(CNSNews.com) - President Joe Biden used two members of the U.S. Marine Corps as props to stand behind him outside Independence Hall in Philadelphia on Thursday night as he delivered a speech attacking what he called "MAGA Republicans."
"Too much of what's happening in our country today is not normal," Biden said in his speech.
"Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our republic," said Biden.
As Biden was saying these words—and throughout this speech, two uniformed Marines stood behind him, flanking one of the doors of Independence Hall, which was illuminated by red lights.
At Friday's White House press briefing, reporter asked Biden spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre: "Where does the president think the line should be drawn for having members of the military, who could be perceived as being part of stagecraft for an address?"
"Where does the president see the line for having members of the military included?" the reporter asked.
In her response, Jean-Pierre defended the use of the Marines and said the Biden's speech "was not a political speech."
"And, so, for him this was not a political speech," said Jean-Pierre.
"This was an opportunity in prime time to talk directly to the American people," she said. "To be very clear with a clear voice to talk about what is happening in our country today.
"And it was about our values as a country, about our democracy as a country. And, so, that is what the president wanted to convey," she said. "And he believes the men and women, who wear the uniform and protect us every day, protect this country every day, that's what they fight for as well. And, so, this was an opportunity as he is having this conversation, levelling, right, a level conversation with the Americans people, to do that."
A"nd, again, he took this opportunity to directly speak to the American people understanding, understanding, that the Marines who were standing behind him are, you know, men and women, who believe in our democracy as well, who fight for it every day," said Jean-Pierre.