White House says Biden 'cares deeply' about troops after false debate claim that none have died on his watch

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that President Biden’s debate-night blunder in which he claimed no U.S. troops had died under his watch was made because of how "deeply" he cares about service members.

"The president was making a comparison between how many service members have died under his leadership versus in previous years. That's what the comparison that he was making," Jean-Pierre said during Wednesday's press briefing. "He was doing that because he cares so deeply, cares so deeply about them and their families and wants to keep troops safe."

The comments came in response to a question about Biden's debate claim that he is the "only president this century" not to have troops die on his watch.

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President Biden looks down as he participates in the debate against former President Trump at CNN's studios in Atlanta on Thursday. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

"Truth is, I’m the only president this century that doesn’t have — this decade — any troops dying anywhere in the world like he did," Biden said.

Critics were quick to point out that U.S. troops have died under Biden’s watch, including the 13 service members who were killed in a suicide bombing at Hamid Karzia International Airport during the U.S. mission to evacuate Afghanistan.

More recently, three U.S. service members were killed in a January drone attack on a U.S. base in Jordan. 

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre appears in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 3. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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Jean-Pierre acknowledged both attacks during Wednesday’s press briefing, noting that Biden attended the dignified transfer of the service members' remains in both cases.

Four of the "Heroes of Kabul" who were killed in the August 2021 suicide bomber attack on the Kabul airport during the Afghanistan evacuation. (Courtesy of each family)

But Biden generated controversy during his attendance at the dignified transfer of the 13 service members killed in Afghanistan after appearing to check his watch as the ceremony unfolded.

Nevertheless, Jean-Pierre argued Wednesday that Biden "cares so deeply" about service members "and their families."

President Biden looks at his watch as he and first lady Jill Biden attend the dignified transfer of the remains of fallen service members at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, on Aug. 29, 2021. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

"Let's not forget that for some time, he carried a card in his pocket about how many service members were wounded and killed in Iraq and in Afghanistan," Jean-Pierre said. "That's how much it was a reminder to him, you know, the times that we live in."

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The White House did not immediately respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment.