House Speaker Mike Johnson strongly criticized President Biden, labeling him an “embarrassment” for what he perceives as an apology to Laken Riley’s accused killer rather than to the victim’s grieving family.
Johnson accused the president of bowing to his political base and showing unwarranted respect to Jose Ibarra, an illegal immigrant charged with brutally murdering Riley.
In a scathing rebuke on X, Johnson insisted that Biden should be extending apologies to Riley’s family, condemning the president’s actions as disgraceful.
House Speaker Johnson (Credits: CNN)
The controversy emerged after Biden’s State of the Union address, where, prompted by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, he condemned the killing of Laken Riley by an illegal immigrant.
However, during an interview with MSNBC’s Jonathan Capehart, Biden expressed regret, suggesting he should have used the term “undocumented” instead of “illegal” when referring to Ibarra.
The accused, a Venezuelan national, was confirmed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to have illegally crossed the border in 2022, raising concerns about border security and immigration policies.
House Speaker Johnson (Credits: Reuters)
The situation intensified as critics, including Speaker Johnson, accused Biden of prioritizing politically correct language over acknowledging the tragic loss suffered by Riley’s family.
The president’s remarks have reignited the debate over immigration policies and border security, particularly in light of Ibarra’s prior encounters with law enforcement after being released into the U.S. for further processing.
The episode has fueled criticism of Biden’s approach to immigration and law enforcement, with some arguing that the president’s response reflects a misguided political agenda rather than a genuine concern for the victims and their families.
