CNN’s Jake Tapper Asks World Leader Who Praised Biden ‘Would You Say Something’ If You Saw ‘Concerning Development?

CNN anchor Jake Tapper asked newly-elected British Prime Minister Keir Starmer — who praised President Joe Biden this week — if he would actually say something if he witnessed “a concerning development.”

The president met with Starmer in the Oval Office ahead of their bilateral meeting this week on the sidelines of the 75th anniversary NATO Summit in Washington, DC. Starmer was one of several world leaders who praised Biden to the press during the summit.

Starmer told the BBC “We covered a lot of ground – strategic ground, international stuff, not just Ukraine,” and that “He was on good form.”

On Friday’s edition of CNN’s The Lead, Tapper challenged Starmer, asking Starmer if, his praise for Biden notwithstanding, “If you were to witness a concerning development, would you say something?”:

TAPPER: So I know you told the BBC that President Biden was in really good form during your meeting.

Obviously, we’re hearing lots of different accounts from people who have had meetings with the president, and 51 million Americans watching that debate two weeks ago saw something different than really good form. If you were to witness a concerning development, would you say something?

KEIR STARMER: Yes, of course.

But, I mean, I yesterday spent 45 minutes with the president. We had spoken on the phone, as you can imagine, but this was an opportunity to discuss a number of issues. We were billed for 45 minutes. We probably went on for the best part of an hour, covered a lot of ground.

And he was in good form. And it was also a really good opportunity for me, as the new prime minister of the United Kingdom just literally in week one, to speak to the president about the special relationship, which matters to him, matters to me, and, of course, to make absolutely clear our unshakable support for NATO, to be here at the NATO Summit.

So it was a good session, covered a lot of ground, strategic stuff as well. And, obviously, we have had two days of the council now, with actually a very successful outcome, President Zelenskyy saying this is a success. And so I do think he deserves credit for that.

Watch above via CNN’s The Lead.

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