Politics

American reporters declined from asking Biden questions during British PM meeting at White House

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After an Oval Office meeting between President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, American reporters were declined after attempting to ask the president questions. 

Johnson proposed allowing reporters to ask questions and accepted questions from two British journalists. When the Americans attempted to ask Biden about the illegal immigrant crisis at the southern border the president’s aides jumped in to close the session by thanking the journalists and leading them out of the office. 

CBS’ Ed O’Keefe Tweeted about the incident, questioning why the British reporters were allowed to ask questions while the Americans were stopped. “As we were leaving, I asked the president for his reaction to the situation on the southern border. Due to shouting by White House aides, the noise of everyone leaving, and the president wearing his mask, we could not make out his answer,” O’Keefe described the scene. 

According to Reuters, Biden and Johnson met to discuss trade relations between the US and Britain. The two leaders also covered climate change and environmental efforts. Mirroring O’Keefe’s experience, Reuters reported, “The White House did not agree to hold a formal news conference with Johnson, and the British leader caught U.S. officials off guard by taking questions from reporters in the Oval Office himself.”

American reporters have shared previous difficulties when questioning President Biden. For instance, in March, a live stream meeting with President Biden and House Democrats was abruptly cut off after Biden opened himself to questions.

At an August press briefing, Biden suggested he did not take questions on his own accord when he said, “Ladies and gentlemen, they gave me a list here,” before taking questions from reporters. In another instance, Biden gave reporters unrelated and odd responses, such as asking if “there are people in the Republican Party who think we’re sucking the blood out of kids.” Still, President Biden’s Communications Director says that Biden “never shies away from questions.”

ARTICLE: ANTOINETTE AHO

MANAGING EDITOR: CARSON CHOATE

PHOTO CREDITS: POLITICO

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Antoinette Aho

Antoinette is a community college student in Sacramento, California. She is a Politics Editor at Fact Based America, a correspondent for Campus Reform, and a student journalist. She previously worked for Turning Point USA as a High School Coordinator.

Antoinette is a community college student in Sacramento, California. She is a Politics Editor at Fact Based America, a correspondent for Campus Reform, and a student journalist. She previously worked for Turning Point USA as a High School Coordinator.

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