The White House has responded to US President Joe Biden's 'xenophobic' remark, clarifying that he was making a "broader point". White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre asserted that America's allies and partners "know very well" how much Biden "respects them".
"He (Biden) was making a more broad comment, speaking about this (US) country and speaking about how important it is to be a country of immigrants and how it makes our country stronger. And so, that’s what he was talking about," she said.
At a fundraising event on Wednesday, Biden called two of the US's QUAD partners - India and Japan - along with China and Russia "xenophobic". He added that it was "xenophobia" that was hurting the economic growth of these nations. The US President made the statements suggesting these four countries didn't accept migrants.
"One of the reasons why our economy's growing is because of you and many others. Why? Because we welcome immigrants," Biden was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters.
Responding to questions about the remarks at her daily press briefing, Jean-Pierre said, "He was making a broader point. Our allies and partners know very well that — how much this president respects them.
She said that if looked at the last three years, Biden has "certainly focused" on America's diplomatic ties with India and Japan, with whom it shares a "strong relationship".
"He was talking about who we are as a country. He was talking about the importance of being in a country of immigrants, especially as you see the attacks that we have seen very recently, in the last couple of years, those attacks on immigrants, in particular," the White House Press Secretary said, defending the US President.
Jean-Pierre further stated that Biden is always going to be "really clear" about speaking on matters that matter to the American people. "We are a country of immigrants. That matters. And we've seen these attacks. And so, the President is never going to shy away from that," she said.
The White House press secretary said that it was important to remember that the US is a "country of immigrants" and added that her explanation was a way to make clear what Biden "was talking about and what he was focusing on in those comments". "A country of immigrants makes us stronger. It is important to be very clear about that," she added.
While addressing his supporters at the Democratic Party fundraiser here on Wednesday evening, Biden said, "This election is about freedom, America and democracy. That's why I badly need you. You know, one of the reasons why our economy is growing is because of you and many others. Why? Because we welcome immigrants."
India and Japan are members of QUAD - a four-member strategic security dialogue along with the US and Australia.
Biden's remarks came amid attacks by his opponents and the Republican Party for his immigration policies.
