Here’s an odd moment from President Joe Biden today. He campaigned on having stood toe-to-toe with Vladimir Putin, but so far he’s been letting European leaders take the lead in the response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. One reporter tracked Biden down and asked him if he thought Putin was a war criminal, to which he gave an emphatic “No.” After some time passed, Biden came back to the reporter and clarified that yes, he does think Putin is a war criminal. Did he just misunderstand the question or did something happen in between answers?
President Biden: "I think he is a war criminal." pic.twitter.com/R5547PUXKr
— CSPAN (@cspan) March 16, 2022
He pretended he didn't understand the question the first time.
— Dan (@dsager45) March 16, 2022
Oh … oh.. my people told me to go back and change my answer.
— Jacc2729 (@acapri74) March 16, 2022
That's a direct criminal charge. Will the US then sit back and do nothing about this war criminal, as he continues his crimes against humanity every day?
— Licra Don (@DonLicra) March 16, 2022
Noam Blum makes a solid point:
This is a bad answer because how can he then defend himself if they reach a peace agreement tomorrow and we just go back to doing business with Putin? The smart way to respond to a question like this right now is to not respond. https://t.co/HARQQdoHps
— Noam Blum (@neontaster) March 16, 2022
I like the moral clarity.
— Holden (@Holden114) March 16, 2022
So clear he had to back track.
— James Baker (@JDtheDJ2004) March 16, 2022
It's only moral clarity if you follow through and don't ignore what you said later for the sake of stability. https://t.co/sFPPy7kLyo
— Noam Blum (@neontaster) March 16, 2022
Well, in fairness, he gave both answers. So you just edit out the inconvenient one later. Badabingbadaboom.
— Casey Mattox (@CaseyMattox_) March 16, 2022
It's also a bad answer because he at first said no, and then acted like he didn't hear the question (someone told him to go back and say "yes").
— David In Maryland (@DavidInMaryland) March 16, 2022
Biden finally answers a question and it's the one he should have ignored
— Ranadicus 🙏 🇺🇦 (@Ranadicus) March 16, 2022
He’s had no problem ignoring the press before.
He only responds to bad questions. Ignores the good ones. Somehow still messes up.
— Wat (@YallAreBabies) March 16, 2022
To be fair, he really has no idea what he’s even saying
— Shibbey (@_Shibbey_) March 16, 2022
He already said Putin is a killer, a year ago?
— Too good to go. (@youflavio) March 16, 2022
Most aggressive appropriate answer would be "that will be for a court to decide".
— Crosspatch-ish (@VictorishB123) March 16, 2022
Good answer. Putin can be tried at The Hague for war crimes right after Tucker Carlson is.
We unfortunately do business with tons of war criminals.
— illinidiva (@illinidiva12) March 16, 2022
Right but this will be an especially raw and present wound, whether for good reasons or not.
— Noam Blum (@neontaster) March 16, 2022
Why do you think they block him from ever taking questions?
— Mike (@MyDigitalSoul) March 16, 2022
This reminds us of companies like Disney spouting a bunch of crap about Florida while still doing business in China.
* * *
Update:
Russia Today reminds us that they get C-SPAN at the Kremlin too:
⚡️Biden calls Putin a ‘war criminal’…Kremlin responds saying Biden’s words are ‘unacceptable and unforgivable‘ pic.twitter.com/5WjZIa7nx8
— RT (@RT_com) March 16, 2022
Related:
Joe Biden's story about confronting Vladimir Putin may not sound believable, but it sure does sound familiar https://t.co/ThuuoiELTb
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) March 17, 2021
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