Psaki Accidentally Calls Border Situation a ‘Crisis,’ Then Backtracks

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki speaks during the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., on March 17, 2021. JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Thursday used the phrase “crisis on the border” to describe the spike in illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border, before walking back on her comments moments later.

The Biden administration has avoided using the term “crisis” to describe the situation at the southern border.