White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki faced questions about why President Joe Biden took an apparent shot at U.S. reporters during an Oval Office meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
During a White House press briefing on Monday, Psaki was asked, “As he sat down with Prime Minister Modi last week, the president said that the Indian press is better behaved than the U.S. press and then he advised him not to take questions. Can you explain why the American president was criticizing U.S. reporters in that setting?”
“Well, I would note first that he took questions on Friday and he took questions again today. I think what he said is that they’re not always on point. Now I know that isn’t something that anyone wants to hear in here,” Psaki responded
She added, “But what I think he was conveying is, you know, today he might want to talk Covid vaccines, some of the questions were about that, and some of the questions are not always about the topic he’s talking about on that day.”
Watch the video below:
WH Press Sec. Jen Psaki defends Biden calling India’s press “better behaved” than U.S. press:
— The Recount (@therecount) September 27, 2021
“I think what he said is that [press questions] are not always on point. Now I know that isn’t something that anyone wants to hear in here.” pic.twitter.com/mFRMDPnqb0
A video circulated on Friday of Biden telling Modi, “I think what we’re going to do is bring in the press.”
“The Indian press is much better behaved than the American press,” he continued. “I think, with your permission, you could not answer questions because they won’t ask any questions on point.”
The moment did not go over well with some reporters. The New York Times’ White House correspondent Katie Rogers tweeted, “I thought Modi had said this when I heard about it, but nope that’s the American president.”
I thought Modi had said this when I heard about it, but nope that's the American president https://t.co/7wjZgbv9CI
— Katie Rogers (@katierogers) September 24, 2021
Biden’s comments during his meeting with Modi come days after reporters expressed frustration after a separate incident that occurred earlier in the week during a meeting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
White House staff prevented U.S. reporters from asking Biden questions after British reporters asked Johnson questions.
White House Correspondents’ Association President Steve Portnoy said that the press pool filed a formal complaint with Psaki after that incident.
However, Portnoy told Fox News in a statement “Psaki was unaware that the incident had occurred, and suggested that she was not in position to offer an immediate solution…Psaki suggested the president takes questions several times a week.”