'I'm going to bed': staff cut Biden's speech in Vietnam

A "rambling" press conference by Joe Biden in Vietnam was abruptly cut short by the White House staff, leaving many in the audience puzzled.

- ALISHA RAHAMAN SARKAR

It came at the end of a historic visit in which the US president highlighted new business deals and partnerships between the former enemies, including a $7.5bn (£6bn) aircraft deal between Vietnam Airlines and Boeing.

“We talked about stability, we talked about making sure the third world... excuse me... the southern hemisphere has access to change. It wasn’t confrontational at all,” the 80-year-old president said as he began to trail off.

His press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre cut in decisively: “Thank you, everybody. This ends the press conference. Thanks, everyone.” Mr Biden made his exit from the stage, but not before his microphone was abruptly muted and the speakers started to play jazz music while he continued to address reporters unaware that he was inaudible. “I’m going to go to bed,” the president said.

“Joe Biden’s staff cuts off a rambling Joe Biden mid-sentence and abruptly ends his news conference. I have never seen this occur with any other president,” wrote Andrew, a senior political analyst from Don’t Walk, Run! Productions.