President Biden delivered a sarcastic answer Wednesday in the State Dining Room to a reporter’s question about the ongoing evacuation of Americans from Afghanistan — but viewers couldn’t hear it because the audio feed from the White House cut out.
The president, who has strongly defended his administration’s response to the crisis, was asked by Peter Alexander what he would do if Americans are still in Afghanistan after the 31 August deadline to withdraw US troops.
And the smiling Commander-in-Chief told Alexander, “You’ll be the first person I call.”
The White House then proceeded to cut off the audio feed from Biden’s response. It was unclear if the maneuver was coincidental or done to prevent feed viewers from hearing any off-the-cuff comments.
REPORTER: “If Americans are still in Afghanistan after the deadline what will you do?”
BIDEN: *smirks*
*White House cuts audio feed* pic.twitter.com/k0SGWhpXm6
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) August 25, 2021
“The White House then proceeded to cut off the audio feed from Biden’s response,” Fox News reported. “It was unclear if the maneuver was coincidental or done to prevent feed viewers from hearing any off-the-cuff comments.”
Alexander took to Twitter to recount the incident. “I asked President Biden what he will do if Americans are still in Afghanistan after the 8/31 deadline.
His response: ‘You’ll be the first person I call.’ Took no questions.”
I asked President Biden what he will do if Americans are still in Afghanistan after the 8/31 deadline.
His response: “You’ll be the first person I call.”
Took no questions. pic.twitter.com/MlyFIayrMZ— Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) August 25, 2021
Other reporters at the event confirmed the exchange, including Daily Caller correspondent Shelby Talcott, Breitbart correspondent Charlie Spiering, and Voice of America’s Steve Herman.
“Pres. Biden (after introductory remarks on cybersecurity) ignored a question about what he’ll do if Americans are still in Afghanistan after Aug 31. When it was repeated, he joked to the reporter that ‘you’ll be the first person I call,’ per pool report,” Talcott wrote on Twitter.
Pres. Biden (after introductory remarks on cybersecurity) ignored a question about what he’ll do if Americans are still in Afghanistan after Aug 31. When it was repeated, he joked to the reporter that “you’ll be the first person I call,” per pool report.
— Shelby Talcott (@ShelbyTalcott) August 25, 2021
“The White House cut the audio/video feed of Biden’s event so viewers could not hear reporters could ask questions. Media pool cameras, however, kept rolling,” Spiering tweeted.
The White House cut the audio/video feed of Biden’s event so viewers could not hear reporters could ask questions.
Media pool cameras, however, kept rolling pic.twitter.com/fdTWpyp7ZO
— Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) August 25, 2021
“Responding to @PeterAlexander, @POTUS quipped he’d be the first person he calls when he decides what to do about evacuees remaining in #Afghanistan, according to @stevenportnoy,” Herman wrote.
About a half million #cybersecurity jobs in the US “remain unfilled,” according to @POTUS. pic.twitter.com/mNkH8rmzsI
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) August 25, 2021
Republicans ascribed sinister intent to the White House.
“REPORTER: ‘If Americans are still in Afghanistan after the deadline what will you do?’ BIDEN: *smirks* *White House cuts audio feed*,” wrote the Republican National Committee.
Josh Holmes, former chief of staff to Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), tweeted, “The White House cuts the President’s microphone. Pretty remarkable.”
Republican communicator Matt Whitlock tweeted, “Oh my gosh they cut the President’s microphone so nobody could hear him answer. That’s how worried this White House is about Biden answering questions on Afghanistan.”
Steve Guest, special advisor for communications for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), said: “When Joe Biden does take questions, his handlers screen reporters and provide him a list of preapproved reporters to call on. Now, The White House is cutting the audio feed when a reporter tries to ask him a question. Operation Protect Joe Biden is in full swing.”
Others took aim at Biden for cracking a joke at such a serious time. “This isn’t funny. Americans are being held hostage in a Taliban-controlled country, yet Biden is telling jokes when asked if they would be left behind if they can’t get out by next week…” wrote one person on Twitter.
During the daily briefing, Fox News’ Peter Doocy asked White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki about Biden’s response: “What’s so funny?”
Psaki said “I think what he conveyed is that he has not — well, what I can convey from here, I should say is that, as he stated yesterday and as the secretary of state just stated, we’re on track to complete our mission by August 31”
Sources: Daily Wire, Fox News, New York Post, Yahoo News
