During a recent NATO meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.S. President Biden’s frustration with the media was evident in his sarcastic remarks addressed to the journalists present. This occurred as they were being asked to leave the conference room.
While signaling to his staff that it was time to dismiss the press, President Biden couldn’t help but respond with a witticism when they continued to hurl questions at both leaders. This heated interaction took place in Vilnius, Lithuania, during the NATO summit where both leaders and their cabinets were present.
The main topic of discussion between Zelenskyy and Biden was Ukraine’s potential membership in NATO. Biden, expressing assurance to Zelenskyy, stated that Ukraine’s inclusion in the Western alliance was inevitable.
As the meeting concluded, Biden’s comment implied the end of doubts regarding Ukraine’s eligibility for NATO membership. “I hope we finally have put to bed the notion about whether or not Ukraine is welcome in NATO. It’s going to happen,” he affirmed.
Biden then hinted at the need to clear the room of the press. His light-hearted remark was met with laughter by those present. However, despite calls for their departure, some journalists persisted with their questions to Zelenskyy.
In response to one query about his satisfaction with NATO’s support, Zelenskyy expressed optimism, saying, “I think, at the end of summit, we — we have great unity from our leaders and security guarantees… that the success for this summit. I think so, but it’s my opinion. Thank you.”
Another question concerning Ukraine’s timeline for NATO membership post-war prompted Biden to interject with a cheeky retort. “An hour and 20 minutes,” he joked, further commenting on the press’s ‘insightful’ questions. This amusing interplay drew laughter from Zelenskyy as the journalists were finally ushered out.
This incident is another instance in a series of confrontations between Biden and the media, where the president has been known to challenge reporters. Notably, he previously told CNN reporter Kaitlin Collins that she was in the “wrong business” following a question about Russian leader Vladimir Putin, and referred to Fox News reporter Peter Doocy as a “stupid son of a b—-” in response to a query about inflation.
WATCH:
Reporter to Zelensky: "How soon after the war would you like to be in NATO?"
Biden: "An hour and 20 minutes. You guys ask really insightful questions."
Just another example of how quick and sharp Biden is, despite the narrative being pushed by some… pic.twitter.com/I5IMLjpe4U
— Kaivan Shroff (@KaivanShroff) July 12, 2023
