white-house-upholds-biden-s-remark-calling-india-china-russia-japan-xenophobic

The White House has defended President Joe Biden's recent remarks, in which he referred to two QUAD partners, India and Japan, as well as Russia and China as "xenophobic" nations. 

 

The White House stated that the President was making a broader point about the United States being a country of immigrants, unlike other countries that do not welcome immigrants. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre clarified this point while responding to a question about Biden's statements at an election fundraiser last Wednesday.

 

“He was making a broader point. Our allies and partners know very well that — how much this president respects them," Jean-Pierre told reporters at her daily news conference on Thursday.

 

"He (Biden) was making a more broad comment, speaking about this country and speaking about how important it is to be a country of immigrants and how it makes our country stronger. And so, that’s what he was talking about,” she said.

 

“He was talking about who we are as a country. He was talking about the importance of being in a country of immigrants, especially as you see the attacks that we have seen very recently, in the last couple of years, those attacks on immigrants, in particular,” the White House Press Secretary said, defending the president.

 

"The President is always going to be really clear on speaking to issues that matter to the American people. We are a country of immigrants. That matters. And we’ve seen these attacks. And so, the President is never going to shy away from that,” Jean-Pierre said.

 

While addressing his supporters at the Democratic Party fundraiser on Wednesday evening, Biden said, "This election is about freedom, America and democracy. That's why I badly need you. You know, one of the reasons why our economy is growing is because of you and many others. Why? Because we welcome immigrants." 

 

"We look to — the reason — look, think about it. Why is China stalling so badly economically? Why is Japan having trouble? Why is Russia? Why is India? Because they're xenophobic. They don't want immigrants,” Biden, the presumptive candidate of the Democratic Party, said.

 

India and Japan are members of QUAD - a four-member strategic security dialogue that includes the US and Australia.

 

Biden welcomed Indian Prime Minister Modi for a State Visit last year, while Japanese Prime Minister Kishida visited the White House in April for an official meeting.