President Biden’s appearance at an overseas press conference ended abruptly when he announced he was going to bed, and his press secretary and jazz music intervened to usher him off the podium.
The incident happened as Biden took questions on Sunday in Hanoi, Vietnam, following the G20 summit in India.
He announced, “I’m going to go to bed,” then tried to answer a question related to his discussions with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in a video posted by Fox News.
“We talked about stability, we talked about making sure the Third World, excuse me, the Third World … the Southern Hemisphere has access to change. Had access. It wasn’t confrontational at all –” Biden said before his press secretary’s voice and music interrupted him.
“Thank you everybody. This ends the press conference. Thanks, everyone,” announced Karine Jean-Pierre, according to the Daily Mail, as jazz music began playing and the President’s microphone was cut off.
His microphone was briefly turned back on as he attempted to answer another question before walking away from the podium.
Commentators cited the incident as evidence that the president’s appearances seem to be micromanaged by people behind the scenes.
“Minders rule,” observed Tim Anderson on X, adding, “White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre abruptly ended a news conference in [Vietnam] by US President Joe on Sunday, cutting the president off mid-sentence as he rambled about ‘the third world’ and his conversation with Chinese Premier Li Qiang.”
Still, an official from the White House reportedly emphasized to Fox News that Biden had answered multiple questions from other reporters during the presser.
“The President substantively answered questions from 7 reporters. This is a distraction, and it would do your readers a good service to dive into his answers on China, relations with Indo-Pacific countries, human rights and climate change instead,” the official apparently told Fox.
This was the second time in less than a week that Biden left a regular presidential activity before its official end. On Tuesday, Biden departed a Medal of Honor ceremony after awarding the medal to the recipient but before the closing prayer, as reported by Fox News.
Biden presented the award to 81-year-old former U.S. Army Captain Larry Taylor, who, in 1968, flew a helicopter to rescue four soldiers who were surrounded by the enemy. But immediately after shaking Taylor’s hand, amidst the applause, Biden suddenly walked off the stage, through the audience, and out of the room.
Again, some remarked that Biden was not following protocol and opined as to why.
The Washington Post’s Marc Thiessen wrote on X, “He wasn’t supposed to leave yet. In East Room ceremonies they always ask people to remain in their seats while the president exits when the ceremony is finished. More mental confusion.”
Still, Press Secretary Jean-Pierre claimed everything went as intended.
“He left as planned, as it was planned,” she said, according to Fox News. “He left when there was a pause in the program in order to minimize his close contact with attendees who are about to participate in a reception.”