Washington:
Hours after President Joe Biden called India, Japan and other countries “xenophobic,” the White House clarified the president's intentions and emphasized his “respect” for allies and partners.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre claimed the president's comments were part of a broader message emphasizing the strength that comes from America's immigrant heritage.
“Our allies and partners know very well how much this president respects them… He made a broad comment about this (American) country, about how important it is to be a country of immigrants and how it makes our country stronger. .”
The press secretary emphasized that Biden's focus remains on strengthening diplomatic relations with countries such as India and Japan, which is evident from his actions over the past three years.
“It's clear that we have a strong relationship with India and Japan, and the president, if you just look at the last three years, has certainly focused on those diplomatic relationships,” she added.
“The broader argument he was trying to make,” Jean Pierre continued, “which most leaders and allies around the world understand is that when it comes to who we are as a nation, we are a nation of immigrants.”
She emphasized the importance of America's immigrant identity and reiterated Biden's belief that diversity strengthens the nation. “That's in our DNA. You heard the president say it, it makes us better, and we are stronger because of it and that is a very important point to know,” Jean Pierre said.
The comments were made during a fundraiser in Washington, DC marking the start of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, which celebrates diversity in the United States. “One of the reasons our economy is growing is because of you and many others. Why? Because we welcome immigrants,” Biden said, according to a pool report and a transcript sent by the White House.
“Why is China stagnating so badly economically? Why does Japan have problems? Why is Russia? Why is India? Because they are xenophobic. They don't want immigrants,” he continued. “Immigrants are what makes us strong. No joke. That is not an exaggeration because we have an influx of employees who want to be here and just want to contribute,” he added.
White House national security communications adviser John Kirby also defended the president's comments, telling reporters that allies and partners like India and Japan understood that Biden “fully and utterly appreciates the idea of alliances and partnerships.”
Immigration is a polarizing issue in American politics and will almost certainly play a major role in November's presidential election. Illegal border crossings have contributed to an average influx of 2 million people per year since 2021, the highest level ever.
Polls show widespread public disapproval of President Biden's handling of the surge, and former President Donald Trump, who also faced criticism for his immigration policies, is running for office with promises to crack down on millions of people arrest and deport.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Our staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)