During a press conference in Vietnam, President Joe Biden’s microphone was reportedly turned off by someone in charge as he started to wander off-topic in response to a question about U.S.-China relations. The question revolved around Biden’s lack of communication with Chinese President Xi Jinping for 10 months and its potential impact on relations between the two nations.
In his response, Biden veered into comments about meeting China’s “number two person in India” and expressed sympathy for Xi by highlighting China’s youth unemployment as a significant challenge. He then delved into a discussion about stability and access to change in the Southern Hemisphere before his microphone was abruptly cut off. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre swiftly concluded the press conference, stating, “Thank you, everybody. This concludes the press conference.”
Earlier in the same press conference, Biden acknowledged, “I’ll just follow my orders here. Staff, is there anybody who hasn’t spoken yet? I won’t be calling on you.”
Additionally, during the press conference, Biden used the phrase “lying dog-faced pony soldiers” to criticize those who dispute the narrative on climate change. He shared an anecdote involving John Wayne and a Native American chief, although there is no conclusive evidence of such a scene in any John Wayne movie.
Biden has used this story on multiple occasions in the past, but it has faced scrutiny for its accuracy, as it appears to combine scenes from different movies involving John Wayne and members of the U.S. cavalry.