.”

Jean-Pierre responded, “When you sign a bill for John Lennon as president, then we can have this conversation.”

Walorski and three other people were killed in a head-on collision on Aug. Emma Thomson, Walorski's communications director, and Zachery Potts her district director, were also killed. The driver of the other vehicle also perished.

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