The moment White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre walked into the podium for her first press briefing, controversies seemed to be hovering around her. She was in the headlines again for all the wrong reason as internet has been roasting her for confusing Nord Stream One, the largest gas pipeline from Russia to Europe, with a luxury department store chain ‘Nordstrom’.
The error of omission occurred when President Biden’s main spokesperson accused Russia of causing an energy crisis in Europe by shutting down the pipeline that feeds natural gas to vast swaths of the continent.
Jean-Pierre refers to the Russian Nord Stream 2 pipeline as the “Nordstrom” pipeline
pic.twitter.com/CRXiQYSjQK— Greg Price (@greg_price11) September 6, 2022
“What we see Russia is doing, we’ve been very clear about this, they’re using energy, they’re weapon zing energy,” Jean-Pierre told reporters during her regular press briefing.
“One of the things that has been out there … they shut down the pipeline of Nordstrom 1.”
Not sure what’s worse, that Karine Jean Pierre just called it The NORDSTROM Pipeline, or that Biden yelled at his TV, “no dummy it’s Bloomingdales.”
— Jimmy Failla (@jimmyfailla) September 6, 2022
A clip of Jean-Pierre’s blunder quickly started making the rounds on Twitter, with Fox Radio host Jimmy Failla joking: “Not sure what’s worse, that Karine Jean Pierre just called it The NORDSTROM Pipeline, or that Biden yelled at his TV, “no dummy it’s Bloomingdales”.”
Jean-Pierre, Biden’s press spokesperson said: “one of the things that has been out there…they shut down the pipeline of Nordstrom 1”
Nordstrom is an upscale department store LOL https://t.co/zWaARSGUCX— Leslie Mack (@lesliemack) September 6, 2022
A number of others pointed out the obvious, with one user tweeting: “Nordstrom is an upscale department store LOL.”
What is this world coming to? Will the Chinese follow suit by shutting down Saks Fifth Avenue? ???? https://t.co/AE2s3Edd47
— Michael O’Hogan (@MichaelOHogan1) September 6, 2022
“What is this world coming to?” another user mocked. “Will the Chinese follow suit by shutting down Saks Fifth Avenue?”
Tucker:”Jean-Pierre mistook Russian gas pipeline for her favourite deparmtment store”
“Nordstrom 1, next to Dillards 2 and Sears 3 and the whole aging mall community of eastern European natural gas pipelines.” pic.twitter.com/KYhBUMJdzn
— AZ ???????????????? (@AZmilitary1) September 7, 2022
“Don’t look now,” tweeted radio host Chris Stigall. “Russia is attacking Nordstrom. Look out Macy’s!”
“Maybe Europe could just get their energy cheaper from Nordstrom Rack?” still another user suggested.
‘Maybe Europe could just get their energy cheaper from Nordstrom Rack?’ pic.twitter.com/OJMu9G7gDq
— ₦₳V????????é???????? ???????? (@Navsteva) September 7, 2022
i prefer to get my oil from Nordstrom iRack https://t.co/nPzzE7f931
— siraj hashmi (@SirajAHashmi) September 6, 2022
The “Nordstrom” gaffe came just days after a Kremlin official claimed that Western sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine were to blame for cuts in Moscow’s supply of natural gas to Europe.
Russian energy company Gazprom, which owns and operates Nord Stream 1, revealed last Friday that the suspension of gas supplies via the pipeline would be extended indefinitely due to oil leaks.
Jean-Pierre’s faux pas also comes after she was roasted last month for tweeting “0% inflation in July” in relation to the latest Consumer Price Index — even though federal data indicated it had risen by 8.5% year-over-year.
