Joe Biden and Vice-president Kamala Harris met with Senator Dick Durbin and Chuck Grassley in the Oval Office but things quickly turned chaotic between handlers and journalists. Attending reporters were quickly ushered out of the room and shouted over so they could not ask the president questions with handlers repeatedly yelling “thank you” over them. The scenes have become a common occurrence for Mr Biden as the US head of state simply smiled at the especially chaotic scenes in the White House.
Similar scenes were also seen earlier this week after Mr Biden met with Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, the emir of Qatar, in the Oval Office as the two leaders discussed concerns about Russia and energy supplies.
A statement from the White House read: “The President and the Emir welcomed the signing of a $20billion deal between Boeing and Qatar Airways Group, which will support tens of thousands of U.S. manufacturing jobs.
“In recognition of the strategic partnership between the United States and Qatar, which has deepened over the past 50 years, the President informed the Amir of his intention to designate Qatar as a Major Non-NATO Ally.”
But as reporters attended the Oval Office photo opportunity, handlers quickly escorted them out with Mr Biden smirking in the background.
However, the chaotic scenes caught Mr Biden unaware as he awkwardly grimaced at the loud noises and shuffling in the room.
Last week, Mr Biden was also caught on tape calling a Fox News reporter a “stupid son of a b****”.
White House correspondent Peter Doocy asked Mr Biden: “Will you take questions on inflation then? Do you think inflation is a political liability ahead of the midterms?”
The president, who appeared to not know his microphone was still on, replied under his breath: “No, it’s a great asset. More inflation. What a stupid son of a b****.”
Mr Biden noticed his blunder and appeared surprised which prompted staff to turn off his microphone.
Mr Doocy discussed the situation on Fox News later and said: “I couldn’t even hear him because people were shouting at us to get out but somebody came up to me a few minutes later in the briefing room and said, ‘did you hear what the president said?’
“The White House and the communications officials here had been signalling last week when they had their first year in office anniversary that they were going to take a different approach with reporters.
“We thought that meant after he did a two-hour press conference, he was just going to be available for Q&As more often but maybe it’s more stuff like this.”
Fox News reporter Jacqui Heinrich also felt the brunt of Mr Biden after reporters desperately tried to get answers from the president last month.
Ms Heinrich was being escorted out of the room along with other reporters and yelled: “Why are you waiting on Putin to make the first move, sir?”
Mr Biden gave a wry smile before muttering: “What a stupid question.”
Ms Heinrich was attempting to get an answer following the suggestion from Mr Biden that a “minor incursion” from Russia against Ukraine may have a lesser punishment from the US.
Similar scenes in the Oval Office were witnessed last year during Boris Johnson’s visit which prompted an official complaint from White House correspondents.
Mr Johnson visited the White House and spoke with UK reporters about his trip to the UN and post-Brexit deals.
However, when the questions were complete, the journalists were escorted out of the room by handlers shouting over them.
White House Press Secretary, Jen Psaki, was sent an official letter of complaint from White House correspondents who accused Mr Biden of avoiding media scrutiny.
*story by Express Online
