In a recent interview with MSNBC, First Lady Jill Biden expressed her concerns about the ongoing investigations into her son, Hunter Biden, conducted by Republican lawmakers. She criticized those leading the investigations and accused them of jeopardizing democracy. Biden also took aim at former President Donald Trump for referring to the January 6th rioters as hostages. Responding to these remarks, Sarah Matthews, former deputy press secretary for Trump, reflected on her experiences during that time.
Three years ago, Matthews made the difficult decision to resign on January 6th, believing that Trump did not rise to the occasion and failed to address the violence unfolding before his eyes. She firmly believed that his claims of election fraud were baseless, and on that fateful day, it seemed evident that he was reluctant to act, ultimately condoning the actions of those who broke the law.
Matthews expressed her disappointment at politicians like Trump and Elise Stefanik who are now downplaying the events of that day and even likening the rioters' actions to those of hostages. She found such statements ludicrous, particularly when comparing it to the real hostages in Gaza who were enduring immensely challenging circumstances.
The discussion then turned to the recent debate between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley. While this debate presented a vital opportunity to address Trump's actions and hold him accountable for January 6th, both candidates predominantly focused on attacking each other rather than confronting the former president.
Matthews expressed her disappointment with their performances and emphasized the urgency of challenging Trump's suitability for office. She noted that DeSantis failed to address Trump's character directly, opting instead to discuss policy differences. Although Haley was more assertive in her response, highlighting Trump's predilection for vengeance and chaos, Matthews believed that both candidates needed to adopt a more aggressive approach if they hoped to defeat Trump in the upcoming Iowa or New Hampshire caucuses.
However, with only four days remaining until the Iowa caucuses, time is running out for the candidates to make significant headway. Matthews stressed that they are rapidly running out of time and need to intensify their messaging immediately if they wish to gain traction before the first votes are cast.
Overall, the interview addressed Jill Biden's concerns about the investigations into her son, as well as her criticism of Trump's characterization of the January 6th rioters. Matthews added her perspective as a former member of the Trump administration and offered commentary on the recent debate between DeSantis and Haley, stressing the importance of challenging Trump directly.
