During a tense Oval Office meeting on Tuesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President Joe Biden showed visible frustration with the aggressive questioning from White House reporters. Following the conclusion of his discussion with Zelenskyy, Biden was bombarded with inquiries from the assembled journalists, prompting him to raise his hand and demand, “Whoa! Whoa! Whoa, hush up a second, Okay?”
As the reporters quieted down, Biden announced, while holding a sheaf of documents, that he had authorized an additional $200 million in defense aid for Ukraine. This funding, he noted, would include various military supplies like ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), anti-armor systems, and millions of rounds of small arms ammunition, among other critical equipment.
Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude with a “Thank you very much” as reporters resumed their barrage of questions, leading to the eventual escorting of the press out of the room.
This latest financial commitment to Ukraine from the U.S. is part of the ongoing support that includes sophisticated military hardware aimed at bolstering Ukraine’s defenses against Russian aggression.
Zelenskyy’s visit to the U.S. also included meetings with key political figures such as Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and newly appointed Speaker Mike Johnson.
Biden’s interaction with the press during this meeting is another instance in a series of dismissive or confrontational responses he has had with journalists during his presidency. In 2021, after a question from CNN’s Kaitlan Collins about Putin, Biden remarked that she was in the “wrong business.” In a similar vein, he responded to NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell’s question by calling her a “pain in the neck” but agreed to answer because of their long-standing acquaintance.
More recently, Biden sharply criticized New York Post reporter Steven Nelson for asking what he deemed a “dumb question” about alleged financial benefits from Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings. In recent days, Biden has also been seen walking past reporters, ignoring further questions about his son’s legal issues.