Biden says Finnish reporter may not ‘be able to go home,’ confuses Iceland and IrelandBy Steven Nelson
July 13, 2023
HELSINKI, Finland — President Biden grew flustered with a reporter here Thursday and angrily told her that she doesn’t know if she will make it home — after he confused the nations of Iceland and Ireland, the latter of which he called his “home” despite nearly two centuries of genealogical distance.
Iida Tikka, of Finland’s public broadcaster YLE, was the second member of the press in two days to provoke a presidential outburst in response to a question.
“What actions will you take to assure Finland that US will remain a reliable NATO partner for decades to come?” she asked at a press conference after noting fringe American politicians who oppose US membership in the Atlantic alliance.
“I absolutely guarantee it,” Biden began, citing “overwhelming support” for NATO from the US public and Congress before adding, “no one can guarantee the future, but this is the best bet anyone could make.”
The reporter then addressed Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, asking: “Hearing this answer that no one can guarantee a future, are you worried that the political instability in the US will cause issues in the alliance in the future?”
* * *
Source:
https://nypost.com/2023/07/13/biden-says-finnish-reporter-may-not-be-able-to-go-home/
