White House says Kennedy grilling of Arab American Institute director was ‘shameful’

The White House blasted Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) for asking the director of the Arab American Institute whether she supports terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah .

During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on hate crimes earlier this week, Kennedy told Arab American Institute Director Maya Berry she "should hide [her] head in a bag" after he claimed she had not condemned Hamas and Hezbollah or Iran and the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, known as UNRWA.

"Speaking to this specific moment that we saw, that we all witnessed, it was shameful," press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Wednesday. "It was shameful insults and abusive treatment of an Arab American Institute executive director."

Kennedy's questions served as a reminder of "why we need to fight against hate, against discrimination of all kinds," according to Jean-Pierre. She described asking someone whether they were a "terrorist sympathizer based upon their heritage or their religion" as "bigoted, and dangerous, and very wrong."

@SenJohnKennedy challenges Arab American Institute's Maya Berry for ties with Hamas and Hezbollah

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"We have seen a troubling rise in antisemitic hatred attacks since Oct. 7, and you've seen a distressing rise in hatred and attacks aimed at Arab and Muslims ," the press secretary said. "It is upon all of us, especially leaders, national leaders in particular in this country, to call that out and to condemn that type of hatred, that type of bigotry. And this is something that we're going to continue to see from the Biden-Harris administration, condemn that type of hateful speech."

During the hearing, Kennedy also asked Berry whether she was a Democrat before inquiring about Hamas.

"Senator, oddly enough, I am going to say thank you for that question because it demonstrates the purpose of our hearing today in a very effective way," Berry said. "Hamas is a foreign terrorist organization that I do not support. But you asking the executive director of the Arab American Institute that question very much puts the focus on the issue of hate in our country."

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In response to Kennedy's similar question about Hezbollah, Berry added that his query was "extraordinarily disappointing."

"I don't support violence, whether it's Hezbollah, Hamas, or any other entity that invokes it," she said. "So, no sir."