President Biden arrived in Saudi Arabia earlier today, and topics of discussion are expected to include asking that country to ramp up oil production. Biden is also going to deliver unscheduled remarks at the end of the day:
🚨NEW – and prior to just now, not part of the planning – The President will deliver remarks at 10:30PM in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This will be covered by the travel pool.
— Jacqui Heinrich (@JacquiHeinrich) July 15, 2022
Will part of Biden’s remarks include addressing some of the condemnation in the U.S. for the “fist bump” with the Saudi Crown Prince?
Biden fist bumps with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as meetings get underway in Jeddah pic.twitter.com/jtdgUYmliD
— Kevin Liptak (@Kevinliptakcnn) July 15, 2022
Among those who weren’t happy with the fist bump is the publisher of the Washington Post, one of the media outlets that had published columns from slain writer Jamal Khashoggi:
— Kristine Coratti Kelly (@kriscoratti) July 15, 2022
Fist-bump condemnation from the Washington Post’s publisher: https://t.co/UKCWpDrgjr
— Jacqui Heinrich (@JacquiHeinrich) July 15, 2022
Our @CNBC story on @POTUS fist bumping MBS in Saudi Arabia, drawing outrage from Jamal Khashoggi employer, fiancee, congressman and others. https://t.co/LMRKPp8kRl https://t.co/l39WxkiHJ8
— Dan Mangan (@_DanMangan) July 15, 2022
The Post has clearly changed its tune on Biden, at least for today:
"From the Washington Post's endorsement in 2020:
"On foreign policy, Mr. Biden offers an enormously positive change…
He would end Mr. Trump’s…coddling of Arab dictatorships such as Saudi Arabia"https://t.co/zzK4v1ouw7
— Sunny McSunnyface (@sunnyright) July 15, 2022
"Mr. Biden’s approach would be values-based, not erratic and transactional."
"Mr. Biden would convene a “Summit for Democracy” to unite democracies in “fighting corruption, defending against authoritarianism and advancing human rights."https://t.co/zzK4v1ouw7
— Sunny McSunnyface (@sunnyright) July 15, 2022
The WaPo changed its tune fairly fast.
And if Biden really wanted to do that, he would have implemented a rational energy policy that allowed the US to maintain its independence from OPEC production. His oft-professed promised to end US oil production should have been the WaPo's first clue. https://t.co/aCD6FpDRD3
— Ed Morrissey (@EdMorrissey) July 15, 2022
Bingo!
Update:
Biden took questions in Saudi Arabia and laughed off a question about the fist bump:
Joe Biden laughs when a woman journalist asks him about criticism of his fist-bump with MBS
"What a silly question"
— Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) July 15, 2022
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Related:
CNN’s John King reminds us to give Biden & the Dems some grace because ‘governing is hard’
Biden under fire for four new gaffes while visiting East Jerusalem
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