Jen O’Malley Dillon, President-elect Joe Biden’s deputy chief of staff, expressed regret Thursday for using profanity to describe congressional Republicans in an earlier interview, according to Politico.
O’Malley Dillon, speaking virtually with Democratic operatives Teddy Goff and Stephanie Cutter, said she “used some words that I probably could have chosen better” after she described the congressional GOP as “a bunch of f—ers” in an interview with Glamour.
O’Malley Dillon also defended the context of her remarks, saying that she had intended to make the “incredibly important point” that Biden believes “we can get things done, and we can get them done if we come together.”
She used the phrase specifically in reference to Biden repeatedly claiming during the Democratic primaries that he would be able to work with congressional Republicans as president. “I’m not saying they’re not a bunch of f—ers. Mitch McConnell is terrible,” O’Malley Dillon told Glamour. But this sense that you couldn’t wish for that, you couldn’t wish for this bipartisan ideal? He rejected that.”
The comments sparked vocal pushback from Republicans such as Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.). A Biden donor told Axios the comments were “beyond the pale” and “plain stupid” and undercut Biden’s calls for restoration of civility.
However, some Democrats have defended O’Malley Dillion and said the focus should be on her broader point.
O’Malley Dillon “would be the first to tell you her mom doesn’t approve of the spicy language,” incoming White House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield tweeted Wednesday, but she added “I would be the first to tell you that the point she was making … is spot on: unity and healing are possible — and we can get things done.”
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton accused O’Malley Dillon’s critics of insincerity, tweeting Thursday “People who stood by Donald Trump for the last four years are now claiming to be offended that a Democratic campaign manager used a curse word? I don’t think so.”