A spokesperson for President Joe Biden defended his statement that Indian Americans are “taking over the country,” The Economic Times reports. The statement was made during a virtual NASA conference that Biden spoke at last week.
Biden told Swati Mohan, the NASA engineer behind the landing of the Mars Rover Perseverance, “”It’s amazing. Indians of descent Americans are taking over this country. You, my Vice President, my speechwriter Vinay [Reddy]. But I tell you what: thanks. You guys are incredible.”
Jen Psaki, the White House Press Secretary, said during a daily briefing that the comment was a recognition of Indian American contributions to the U.S. “The President was just recognizing and honoring and valuing — or this was his intention — the incredible contribution of Indian Americans to science,” she said, according to Zee News.
“He just believes it was a reflection of his belief that Indian-Americans make a great contribution to the fabric of society, whether it’s science or education or the government. And that was what he was trying to convey,” she added.
Several Internet users have claimed that there is a double standard in the generally positive response to Biden’s comment. In the comments of the above video, Youtube user Jackson Willbert wrote, “If Trump made this joke, liberals would have a meltdown.”
Psaki tried to further contextualize Biden’s statement, noting, “He was speaking to an Indian American woman who is, of course, a scientist and an important part of the NASA team. And he also was, of course, recognizing the incredible contribution of his own Vice President, Kamala Harris.”
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