White House Panic: Goes Into Full Damage Control Mode Trying To Walk Back Biden Gaffe (VIDEO)
The White House is in full damage control trying to walk back inflammatory comments made by President Joe Biden.
After Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky finished addressing the United States Congres Biden signed a bill that allocated munitions to Ukraine.
“Putin is inflicting appalling, appalling devastation and horror on Ukraine, bombing apartment buildings, maternity wards, hospitals. I mean, it’s God awful,” Biden said. “The world is united in our support for Ukraine and our determination to make Putin pay a very heavy price.”
NEW: President Biden describes new assistance package to Ukraine:
• 800 anti-aircraft systems
• 9,000 anti-armor systems
• 7,000 small arms
• 20 million rounds of ammunition
• Drones“I want to be honest with you: This could be a long and difficult battle,” Biden says. pic.twitter.com/nZoIqaw4zL
— NBC News (@NBCNews) March 16, 2022
Shortly after the media address, Biden was asked by Jacqui Heinrich, a Fox News reporter if Vladimir Putin is a war criminal.
At first, Biden said, “No.”
A few moments later Biden asked Heinrich, “Did you ask me whether I would call… Oh, I, I think he is a war criminal.”
BREAKING: Pres. Biden calls Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin a ” war criminal.” https://t.co/SFaVioYGol pic.twitter.com/JfzN2lmJZ7
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) March 16, 2022
That prompted an immediate response from Moscow:
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the US president’s statement “unacceptable and unforgivable rhetoric on the part of the head of a state whose bombs have killed hundreds of thousands of people around the world”, according to Russian state news agency TASS.
Biden’s comments caused the White House to go into damage control mode. During a press briefing on the same day, Press Secretary Jen Psaki was asked about the possible consequences of Biden’s comments. Psaki claimed that Biden’s view was not the official position of the US government and he that he was merely “speaking from his heart.”
.@PressSec Jen Psaki on President Biden calling Putin a war criminal: “He was speaking from his heart.” pic.twitter.com/0FLxCkQHDo
— 24 Hours Europe (@24heuropegr) March 16, 2022
