Team Biden Reportedly In Damage Control Mode After President's 'Dictator' Quip About Xi Jinping

President Joe Biden calling his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping a “dictator” on Tuesday took top American officials by surprise.

What Happened: An anonymous senior U.S. official told NBC News that they were caught off guard when Biden described Xi as a "dictator" just hours after Antony Blinken met the Chinese leader in Beijing to calm the tense relations between the countries.

The officials also reportedly engaged in private discussions with the Chinese side to clarify that Biden’s characterization of Xi does not signify a change in official policy or a new talking point adopted by the administration.

These officials reassured that the controversy is unlikely to significantly impede the progress achieved by Blinken during his visit to China.

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"It should come as no surprise that the president speaks candidly about China and the differences that we have — we are certainly not alone in that," a senior administration official said. 

"The president believes that diplomacy, including that undertaken by Secretary Blinken, is the responsible way to manage tensions. Secretary Blinken had a good trip and made some progress. We have every expectation of building on that progress."

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During a campaign event in California, Biden took a direct shot at the Chinese president, labeling him a "dictator" while discussing the spy balloon incident that took place in February.

Biden's comments drew a strong response from China, with the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning calling the remarks “extremely absurd” and “irresponsible.” 

She said they seriously violated facts, diplomatic protocol, and China’s political dignity. “They’re an open political provocation.” 

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