Kirby on the PGA-LIV Golf Merger: 'We'll Let the Saudi Government Speak to That'; Jean-Pierre on Biden's Falls: 'Things Happen' (June 6, 2023)

A reporter asked the White House about the new merger between the PGA and the Saudi-backed LIV tour. “On the other issue I wanted to ask about: Does the Biden administration have any concern with a major U.S. sports league getting into business with the Saudi Public Investment Fund?” the reporter asked at the briefing on June 6, 2023 [1].

“I think we’ll let — we’ll let the Saudi government speak to that,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said, according to the official White House transcript [1].

The video above shows the exchange at the June 6, 2023, briefing. Quotes are from the official White House transcript and a White House fact sheet [1][2].

”In Line With My NSC Colleague”

Later, a reporter Jean-Pierre called Chris tried Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. “Sorry, I obviously know that John didn’t have any comments on the golf merger, but I want to see if you had any comments on that. Is the White House concerned about the Saudis’ human rights record?” [1]

“Look, I — I’m — certainly, I’m going to be in line with my NSC colleague and say the same: I’m not going to be commenting on that particular merger,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

“But, you know, when it comes to human rights, as we have said over and over again, this is something that the President has been very clear about and has brought that up with leaders that he’s met with,” she said. “But on this particular merger, we’re just not going to comment from here.” [1]

“The Nation’s Oldest President”

At the end of the briefing, a reporter asked about Biden’s fall on a stage in Colorado. “I want to ask about the President’s tumble that he took on the stage in Colorado the other day,” the reporter said [1].

“It’s absolutely true that any one of us could trip over an object that just happens to be in our path. Nonetheless, we’ve all observed the difficulty this President has in certain settings. Steps are one of them,” the reporter said [1].

“And I was struck particularly by the incident on May 19 in Hiroshima where the President descended down a set of stone steps toward a shrine, at the bottom of which steps he was greeted by the Japanese Prime Minister. And if you look at that footage, the President slipped and caught himself on those steps,” the reporter said [1].

“And so my question to you is whether this whole series of incidents has led the White House Chief of Staff to direct some kind of review of the advance procedures that are employed on behalf of this, the nation’s oldest President,” the reporter asked [1].

”Things Happen”

Jean-Pierre said she had not seen the Hiroshima moment the reporter described. “So let me say, you’ve paid a lot of attention to that particular situation. I — I actually did not see that,” she said [1].

“Your proposition may or may not be true, but it’s not responsive —” the reporter said after Jean-Pierre praised Biden’s record. “Is anyone reviewing the advance staffing?” [1]

“And — and here’s the thing, here’s the thing: We are not. Things happen,” Jean-Pierre said. “Other presidents have had similar situations, as you know, and I’m sure you’ve reported on the last President who’s had a similar situation.” [1]

“We Don’t Support Attacks Inside Russia”

Kirby was also asked about Ukraine’s strikes. “I’ll let Ukraine speak to their activities. What I can tell you, Ed — we’ve said it before: We don’t support attacks inside Russia, and we don’t encourage or enable Ukraine to be able to do that,” he said [1].

A reporter from Al Jazeera asked about the destroyed Kakhovka dam. “Does it seem believable to you that Russia would destroy a dam and flood ethnic Russian villages and cut off a water supply to Crimea? I mean, that doesn’t seem logical. It seems about as logical as blowing up one’s own pipeline, doesn’t it?” [1]

“We’ve come to no conclusions on this. We’re working with the Ukrainians. We’ll try to get as much information as we can,” Kirby said [1].

”Planned for Some Time Now”

A reporter asked about the departures of the border chief and the ICE chief. “So, look, I — from what I understand, their retirements was — was — has been planned for some time now,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

Asked about a whistleblower’s UFO claims, she said: “I would refer that question to the Department of Defense and let them answer that question for you.” [1]

By the Numbers

2: White House officials who declined to comment on the golf merger [1].
0: reviews of Biden’s advance staffing, per Jean-Pierre: “We are not.” [1]
$600 billion: the Saudi investment commitment Trump announced in May 2025 [2].
80: years of U.S.-Saudi partnership the White House marked in 2025 [2].

What Happened Next

Trump got a Saudi commitment. On May 13, 2025, in Saudi Arabia, “President Donald J. Trump announced Saudi Arabia’s $600-billion commitment to invest in the United States, building economic ties that will endure for generations to come,” the White House said [2].

“The first deals under the announcement strengthen our energy security, defense industry, technology leadership, and access to global infrastructure and critical minerals,” the fact sheet said [2].

For Biden mangling the Saudi crown prince’s name on his G20 trip, see HYGO News’ page on Sept. 9, 2023. For the Saudi crown prince mocking Biden, see the page on Oct. 24, 2022.