Jen Psaki dismissed critics who compared the hiring of ex-RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel at NBC to her own, accusing McDaniel of putting “democracy at risk” with her efforts surrounding the 2020 presidential election.
On her MSNBC show on Monday evening, Psaki took a few moments to address voices in the “right wing ecosystem” defending McDaniel’s hiring by pointing to Psaki’s hiring following her time as White House press secretary with President Joe Biden. McDaniel being brought on as an analyst has led to public outcries from Joe Scarborough, Chuck Todd, and more on the network.
“You may have seen some news over the last few days about the hiring of former RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel as an NBC News contributor, and some, mainly in the right-wing ecosystem, have made the comparison to others who have come from government or politics into the media, including me, and that is a comparison I felt like I had to address,” Psaki told her audience.
She recalled getting into campaign work under Barack Obama in her early ’20s and drew a distinction between her service in government with Democrats to McDaniel’s work with the Republican Party.
“I was in the room for tough debates, for difficult decisions, for the messy and at times incredibly grueling process of governing, and that experience is something that I am extremely proud to bring to this table and to this network,” she said. “There are many others who have followed a similar path… but here’s the thing, that kind of experience only matters and only has value to viewers, all of you, if it is paired with honesty and with good faith.”
Psaki went on to quote an X post from Liz Cheney when finishing her objection to McDaniel’s hiring, and those comparing their positions in media.
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