White House defends Biden's statement calling India, China, Russia and Japan 'xenophobic'

White House defends Biden's remarks on immigration, calling India, Japan, Russia, and China "xenophobic" nations.

The United States is a country of immigrants, the White House has said, defending President Joe Biden's remarks calling two of his QUAD partners— India and Japan— as well as Russia and China "xenophobic" nations, asserting that none of these countries, unlike the U.S., welcome immigrants.

Responding to a question about the remarks made by Mr. Biden at an election fundraiser on May 2, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that the president was making a "broader point".

“He was making a broader point. Our allies and partners know very well that — how much this president respects them," Ms. Jean-Pierre told reporters at her daily news conference on Thursday.

"As you know, in regard to Japan, they were just here for the state visit. The U.S.-Japan relationship is an important relationship. It’s a deep, enduring alliance,” she said.

"He (Mr. Biden) was making a more broad comment, speaking about this 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.

“It relates to our relationship with our allies, that continues. We have a strong relationship with India (and) with Japan. And the President, if you just look at the last three years, has certainly focused on those diplomatic relationships," Ms. Jean-Pierre said.

“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 president.