Biden's G20 Trip: No Questions on Departure, Then 'Muhammad bin Salam—Excuse Me, Muhammad bin Salman' (September 9, 2023)

President Joe Biden left for the G20 summit in India without a word to reporters. “He’s using the shorter set of steps today to board the plane,” the print pooler reported from Joint Base Andrews on Sept. 7, 2023. “He boarded AF1 at 5:16, saluting as he walked up the steps. He didn’t look toward the pool” [1].

The video above shows that departure and Biden’s arrival in New Delhi. Details come from the White House pool reports and the transcripts published by the American Presidency Project [1][2][3].

”Garcetti Brought His Daughter Maya”

When Air Force One landed in New Delhi the next evening, the U.S. ambassador was waiting on the tarmac. “Eric Garcetti et. al. lined up alongside the red carpet,” the pooler wrote. “Garcetti brought his daughter Maya” [1].

“POTUS stepped off AF1 at 7:08 p.m. He waved halfway down the stairs,” the pool reported. Biden “spent some time leaning down chatting with Maya,” then watched dancers perform, “smiling and clapping at the display,” according to the pool report [1].

Garcetti had reached India only after a long fight. He “was confirmed by the Senate on Wednesday to be Ambassador to India with a vote of 52-42, thanks to help from seven Republicans, more than 600 days since he was first nominated by President Joe Biden,” Fox News reported in March 2023 [4].

“Garcetti became controversial after reports surfaced that he ignored sexual harassment allegations against his former chief of staff in Los Angeles,” Fox reported. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., had placed a hold on the nomination, saying Garcetti “has ignored credible sexual assault accusations in his prior office” [4].

Reporters Kept in the Vans

Biden’s first stop was a private meeting at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence. The motorcade route was lined with billboards, including “a video one that showed footage of the Modi and Biden hugging at the White House state dinner,” the pool noted. Reporters did not get in. “As a reminder - which was much discussed during the AF1 gaggle - the pool will remain in the vans (including no bathrooms!) for the duration of the bilat. We are not in view to see POTUS enter the residence,” the pooler wrote [1].

On the flight over, a reporter had asked National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan “why Biden would meet with Modi if there are no reporters allowed to participate in a pool spray or something like that?” [2]

“Well, first, I mean, the President has private meetings with other heads of state where in the room are the teams and not the press,” Sullivan said. “Secondly, we will of course provide a readout of the meetings so that you have the opportunity to understand what was discussed” [2].

”Continued to Hold Hands”

At the summit the next morning, Biden greeted Modi in front of the G20 sign. “He appeared to jog up a slight incline as he walked over to Modi. The two leaders shook hands, and continued to hold hands as they spoke and turned to face the large sign behind them,” the pool reported. “Biden was the second to last of the leaders to arrive. MBS was last” [5].

”Muhammad bin Salam—Excuse Me”

Later that day, at an event where he announced a new India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, Biden thanked its sponsors, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “Muhammad bin Salam—excuse me, Muhammad bin Salman and President von der Leyen and the European Commissions,” he said [3].

Then he lost track of the program. “And since his—he’s not speaking today, I wanted to—or maybe he is speaking today. I had a note he wasn’t speaking. At any rate, I’m going to stop there,” Biden said [3].

He moved on to Africa: “In Saudi—the sub-Saharan Africa—we’re working in a private-public partnership as well” [3].

Before the trip, Sullivan would not say whether the two would meet. “Can you confirm that the President will be, indeed, meeting with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman?” a reporter asked. “No, I can’t confirm any bilats,” Sullivan said [2].

Biden had once taken a harder line on the crown prince. “Biden, during a Democratic presidential primary debate in 2019, promised to make the kingdom a global ‘pariah,’” Fox News reported. When Biden greeted him with a fist bump in July 2022, critics from The Washington Post’s CEO to Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., called the gesture “shameful,” Fox reported [6].

By the Numbers

5:16 p.m.: when Biden boarded Air Force One, saluting, per the pool [1].
52-42: the Senate vote confirming Garcetti [4].
600-plus: days between Garcetti’s nomination and his confirmation [4].
48 hours: Biden’s planned time in Delhi, per Sullivan [2].
$600 billion: the Saudi investment commitment President Donald Trump announced in May 2025 [7].

What Happened Next

Biden’s news conference came in Vietnam. Two days later, in Hanoi, Biden took five questions and ended by saying he was going to bed. For that, see HYGO News’ page on the Hanoi news conference.

Trump turned the Saudi relationship into deals. “Today in Saudi Arabia, President Donald J. Trump announced Saudi Arabia’s $600-billion commitment to invest in the United States,” the White House said on May 13, 2025. It called the package “the largest set of commercial agreements on record between the two countries” [7].