Gibbs threatened to pull Obama from New Delhi meeting over press dispute
November 9th, 2010 - 1:53 pm ICT by ANI
New Delhi, Nov 9 (ANI): White House press secretary Robert Gibbs had reportedly threatened to pull US President Barack Obama from a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Monday after security tried to restrict the number of U.S. reporters allowed into the event at Hyderabad House in New Delhi.
According to Fox News, the bilateral meeting however proceeded as planned after Indian officials relented.
It was arranged beforehand that eight reporters from the White House press pool would be allowed to attend the meeting, but Indian officials tried to cut the number from eight to five just before the photo-op.
Several U.S. officials pushed to have all eight-pool members let in, but it was not taken seriously until Gibbs said that he was serious about pulling Obama from the event if all of them were not allowed, the report said.
“That whole group is going in because they’re going in with me,” Gibbs insisted.
A member of the pool said at one point that Gibbs had his foot lodged in the door of Hyderabad House, the venue where the meeting was taking place, asking security officials if they intended to break his foot, the report added.
Obama’s stop in New Delhi is part of a 10-day trip to Asia focused on expanding U.S. exports and deepening diplomatic ties. (ANI)
- Obama visit: Spats with Indian officials over media restrictions - Nov 08, 2010
- Gibbs threatens to pull Obama out of meeting with Indian PM Singh - Nov 08, 2010
- How White House press secretary bullied Indian officials - Nov 09, 2010
- Obama to meet Mexican President to sort out 'tense' relations - Mar 03, 2011
- Press Secretary Gibbs to leave White House - Jan 06, 2011
- $200 million-a-day cost for India trip "an exaggeration": White House - Nov 06, 2010
- Obama and media wars (Capital Buzz) - Nov 14, 2010
- Former Reporter Jay Carney To Replace Robert Gibbs, To Be Named Press Secretary - Jan 28, 2011
- Obama discusses US' goals for Afghanistan, Pakistan in year 2011 - Jan 28, 2011
- 'Facebook in talks to hire former White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs' - Mar 28, 2011
- White House: South Korean measures against North are 'entirely appropriate' - May 24, 2010
- Zardari-Obama meeting to focus on US-Pak ties, terrorism, economic reforms - Jan 14, 2011
- U.S. Senate votes to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy - Dec 19, 2010
- Chinese President Hu proposes four points to improve US relations - Jan 18, 2011
- Obama hails Egypt's Gandhian revolution, calls for 'genuine democracy' (Lead) - Feb 12, 2011
Tags: barack obama, day trip, diplomatic ties, dr manmohan singh, fox news, indian officials, indian prime minister, manmohan, manmohan singh, New Delhi, photo, pool members, press secretary, robert gibbs, secretary robert, security officials, trip to asia, venue, white house, white house press