White House defends new press aide who posed with rifle in ‘Fuck Joe Biden’ shirt

Key Points:

• The White House has defended Beni Rae Harmony, a new assistant press secretary, after a 2021 photo surfaced showing her wearing a “Fuck Joe Biden” T-shirt and holding a rifle, highlighting her past affiliation with far-right figures and outlets.
• Harmony previously worked as a producer for far-right personalities and as a press aide for Republican congressmen Paul Gosar and Matt Gaetz, both known for controversial and partisan stances.
• The photograph was originally posted by a far-right Republican candidate and verified by Harmony herself in 2021, drawing attention to her openly partisan views while now serving in the White House press office.
• The Trump administration’s press office has been criticized for favoring correspondents from partisan outlets supportive of the president, limiting access to more critical or nonpartisan journalists.
• Harmony gained prominence in rightwing media after leaving local TV to join Trump’s communications team and has been praised by White House officials for her advocacy of the MAGA movement.