BTS came out at 2:36 pm, all in spiffy slim cut black suites and took to the lectern shortly after Karine Jean-Pierre introduced them.
“Okay, so today on the final day of Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. I’m excited to welcome some special guests to the briefing room today.
While many of you may know BTS as Grammy nominated international icons, they also play an important role as Youth Ambassadors promoting a message of respect and positivity.
After the briefing, BTS will join President Biden in a discussion about Asian inclusion, representation and diversity as well as addressing an anti Asian hate crimes and discrimination.
RM spoke first in English. “It is great honor to be invited to the White House today to discuss important issues of anti Asian hate cons Asian inclusion diversity.”
The other members gave short uplifting messages on solidarity in Korean, which were then translated.
RM closed the members remarks by thanking President Biden and the White House for an opportunity “to speak about the important causes remind ourselves of what we can do as artists. Once again thank you very much.”
Interpreted remarks: “Today’s the last day of the NHPI heritage month we joined the White House to stand with the A NHPI community and to celebrate. We were devastated by the recent surge of hate crimes, including Asian American hate crimes, to put a stop on this and support the cause. We’d like to take this opportunity to voice ourselves once again to say we are here today. Thanks to our army our fans worldwide, who have different nationalities and cultures and use different languages. We are truly and always grateful. We still feel surprised that music created by South Korean artists reaches so many people around the world transcending languages and cultural barriers. We believe music is always amazing and wonderful unifier of all the things she has said it’s not wrong to be different. The quality begins when we open up and embrace all of our differences. Everyone has their own history. We hope today is one step forward to respecting and understanding each and every one as a valuable person. “
There were shouted questions, and then a “BTS Paiting!” (good luck) shouted by a Korean journalist.
Per a White House official, BTS filmed content with the WH digital team and also received a tour of the White House, prior to joining Karine Jean-Pierre at the top of today’s White House daily press briefing.
Quite a large Korean and Japanese press contingent showed up to cover BTS in the briefing room, virtually rendering the briefing room into standing room only. Fans have lined up outside the White House to catch a glimpse of the global phenomenon as well.
The BTS visit has also prompted the RNC to release a statement calling Biden “out of touch” for “hosting superstars from another country while allowing working Asian Americans to suffer under rising violent crime.”
BTS left the podium around 2:43pm and now NEC director Brian Deese is briefing on inflation, although the press presence in the room has experienced significant deflation.