Biden exhibits no regrets more than fist bump with MBS: 'Happy to response a query that matters'

Biden exhibits no regrets more than fist bump with MBS: 'Happy to response a query that matters' [ad_1]

President Joe Biden dismissed his controversial fist bump with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to start out his journey to Saudi Arabia as an inconsequential gesture.

Reporters greeted Biden on the South Garden of the White Residence soon immediately after midnight Sunday early morning, marking an stop of his return journey from his very first Center East tour as president. 1 questioned Biden no matter whether he regretted the fist bump, which drew common condemnation, even immediately after the White Residence experienced mentioned Biden would not shake arms when assembly with leaders in the Center East owing to COVID-19 hazards.

"Why do not you fellas chat about one thing that issues? I am pleased to response a query that issues," Biden mentioned in reply.

BUMPY Journey: BIDEN FACES CRITICISM IN AFTERMATH OF Assembly WITH SAUDI LEADERS

Biden drew controversy when he greeted Bin Salman, also regarded as MBS, on Friday with a fist bump that was caught on digicam on his arrival at Al Salman Palace, in Jeddah. He laughed when a reporter famous he experienced occur "less than a whole lot of hearth" for it when using concerns immediately after his assembly with MBS. But even allies knocked him for the gesture. "If at any time we required a visible reminder of the continuing grip oil-prosperous autocrats have on U.S. international coverage in the Center East, we bought it right now," tweeted Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA). "1 fist bump is worthy of a thousand words and phrases."

President Biden, returning to WH, states Saudi FM not telling reality

Biden then chided reporter for inquiring about MBS fist bump, telling push to 'talk about one thing that matters'

He proceeded to say he is 'hoping' inflation will go down and 'working on' releasing pot inmates pic.twitter.com/xEUHDHu4MS

— Steven Nelson (@stevennelson10) July 17, 2022

In specific, Biden was less than intensive scrutiny more than no matter whether he would push MBS on the 2018 murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a United States resident and columnist for the Washington Article, at Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul. A U.S. intelligence report located MBS accredited the procedure, but Saudi officers have denied MBS experienced any function in the assassination.

Biden states he confronted the de facto Saudi ruler about Khashoggi in the course of their assembly. On the other hand, Saudi officers assert MBS confronted Biden about abuse of prisoners at Iraq's Abu Ghraib jail by U.S. armed service staff and the U.S. reaction to the killing of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in the occupied West Financial institution, in accordance to CNN.

Biden responded with a flat "no" when questioned on his return to the White Residence no matter whether the Saudi international minister was telling the reality when he claimed to not have listened to the president accuse the crown prince of Khashoggi's murder. Biden also mentioned he is "hoping" inflation will go down, and when questioned if he would honor his marketing campaign pledge to launch all of the cannabis inmates in jail, Biden mentioned he does not imagine "any individual really should be in jail for the use of cannabis."

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