Joe Biden recently unveiled his choice for the incoming White House Press Secretary will be CNN commentator Jen Psaki. While her role of press secretary typically entails her putting out fires for the White House it looks like her first job will be cleaning up her own image. Since Biden announced she will be taking the podium an old photo of Psaki has resurfaced where she is proudly sporting a hat with the communist hammer-and-sickle logo. The emblem has become synonymous with communist movements across the world.
When the photo resurfaced instead of taking the criticism head-on Psaki claimed that her critics are mere “puppets of the propaganda machine,” a comment that landed her in hot water.
Yes, it's the hammer and sickle pic.twitter.com/sniIGMNX61
— Matt Wolking (@MattWolking) December 1, 2020
The incoming press secretary seemed to reference the photo in a tweet claiming the image is “Russian propaganda.”
“For anyone who hasn’t been the target of Russian propaganda (cc: @McFaul @Hillary Clinton) the purpose is to discredit powerful messengers and to spread misinformation to confuse the public. Anyone to repeats it is (unwitting or not) simply a puppet of the propaganda machine.”
For anyone who hasn't been the target of Russian propaganda (cc: @McFaul @HillaryClinton) the purpose is to discredit powerful messengers and to spread misinformation to confuse the public. Anyone who repeats it is (unwitting or not) simply a puppet of the propaganda machine.
— Jen Psaki (@jrpsaki) December 1, 2020
Fox News reports:
However, following the announcement of Psaki’s hire, a 2014 image resurfaced featuring her posing with her then-boss, former Secretary of State John Kerry, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova during her tenure as a State Department spokesperson.
Psaki is seen wearing a pink shapka, or fur hat, that bears the communist hammer-and-sickle logo as part of a gift exchange between herself and Russian counterpart Zakharova.
…
Ironically, Psaki spent the majority of the Trump administration as a political analyst for CNN as the network regularly covered the investigation of alleged collusion between Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia.
Naturally, the internet was quick to blast her for the message and the photo.
Just to be clear, Jen is saying anyone who points out she wore a pink hammer & sickle hat is a puppet of Russian propaganda. A ridiculous attack on the press. Some folks might be ready for a four year nap, but I sleep about 5 hours a night now & don't plan on changing my routine.
— Jerry Dunleavy 🇺🇸 (@JerryDunleavy) December 2, 2020
“Criticizing me or laughing at me is like treason.” https://t.co/uIojjgCfZm
— Michael Brendan Dougherty (@michaelbd) December 2, 2020
Psaki wore a hat with the hammer-and-sickle, which represents totalitarianism, that was gifted her by Russian officials. And she posed for a picture with them. That's not misinformation. And she could have not put the hat on her head, or posed for the photo.
— Chuck Ross (@ChuckRossDC) December 2, 2020