Karine Jean-Pierre stumbled when asked whether the Chinese balloon, carrying sensors and surveillance equipment, was the first one identified flying over US airspace under the Biden administration.
The exchange came during a White House press briefing, two days after the U.S. military shot down the Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina.
Jean-Pierre did not answer the question directly, saying"Chinese surveillance balloons have been around for some time" and"we even briefed Congress this past August."The reporter questioned how it was possible Chinese spy balloons travelled over the continental U.S. – at least three times – during the Trump administration but were not discovered until after Trump left office.
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