President Biden’s press conference in Hanoi, Vietnam, which followed the G20 summit in New Delhi, India, concluded abruptly on Sunday, raising questions about the handling of the event. During the press conference, the President was in the midst of responding to a reporter’s question when White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre seemingly interrupted, saying, “thank you everybody,” and bringing the session to an unexpected close.
The President had earlier taken five questions from reporters, but as he began to leave the stage, CNN’s Jeremy Diamond posed a pointed inquiry about whether the United States was prioritizing its strategic interests over human rights concerns, particularly in relation to Vietnam’s questionable record on political dissent and its status as the third-largest jailer of journalists worldwide.
Diamond’s question shed light on the President’s commitment to human rights, as Biden asserted that he had raised these concerns with every leader he met, including the Vietnamese general secretary.
Furthermore, the President faced another inquiry, albeit one unrelated to foreign policy, as he was leaving the podium. He ignored a question regarding his son, Hunter Biden, and concerns about a potential indictment, demonstrating his reluctance to engage in unrelated controversies.
Biden’s handlers cut him off mid-ramble and abruptly end a press conference in Vietnam. pic.twitter.com/KxpzoySP0J
— Suburban Black Man 🇺🇸 (@niceblackdude) September 11, 2023
During the press conference, President Biden also made a noteworthy comment about climate change. In response to a question about the lack of consensus on fossil fuels at the G20 Summit, he used the phrase “lying, dog-faced pony soldiers” to describe those who had previously denied the urgency of addressing global warming. He remarked on the growing recognition of climate change as a pressing issue.
In defense of President Biden’s performance, a White House official emphasized that he had “substantively answered questions” from seven reporters during the press conference. The official dismissed the interruption and encouraged a focus on the President’s responses regarding topics such as China, relations with Indo-Pacific nations, human rights, and climate change.
Slippage~
Joe Biden ends Vietnam Press Conference with
“I’m going to bed”
Then continues speaking in bumbling confusion
Biden’s staff shuts it down Press Conference while Biden is still speaking.If this was prior Pres.
Press would Demand the 25th Amend.pic.twitter.com/CaHz8r2DQN— Lawyerforlaws (@lawyer4laws) September 10, 2023
The press conference’s unexpected end and the President’s selective responses have sparked discussions about communication strategies and priorities. Critics argue that it left some questions unanswered and raised concerns about the management of the event, while the White House seeks to emphasize the substantive content of President Biden’s responses on critical global issues.
