White House press secretary Robert Gibbs stuck his foot in a door Monday to stop Indian security officials from shutting members of the U.S. press corps out of an event with President Obama and Indian Prime Minister Manhoman Singh in New Delhi.
As heated words were exchanged, Gibbs asked the Indian security officials pushing hard on the door to close it whether they were going to break his foot, which he had wedged into the open door.
Gibbs also threatened to pull Obama out of the event unless Indian official relented.
Indian security were trying to limit the number of U.S. press allowed into the event from eight to five. All U.S. reporters were part of the “pool” that travels at all times with a U.S. president. Most world leaders have similar press contingents with them on foreign trips.
Gibbs was eventually successful in getting Indian officials to relent. But the event turned out to be nothing more than a photo op that lasted about 60 seconds. Neither world leader said a word while the press were in the room.
The incident with Gibbs is just the latest in a string of confrontations between Indian security officials and the U.S. press corps traveling with Obama.