Sarah Huckabee Sanders appeared to think JFK and Kennedy were two different presidents in a briefing on Tuesday.
“All of our leaders have flaws Washington, Jefferson, JFK, Roosevelt, Kennedy. That doesn’t diminish their contributions to our country. It certainly can’t erase them from our history. And Gen. Kelly was simply making the point that just because history isn’t perfect doesn’t mean it’s not our history,” the White House press secretary said.
Though the misstep was probably (hopefully) just a slip of the tongue, these are the kinds of mistakes Twitter lives for and the social media site did not disappoint.
“Hi guys Sarah Huckabee Sanders thinks JFK and Kennedy were two different presidents. Have a great afternoon,” tweeted Amanda Guinzburg.
HI GUYS SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS THINKS JFK AND KENNEDY WERE TWO DIFFERENT PRESIDENTS HAVE A GREAT AFTERNOON. pic.twitter.com/yfxT9MJw5e
— Amanda Guinzburg (@Guinz) October 31, 2017
Sarah Sanders Huckabee: All of our leaders are flawed. JFK, La Guardia, LAX, Newark Liberty.
— Jeremy Newberger (@jeremynewberger) October 31, 2017
Not only did Sarah Huckabee Sanders compare General Lee to JFK, but she also thinks JFK and Kennedy are two different presidents.
— Nick (@STFUNICK) October 31, 2017
Making it worse, Huckabee Sanders appeared to be reading from notes as she listed both JFK and Kennedy.
ALSO FYI SOMEONE WROTE THAT DOWN ON A PIECE OF PAPER FOR HER TO READ. BEST REGARDS.
— Amanda Guinzburg (@Guinz) October 31, 2017
Huckabee Sanders was addressing a reporters’ questions about controversial comments White House chief of staff John Kelly made about the Civil War and Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee during an interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham.
“When [Kelly} said that the Civil War was the result of a failure to compromise, was he suggesting that there be a compromise on the abolition of slavery? Can you expand on what exactly he was talking about?” the reporter asked.
Later in the interview, Kelly also called Lee an “honorable” man.
“Robert E. Lee was an honorable man, he was a man that gave up his country to fight for his state, which 150 years ago was more important than country,” Kelly told Ingraham. “Now, it’s different.”
But perhaps Huckabee Sanders biggest flub during Tuesday’s press conference wasn’t listing President John F. Kennedy twice, but rather comparing the iconic 60s president, who laid the groundwork for the Civil Rights Act of 1964, with that of Lee, who fought to protect Southern states’ rights to own slaves.
“There are a lot to question/criticize about that briefing today & Kelly’s words. I don’t think Sarah repeating JFK & Kennedy is one of them,” Diamond tweeted.
There are a lot to question/criticize about that briefing today & Kelly’s words. I don’t think Sarah repeating JFK & Kennedy is one of them
— Jeremy Diamond (@JDiamond1) October 31, 2017
