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President Biden has been annoyed that the US press is asking questions that are not “on point” in recent setups with foreign leaders in the White House, press secretary Jen Psaki admitted on Monday.
Questions were raised on Friday after Biden apparently attacked the US press during a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi, saying the Indian press was behaving “much better” than the US press.
“I think that with your permission you couldn’t answer the questions because they won’t ask any questions about the point,” he said.
This followed Biden who snubbed the US press when he refused to answer questions from reporters in the pool during the public portion of his meeting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson – although Johnson called in two British journalists.
After a brief conversation for the cameras between the two executives, Johnson thanked Biden for hosting him and asked, “I think – would it be okay if we just had a few questions? Just a – just a few questions.
“Good luck,” Biden said.
As soon as Johnson answered questions from two British reporters, White House aides – known as the “wranglers” – began yelling and pulling reporters out of the Oval Office as they attempted to pose more questions. Questions.
“This is absurd,” a reporter moaned as they left the executive mansion. “Two British journalists get questions and we get nothing.”
CBS News Radio White House correspondent Steven Portnoy reported that members of the editorial pool immediately went to Psaki’s office to complain “that no American journalist has been recognized for questions in the office. oval of the president ”.
During Monday’s daily press briefing, Psaki was pressed for Biden’s comments with the Indian leader and asked him why he was criticizing American journalists.
“I would point out, first of all, that he answered questions on Friday and answered questions today,” Psaki began. “And I think what he said was that they’re not always ‘on point’.”
“Now I know it’s not something anyone wants to hear here, but what I think he was converting, as you know today he might want to talk about COVID vaccines [and] some of the questions were about what he might want to talk about, and some of the questions aren’t always about the topic he’s talking about that day, ”she continued.
Psaki added that she did not believe the president’s comments were a “blow”.
Later in Monday’s briefing, Psaki was pushed further and asked why Biden could call the Indian press “better behaved” than the American press when India ranks 142nd in press freedom, according to Reporters Without Borders.
Psaki dodged the question and instead turned to the president’s commitment to press freedom, saying he had spoken with the press more than 140 times.
“He certainly respects the role of the press, the role of freedom of the press, the free press, [and] we make sure that we have press with us, of course, when we travel, that we have press with us for sprays in foreign capitals and we will continue to do so. And I think that shows his commitment to press freedom around the world. ”
So far, throughout his presidency, Biden has criticized members of the press, especially regarding COVID-19 protocols for masks or vaccines.
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