Biden exhibits no regrets in excess of fist bump with MBS: 'Happy to answer a issue that matters'

Daniel Chaitin

July 17, 01:26 AM July 17, 01:28 AM

President Joe Biden dismissed his controversial fist bump with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to start off his excursion to Saudi Arabia as an inconsequential gesture.

Reporters greeted Biden on the South Garden of the White House shortly soon after midnight Sunday morning, marking an conclusion of his return journey from his very first Middle East tour as president. Just one requested Biden no matter whether he regretted the fist bump, which drew prevalent condemnation, even just after the White Residence had said Biden would not shake hands when meeting with leaders in the Middle East because of to COVID-19 pitfalls.

"Why don't you guys talk about one thing that issues? I'm happy to respond to a dilemma that issues," Biden said in reply.

BUMPY Experience: BIDEN FACES CRITICISM IN AFTERMATH OF Meeting WITH SAUDI LEADERS

Biden drew controversy when he greeted Bin Salman, also recognized as MBS, on Friday with a fist bump that was caught on digicam upon his arrival at Al Salman Palace, in Jeddah. He laughed when a reporter mentioned he had come "under a whole lot of hearth" for it when taking concerns soon after his assembly with MBS. But even allies knocked him for the gesture. "If ever we required a visual reminder of the continuing grip oil-loaded autocrats have on U.S. international coverage in the Middle East, we obtained it today," tweeted Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA). "A person fist bump is value a thousand terms."

In distinct, Biden was less than powerful scrutiny in excess of no matter if he would push MBS on the 2018 murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a United States resident and columnist for the Washington Article, at Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul. A U.S. intelligence report found MBS accredited the operation, but Saudi officials have denied MBS had any part in the assassination.

Biden claims he confronted the de facto Saudi ruler about Khashoggi for the duration of their conference. Having said that, Saudi officers assert MBS confronted Biden about abuse of prisoners at Iraq's Abu Ghraib jail by U.S. military staff and the U.S. response to the killing of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in the occupied West Lender, in accordance to CNN.

Biden responded with a flat "no" when requested on his return to the White Household whether the Saudi international minister was telling the reality when he claimed to not have listened to the president accuse the crown prince of Khashoggi's murder. Biden also said he is "hoping" inflation will go down, and when asked if he would honor his marketing campaign pledge to launch all of the cannabis inmates in jail, Biden claimed he does not think "anyone need to be in jail for the use of cannabis."