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Biden mocked for saying journos from India are 'better behaved' than those from US

Many reminded Biden that the Indian press ranked 142 in the world in press freedom while the US ranked 44

Joe Biden has ridiculed the American press twice in the week gone by - both in the presence of world leaders. On September 24, Biden met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and before the meeting started he remarked that the Indian press "is much better behaved" than the American press. He also advised Modi to not take any questions from American journalists. "You could not answer questions because they won't ask any questions on point," Biden told Modi. 

Biden has lashed out at the press on a number of occasions in the recent past. For instance, he traveled to Pennsylvania in July to talk about his administration's new initiatives to boost US manufacturing at a 'Buy American' event. On being asked if he'd make Covid vaccinations mandatory for military personnel, he snapped, "I'm talking about Made in America today, that's all I'm going to talk about." He later added, "Tomorrow I'll talk about whatever you want to talk about, including COVID."

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Biden advised Modi to reject questions by American press

Biden ridiculed the American press during his meeting with Modi at the Oval Office. Earlier this week, on September 21, he had refused to take questions from American journalists during his meeting with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The press pool was escorted out of the Oval Office while Johnson was still answering a question leading to furor amongst reporters. They then filed a formal complaint with the White House about not getting any formal questions while the British press was able to do exactly that.

Coming to his meeting with Modi, Biden said as they sat down, "I think what we're going to do is bring in the press." Further adding that the Indian press is well-behaved than their American counterparts, he said, "I think with your permission you could not answer questions because they won't ask any questions on point." A clip of this incident was shared by RNC research on Twitter and it has crossed 100K views. Biden was slammed on the Internet for his behavior towards reporters and many reminded him that the Indian press ranked 142 in the world in press freedom while the USA ranked 44.

White House journalists responded to the clip on Twitter. Katie Rogers tweeted, "I thought Modi had said this when I heard about it, but nope that's the American president." Christian Datoc remarked, "Pretty Trumpian." Chuck Ross tweeted, "India ranks 142nd in the world in press freedom, according to Reporters Without Borders. Russia is 150th (U.S. is 44)."

WaPo's White House Bureau chief Ashley Parker blasted the Biden administration for their treatment of American journalists during Johnson's meeting with the Prez. 

"Worth noting that Biden ran for office promising to restore democracy after 4 years of Trump. But today it was the British leader, NOT the American one, who spotlighted a key tenet of a flourishing democracy - respect for a free press - by taking questions from his press corps," Parker had tweeted the same night. A month ago, Biden had properly lashed out at CNN corresponded Kaitlan Collins who asked, "Why are you so confident Putin will change his behavior Mr. President?" to which he responded quite aggressively saying, "What the hell? When did I say I was confident?" and also said that she was in the wrong job. He later apologized on the tarmac for being "a wise guy".