Psaki defends Biden after allegations he asked Afghan president to lie about fight with Taliban

Press Secretary Jen Psaki is defending President Biden after a bombshell story revealed leaked phone calls between the American and Afghan President. Biden is heard asking the Afghan President to lie about the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan and to shift the "perception."

On Wednesday's White House Press Conference, Psaki defended Biden and dismissed the call. "I am not going to go into the details of a private conversation," Psaki told a reporter. Many are now pointing out Psaki's hypocrisy as in 2019, she vocally demanded President Trump release a transcript of his private call with Ukraine.

"And there is a need, whether it is true or not, there is a need to project a different picture," Biden told the now-exiled Afghan President. Biden continued pushing his narrative on perception. "I’m not a military guy, so I’m not telling you what a plan should precisely look like, you’re going to get not only more help, but you’re going to get a perception that is going to change …."

Ghani replied, "your assurance of support goes a very long way to enable us, to really mobilize us in earnest." Two weeks later, Afghanistan fell to the Taliban.

It is this narrative that Psaki is now defending and unwilling to discuss, despite her previous stance being in favour of transparency when the president involved in a "private phone call" was Republican.

It remains to be seen whether the White House will comment further on this story.