Biden draws criticism for 'fist-bump' with Saudi crown-prince

Washington Post publisher allegedly calls exchange "shameful."

Published: July 15, 2022 4:01pm

Updated: July 15, 2022 4:13pm

President Joe Biden on Friday raised eyebrows in the U.S. when he genially "bumped fists" with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman while meeting with the leader in Saudi Arabia.

Video of the exchange, which occurred at the country's Royal Palace, circulated around social media and news wires on Friday afternoon.

Sharp criticism came from many commentators on Twitter, the lion's share of them appearing to be conservative.

Washington Post reporter Ashley Parker offered thinly veiled criticism of Biden for greeting the prince in such a manner, referencing bin Salman's alleged involvement in the 2018 assassination of Washington Post writer Jamal Ahmad Khashoggi.

A harshly critical statement attributed to Washington Post CEO and Publisher Fred Ryan, meanwhile, made its way around social media on Friday afternoon:

Biden was visiting the country on Friday to talk with leaders in order to ensure that the U.S. could "continue to lead in the region and not create a vacuum" following the disastrous departure from Afghanistan last year.