Staff Reports
President Joe Biden is becoming notorious for his ability to push Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s buttons. During a press conference on Wednesday, Biden once again referred to China’s President Xi Jinping as a “dictator,” causing Blinken to visibly react to the forbidden word. This incident brings back memories of a similar slip-up in June when Biden first made the bold statement.
Secretary of State Blinken Winces as Biden Throws Year of Diplomacy Down the Toilet https://t.co/t8l1EsrmUR
— sally sneddon (@sally_sneddon) November 17, 2023
When asked by a reporter if he still believed Xi was a dictator, Biden confidently replied, “Look, he is. He’s a dictator in the sense that he’s a guy who runs a country that is a communist country that’s based on a form of government totally different than ours.” As the weight of Biden’s words sank in, Blinken grimaced and attempted to maintain his composure by fidgeting in his chair and tightly clasping his hands together.
The video of Blinken’s reaction quickly went viral, with even CNN acknowledging the rare importance of the moment. The First TV opinion news network captioned their version of the video with, “Check out Blinken’s face the moment Biden calls Xi a ‘dictator.'” Observers noted that Blinken appeared as though he wanted to crawl into a hole after hearing Biden’s comment.
This was no ordinary slip of the tongue. The incident occurred during a news conference following Biden’s meeting with Xi in San Francisco. The Chinese leader had traveled to the United States for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, and his meeting with Biden was supposed to strengthen ties between the two nations. However, Biden’s uncensored remark only served to worsen relations.
While there is a comedic element to Biden’s blunder, the consequences of his words should not be taken lightly. It raises questions about his ability to effectively negotiate with foreign leaders. As America’s adversaries continuously test our weaknesses, Biden’s lack of diplomatic finesse is concerning. He speaks without filter, even as the world inches closer to a potential World War III. Insulting a nation like China, which could play a significant role in starting a war, is far from ideal.
China’s power and influence alone make it a formidable opponent, but its growing alliance with Russia adds to the nightmare scenario. With Blinken’s pained expression, it’s evident that Biden’s loose lips may lead us down a dangerous path. As tensions rise, it becomes increasingly clear that Biden’s inability to maintain discretion or change the subject in crucial moments is a significant liability.
