Jen Psaki, former White House press secretary and current MSNBC anchor, claims in her new book “Say More” that President Biden never glanced at his watch during the ceremony for soldiers killed during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. This contradicts news photos and firsthand accounts from Gold Star families.

The controversy arises as images of Biden checking his watch during the ceremony have been repeatedly used by Donald Trump and his allies to challenge Biden’s image as an empathetic leader.

Psaki’s account in her book states that Biden looked at his watch only after the ceremony had concluded and that his critics utilized the image to portray him as insensitive.

However, this account contradicts fact-checks, news agency photos, and statements from Gold Star families present at the ceremony. The Associated Press photographer captured images of Biden looking at his watch twice, fact-checked by USA Today and Snopes. Additionally, Psaki mistakenly cited a passage from USA Today’s fact-check as being from The Washington Post.

Numerous family members of the fallen soldiers have consistently stated in interviews and congressional appearances that Biden checked his watch during the ceremony. For instance, Mark Schmitz, father of Marine Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, testified before Congress about Biden repeatedly checking his watch during the ceremony. Similarly, Shana Chappell, mother of Marine Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, expressed her frustration on Facebook over Biden’s actions.

Following the publication of this story, Psaki announced that the detail regarding the number of times Biden looked at his watch would be removed in future reprints and the ebook. She emphasized that the essence of the story is about the importance of providing feedback, even when difficult, as illustrated by her experience of conveying to President Biden that his narrative of loss was poorly received by grieving families.

Jen Psaki’s account of President Biden’s actions during the Afghanistan withdrawal ceremony fits into a broader trend of Biden administration officials attempting to reshape the narrative surrounding the withdrawal.

Last year, when questioned about the evacuation process, White House spokesperson John Kirby defended U.S. officials’ work on the ground, dismissing claims of chaos. Both Psaki and Kirby have declined to be interviewed by the House Foreign Affairs Committee regarding its probe into the withdrawal.

The administration’s review of the withdrawal attributed blame to Trump, citing constraints imposed by his administration. Despite this, Biden initially praised the operation’s success.

Biden’s decision to end the war in Afghanistan was a long-standing goal, stemming from his time in the Obama administration. However, the withdrawal and its handling have been politically costly for him, with more Americans disapproving than approving of his performance since August 2021.

While Trump supported the withdrawal, he has consistently criticized Biden’s management of the process.