Karine Jean-Pierre Pressed By Reporters On Biden Calling Key Ally Japan ‘Xenophobic’: ‘Does the President Want to Apologize?’
(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre attempted during a Thursday press gaggle to explain the “broader” point President Joe Biden was making when he referred to Japan as “xenophobic.”
Multiple reporters jumped on the comment during a gaggle en route to North Carolina. Jean-Pierre was first asked if the president wanted to “apologize” for the remark about a key ally.
“Does the president want to apologize to Japan?” a reporter asked Jean-Pierre during the gaggle.
“The broader case that he was trying to make, which I think most leaders and allies across the globe understand, is he was trying — he was saying that when it comes to who we are as a nation, we are a nation of immigrants. That is in our DNA,” she said.
Biden included Japan in a list of countries he referred to as “xenophobic” for not being as open to immigrants as the United States.
“You know, one of the reasons why our economy is growing is because of you and many others. Why? Because we welcome immigrants. We look to – the reason – look, think about it – why is China stalling so badly economically? Why is Japan having trouble? Why is Russia? Why is India? Because they’re xenophobic. They don’t want immigrants,” he said during a Washington D.C. fundraiser on Wednesday.
Jean-Pierre insisted that the relationship between the U.S. and Japan remains strong and Biden’s comment did not cause “harm,” noting Biden hosted Prime Minister Fumio Kishida last month.
“Our allies and partners know very well how much this president respects them,” she said.
It was later noted by a reporter that “xenophobic” is a “very pejorative and negative word” to use about an ally, but Jean-Pierre insisted the president was “clear” in his remarks.
“I think the president was very clear, and I think —” Jean-Pierre began before someone jumped in.
“He wasn’t very clear. I mean, that’s why we’re asking you,” the reporter said.
“Here’s what I’m saying,” Jean Pierre said. “He was talking about who we are as a country, right? He was talking about the importance of being a country of immigrants.”
Watch above via The White House.
