First Lady mocks Joe Biden and blocks questions at White House event
The First Lady poked fun at US President Joe Biden as she welcomed guests at a reception celebrating the Lunar New Year at the White House.
Jill Biden hosted the event alongside her husband and picked on him about his dancing skills when he said he wanted to dance, saying he would "ruin the evening".
As soon as the performance of the Choy Wun Lions was completed, the president turned to Dr Jill Biden, and asked: "You going to dance?"
To which she replied, "No, you’re good. No, but I would love that costume", to which everyone laughed.
She then called the president to step up and conclude the event alongside her, calling: "Come on up, Joe."
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Joe Biden can be heard saying "I’m not dancing. I don’t dance".
The couple hosted a reception to celebrate the Chinese New Year at the White House (Ron Sachs/CNP / SplashNews.com)His wife replied, "No, you’re not going to dance, believe me. We don’t want to ruin the evening", with more laughter and applause erupting among the guests.
Dr Jill Biden then made another joke and praised the performers before she wished the guests Happy New Year.
She said: "You know, it was so funny, I saw that tangerine there when I was speaking, and I thought — I thought, 'Oh one of the workers left that.' Thank God I — thank God I didn’t pick it up. But anyway, weren’t they amazing? Can we give them another round?"
"So please join us for a reception. And welcome to the White House. Happy New Year."
Joe Biden sparked laughter among the guests sharing candid details on his cat, Willow (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)Earlier in the reception, Joe Biden confessed that his cat, Willow, climbs up on their bed at night and lays on top of his head.
While most of Asia celebrates the year of the rabbit in 2023, Vietnam celebrates the year of the cat.
Again sparking laughter among the crowd, Joe Biden said: "For many of you, this is the year of the rabbit. And for others, like the Vietnamese community, it’s the year of the cat.
"The rabbit — earnest and persistent in the face of great challenges. The cat — majestic, beloved, a protector. By the way, that sounds like our cat, Willow."
He went on: "You think I’m kidding. Willow may walk in here any time now. She has no limits. Oh, you think I’m kidding? I’m not. Especially in the middle of the night when she climbs up and lays on top of my head."
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Joe Biden watched a performance of the Choy Wun Lions (Kyle Mazza/via ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock)During the reception, Joe Biden and the first lady acknowledged the recent mass shooting in the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in California and stressed their hopes to pass legislation reforming gun control.
Eleven people were killed at a Southern California ballroom dance hall late Saturday and seven others died Monday at two mushroom farms in the northern part of the state.
The shootings were carried out during celebrations of the arrival of the Lunar New Year, one of the most important Asian holidays, and sent fear through Asian American communities already dealing with increased violence directed at them, some of it due to misinformation about the coronavirus.
The reception came days after two shootings in Asian American communities in California (REX/Shutterstock)During his speech at the reception, Mr Biden said: "Our prayers are with the people of Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay, and after yet another spree of gun violence in America".
The gathering, which was scheduled before the shootings, began with a moment of silence in honour of the victims.
Biden had ordered American flags on federal facilities lowered to half-staff through sunset Thursday out of respect for the Monterey Park victims.
He said Thursday that he has been in touch with California Governor Gavin Newsom.
The couple stressed their hopes to pass legislation reforming gun control in light of the shootings (Susan Walsh/AP/REX/Shutterstock)He also sent Vice President Kamala Harris, a native of the state, to Monterey Park on Wednesday to offer condolences on behalf of the government.
Biden said he had spoken with Brandon Tsay, 26, who was at a second dance hall a few miles from the scene of the tragedy in Monterey Park when the same gunman entered, brandishing his weapon. Tsay disarmed the gunman, who then fled.
Biden praised Tsay's courage and called him a "genuine hero".
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