President Joe Biden met with members of the Saudi royal family on Friday. He was greeted by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the pair shared a fist bump. This shocked many, as Biden, pledged to make Saudi Arabia a ‘pariah’ during his 2020 campaign, after the 2018 murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
The Crown Prince is reportedly behind the killing of Khashoggi.
The video was well shared on social media, Reuters shared the video with the caption:
“U.S. President Joe Biden greeted Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with a fist bump. Less than two years ago, he pledged to make Saudi Arabia a ‘pariah’ over the 2018 murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi”
U.S. President Joe Biden greeted Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with a fist bump. Less than two years ago, he pledged to make Saudi Arabia a ‘pariah’ over the 2018 murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi https://t.co/N39URZpKms pic.twitter.com/HdeAwHd4TC
— Reuters (@Reuters) July 16, 2022
U.S. House Rep Adam Schiff (D-CA) was critical of the fist bump, and responded to the interaction on Twitter:
“If we ever needed a visual reminder of the continuing grip oil-rich autocrats have on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, we got it today. One fist bump is worth a thousand words.”
If we ever needed a visual reminder of the continuing grip oil-rich autocrats have on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, we got it today.
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) July 15, 2022
One fist bump is worth a thousand words.
Schiff was not alone in being critical of Biden’s handling of meeting with the Crown Prince, CEO of The Washington Post Fred Ryan released a statement shared by The Washinton Post CCO Kristine Kelly.
“The fist bump between President Biden and Mohammed bin Salman was worse than a handshake, it was shameful. It projected a level of intimacy and comfort that delivers to MBS the unwarranted redemption he has been desperately seeking.”
— Kristine Coratti Kelly (@kriscoratti) July 15, 2022
Khashoggi’s fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, had already condemned the meeting and released a video sending a message to Joe Biden, asking “If you have to put oil over principles, can you at least ask, ‘Where is Jamal’s body? What happened to his killers?”
“If you have to put oil over principles, can you at least ask, ‘Where is Jamal’s body? What happened to his killers?’”@mercan_resifi to @POTUS re-plans to meet w MBS. “You must uphold your vow to bring perpetrators of this brutal crime to justice.” Join us:https://t.co/PUMyi9TfuE pic.twitter.com/jWx7rGyYOa
— DAWN MENA (@DAWNmenaorg) June 15, 2022
After the fist bump, Cengiz quickly slammed the president proclaiming Biden owns the “blood” of the prince’s “next victim”.
What Jamal Khashoggi would tweet today: pic.twitter.com/Gv4Up7TLgd
— Hatice Cengiz / خديجة (@mercan_resifi) July 15, 2022
Biden’s interactions stirred up backlash from both sides, many wondering why he refuses to open up additional domestic oil production by encouraging it, instead of just pushing electric cars. Instead, he has met with dictators asking for them to supply the United States with more oil.
Biden’s approval ratings only highlight his disconnect from everyday Americans. Now his own party it seems may be looking for someone else to lead them in 2024.
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