President Biden Expresses Discontent at G-7 Summit: Reactions to Debt-Limit Inquiries and A Close Call
President Joe Biden had a moment of exasperation at a recent press conference during the G-7 economic summit in Hiroshima, Japan, responding tersely to a reporter who attempted to interrupt him while he was discussing high-stake debt-limit negotiations.
Biden, while stepping into a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, expressed optimism that the United States would avoid an economic default. He patiently laid out the step-by-step process of the ongoing discussions involving the White House and House Republicans concerning the urgent need to raise the country's debt ceiling.
However, when an Australian journalist sought to intervene, the President, showing clear annoyance, retorted, "Shush up, OK?" Biden continued to elaborate on the negotiation process, citing his extensive experience.
"I’ve been in these negotiations before," Biden stated. "What happens is the first meetings weren’t all that progressive. The second ones were. The third one was. And then, what happens is they — the carriers go back to the principals and say, 'This is what we’re thinking about.' And then, people put down new claims."
This incident, however, was not the only moment involving the President to make waves at the G-7 summit. On May 19, during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the President, who's speculated to be a potential 2024 candidate, narrowly avoided a fall when he lost his balance on a set of stairs. The quick reflexes of the President saved him from an unfortunate stumble, but he appeared somewhat bewildered throughout the day.
The twin episodes have stirred the social media pot, with several people offering their comments. One Twitter user suggested, "Biden need rest go home Brandon," while another remarked, "He literally couldn’t walk down the stairs without stumbling."
A user took a jab at Biden's potential 2024 candidacy, saying, "Joe Biden doesn’t stand a f****** chance."
Both episodes, along with the President's reactions, were reported by The New York Post, drawing widespread attention from the public and the media alike.