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Jen Psaki snaps after reporter grills press secretary about Biden-Jinping talks: 'Don't put words in my mouth'

During a White House press briefing, a reporter asked Psaki if President Joe Biden had scheduled a call yet with Chinese President Xi Jinping
UPDATED FEB 3, 2021
Jen Psaki appeared to be angry after being asked about Joe Biden-Xi Jinping talks (Getty Images)
Jen Psaki appeared to be angry after being asked about Joe Biden-Xi Jinping talks (Getty Images)

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki raised eyebrows once again after appearing to snap at a reporter for "putting words" in her mouth over the Biden administration’s China strategy.

During a White House press briefing on Tuesday, February 2 afternoon, Politico reporter Anita Kumar asked Psaki if President Joe Biden had scheduled a call yet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Psaki responded saying the White House was still working on the best approach towards China and did not have a call scheduled. She promised to reveal further details in the future. “That sounds a lot like the strategy is not to talk to him at this time because you’re talking about speaking to allies and making other calls first,” Kumar responded. “Have they requested a call?”

“I don’t have anything more for you,” Psaki said. “I don’t appreciate the putting words in my mouth. That wasn’t what my effort was. What I was conveying is our strategy here, from the United States, which is to work with our partners and allies and determine what the right time is."

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Joe Biden and Xi Jinping shake hands before an expanded bilateral meeting (Getty Images)

Biden, who took office on January 20, has already spoken with the leaders of the UK, Canada, Germany, France, Japan, Mexico, and Russia. So far, the new president hasn't rescinded former President Donald Trump's tariffs against China. “Our approach to our relationship with China is strategic, obviously, and we are working to ensure that we are approaching that relationship from a position of strength, and that includes engagement with our allies and partners, a lot of those calls have happened... they will continue,” Psaki said at the briefing, adding: “Of course the relationship with China is going to be multilayered. We’ll deal with climate, we’ll deal with the economy, we’ll deal with security.”

The new White House Press Secretary was mocked by conservatives earlier this week for her promises to "circle back" to reporters. Psaki addressed the social media uproar when she took the lectern on Monday. "And last thing I just want to do before we get to your questions — I often note I’m going to “circle back.” I hate to disappoint conservative Twitter, but I am going to circle back on a number of things, as we often do directly," she said.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki speaks during a daily press briefing at the White House (Getty Images)

The White House press team also faced criticism earlier this week after reporters raised concerns about White House staffers trying to coax them into giving their questions in advance before asking them at the press briefings. Reporters raised concerns about Psaki's team trying to obtain their questions ahead of time at a White House Correspondent's Association Zoom call, The Daily Beast reported. WHCA leaders subsequently advised reporters to reject or not respond to such requests, multiple sources told the outlet.

“While it’s a relief to see briefings return, particularly with a commitment to factual information, the press can't really do its job in the briefing room if the White House is picking and choosing the questions they want,” one White House correspondent said. “That's not really a free press at all.”

“It pissed off enough reporters for people to flag it for the [WHCA] for them to deal with it,” another knowledgeable source added. The White House press team didn't deny the accusation while responding to The Daily Beast. However, it claimed this was routine work intended to make the briefings "as efficient as possible."

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