President Biden labeled longtime ally Japan “xenophobic,” along with China and Russia, and blamed their recent economic performance on racial prejudice.
The president made the remarks during an off-camera event in Washington, D.C., to commemorate the start of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, three weeks after hosting Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his wife for an elaborate state dinner at the White House.
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“You know, one of the reasons why our economy is growing is because of you and many others —why?” the president said. “Because we welcome immigrants. We look to — the reason — look, think about it. Why is China stalling so bad economically? Why is Japan having trouble? Why is Russia? … Because they’re xenophobic. They don’t want immigrants. Immigrants are what makes us strong! Not a joke. That’s not hyperbole. Because we have an influx of workers who want to be here and contribute. This community’s vote will be critical in — from Virginia to George to Nevada. I know we could do a lot together. A lot more.”
Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary, told reporters aboard Air Force One Thursday that the “president was very clear” about what he said. She argued that immigration makes America stronger.
Japanese officials’ response to the president’s off-camera statements remains unclear. When Mr. Biden hosted Kishida last month, he described the two countries’ connections as “unbreakable,” stating that they share the “same values, the same commitment to democracy, and the same the same freedom to dignity.”
Japan has the lowest immigration rate among the G-7 advanced economies. Immigrants account for no more than 2% of the population.
Foreign-born immigrants account for around 14% of the US population, according to the Census Bureau.
