News Alert: Biden fist-bumps Mohammed bin Salman as he arrives for controversial meeting with Saudis

[Celerity]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/07/15/biden-saudi-mbs/



JIDDAH, Saudi Arabia — President Biden greeted Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with a fist bump Friday as he arrived here for a controversial meeting with the Saudi leader, a high-stakes diplomatic engagement that marked a reversal of Biden’s promise to make the kingdom a “pariah” state for its human rights violations.

Biden and bin Salman, along with their top aides, met Friday night at a large rectangular table in the Al Salam Royal Palace, where they were expected to address a range of issues from oil production to human rights to the war in Yemen. The meeting followed Biden’s two-day visit to Israel.

Neither leader, however, answered questions from reporters, who sought to ask Biden if Saudi Arabia was still a “pariah” and the crown prince if he would apologize to the family of Jamal Khashoggi, a contributing columnist for the Washington Post and an outspoken critic of Saudi Arabia who was murdered in 2018. U.S. intelligence officials have determined the crown prince ordered Khashoggi’s killing by Saudi agents, though he has denied that.

Biden arrived in Jiddah from Tel Aviv on Friday afternoon, descending Air Force One on a light purple carpet, and was greeted by a small coterie of Saudi officials. Unlike the elaborate and effusive welcome ceremony that greeted him Wednesday when he arrived in Israel, Biden was only on the tarmac at King Abdulaziz International Airport for one minute before entering the presidential limousine and departing.

snip

[no_hypocrisy]

1. How disarming!

[treestar]

2. Apparently people care about higher prices at the gas pump

A lot more. So it's not on the President alone. He knows what's important to the American people. It's the gas prices.

[Tetrachloride]

3. In our days of Covid and MonkeyPox, fist bump is safer

[LiberalFighter]

8. I agree

[Demsrule86]

9. Indeed. I tested positive for Covid on June 22...a couple of days and was fine or so I thought.

Two weeks later I went to ER with agonizing pain in my left lower stomach and found out I had A-Fib, blood clots in my kidney (blocking blood flow which caused the pain in my left side), and multiple clots in my stomach. I also had Covid Pneumonia...thankfully no blood clots in the lungs although there was some damage...spent six days in the hospital and will take medicine for the rest of my life.

I never hardly took an Asprin before this and took no prescription meds... I need Eliquist (costs $500 a month with insurance) as the doctor does think coumadin will not work for me (blood thinners). I also have a murmur...small leaks in two places. I barely escaped a ventilator. I had all the shots and the boosters so beware guys...wear a mask. Biden should wear a mask and a fist bump is a good idea. I have no idea why this happened but I will say I was in a small hospital which had 7 Covid patients when I left...none when I arrived.

[Bluethroughu]

13. Wow, that's terrible and scary as hell.

I hope you make a full recovery and are able to get off the meds at some point, hopefully sooner than later.

I can not trust a regime that would cut up someone that is just a critic. I hope President Biden makes it home unscathed.

[Demsrule86]

17. I basically have what Fetterman has but don't need a pacemaker because it just happened.

He ignored it and didn't take the meds likely...although I could see why one wouldn't want to take Coumedine as you need twice weekly blood work and it is hard to stay in rhythm Eliquist is pretty new which is why it is so expensive. However, I will have A-fib forever. There are some other things I can do...surgical procedures which will help... so we shall see. I am as weak as a kitten which makes me so mad. I was rarely ill and flipped two houses last summer...But I count my blessings. Had I not gone to the ER, I like would have had a heart attack or a stroke that night.

[Bluethroughu]

19. We've been so cautious this whole time and have not got it yet.

Thank you for sharing because some of those symptoms I wouldn't nessassarily think were Covid at first, and time is of the essence with this virus.

Rest and care for yourself. I hope six months from now you make a miraculous recovery, but I'm a realist and I know it's a tough road ahead.

Sending you big blue healing vibes. 💙

[Demsrule86]

25. Thanks, I had no underlying health issues...I felt tired around the fourth and beyone...

we had big family parties where Mom (me) made all the family favorites...I had a physical scheduled for that Friday...I woke up around 6 Am and was in agony...thought it was gall stones. So I refused to allow hubs to call an ambulance and he can't drive due to the spinal operation. I was too sick to drive...so he called our daughter who took the day off and showed up and insisted I go to the hospital...by then the pain was worse and I put up no fight... my left kidney was blocked so no blood flow by the blood clot. And I was in A-fib...that I didn't realize. I also have pneumonia. There was one covid patient when I arrived. A week later there were seven on my floor. Be careful.

[Demsrule86]

20. I agree. I worry about Biden too. I don't trust the SS.

[jcgoldie]

4. Biden does it in place of handshakes because covid

Hearing Andrea Mitchell report with concern on every Biden fist bump is comical. In Israel the implication seemed to be he was being too informal and showing disrespect. Now that he's in Saudi Arabia with MBS it seems that its because they are homeboys...

[emulatorloo]

5. +1 Mitchell is very good at Fake Outrage

[BlueJac]

6. It is a Covid handshake not a earth shattering event!

[Novara]

7. Why the hell is this a news story?

[CatWoman]

12. someone needs to inform this guy

Link to tweet

[ColinC]

10. Would people prefer he shake his hand and increase likelihood of covid?

[Baked Potato]

11. An important, necessary meeting. Nt

[awesomerwb1]

14. How is this "news"?

[BlackSkimmer]

15. Not cool.

But not surprised.

[budkin]

16. I shudder to think how low his poll numbers will fall

It's not going to be pretty

[LuckyCharms]

27. Deleted. Wrong spot. Sorry.

[YourFriendlySnake]

18. Two awesome dudes!

Saudis and America are friends to the end!!! 🥰

[demmiblue]

24. Enjoy your stay.

[tenderfoot]

26. LULZ

[LuckyCharms]

28. IT'S A DANGER NOODLE!!!

[gopiscrap]

29. welcome to DU

[llashram]

30. have to be

'friends'. Money and oil are kings in this association...NOTHING AWESOME ABOUT THIS ARRANGEMENT. Been this way for decades. Trillions in money and oil reserves.

[2naSalit]

21. At least he wasn't wearing a TAN SUIT!!

[PufPuf23]

22. That is Joe telling the murderous MSB, "You are not sawing off my fingers".

and MSB replying, "Neither are you".

[LuckyCharms]

23. Biden agreed to meet with him, or vice-versa...

however this meeting came about.

When two parties agree to meet, it's common courtesy to shake hands.

In the age of Covid, fist-bumping or elbow-bumping is a common substitute for shaking hands.

It's as simple as that.

There's no special meaning behind a fist bump. In fact, it's less personal than a handshake.

Maybe the media should be talking about how tfg is going to go full Hitler if this country doesn't wise up, instead of talking about a fist bump.

K&R for your post.