Friday 11 June 2021

WE'RE sitting there! BBC presenter Jon Sopel and his crew are kicked off their table at Cornwall hotel so that Joe and Jill Biden can enjoy a drink after meeting Boris and Carrie at G7 summit

 Two BBC journalists were booted off their dinner table last night to make way for President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill.

North America Editor Jon Sopel and Newsgathering Producer Morgan Gisholt Minard lost their seats to the Bidens at Tregenna Castle Hotel in St Ives, Cornwall.

Footage shows Ms Minard clearing her belongings from the table as the Commander-in-chief hovers nearby. Hotel staff swoop in to remove her food and drink as the President's entourage looms in the background.

Mr Biden says 'all right, okay,' to which Ms Minard replies: 'Well I'm with the BBC so... good to meet you.' He leans on a chair - wearing his dress down jeans, trainers and holding his cap - as the journalist scuttles past him.

She later tweeted: 'There are few instances I'd feel compelled to give up my dinner table... I suppose this is an exception. Welcome to Cornwall @POTUS.'

Mr Sopel added: 'A first in my career. @POTUS comes and sits down at table in a bar next to me and orders a drink. Am trying to act nonchalant.

'Hope I'm not revealing state secrets but @POTUS drank coke; @FLOTUS a glass of red. Not a beer or cider or pasty in sight.'

The Bidens dressed down in sneakers and jeans for a drink outside the hotel after meeting Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie on Thursday.

The pair walked to the outdoor seating area to the shock of guests and waiting press to unwind after their bilateral meeting. Earlier Mrs Biden met Mrs Johnson's newborn son Wilfred and Mr Biden and Mr Johnson cracked jokes.

They took in the view from the veranda after the President and PM met for the first time, downplayed their differences and emphasized the 'special relationship'.


North America Editor Jon Sopel and Newsgathering Producer Morgan Gisholt Minard lost their seats to the Bidens at Tregenna Castle Hotel in St Ives, Cornwall

North America Editor Jon Sopel and Newsgathering Producer Morgan Gisholt Minard lost their seats to the Bidens at Tregenna Castle Hotel in St Ives, Cornwall

Footage shows Ms Minard clearing her belongings from the table as the Commander-in-chief hovers nearby. Hotel staff swoop in to remove her food and drink as the President's entourage looms in the background

Footage shows Ms Minard clearing her belongings from the table as the Commander-in-chief hovers nearby. Hotel staff swoop in to remove her food and drink as the President's entourage looms in the background

President Joe Biden and Jill dressed down into sneakers for a drink outside the Tregenna Castle Hotel in St Ives after his meeting with Boris Johnson

President Joe Biden and Jill dressed down into sneakers for a drink outside the Tregenna Castle Hotel in St Ives after his meeting with Boris Johnson 

Mr Sopel (pictured) and Newsgathering Producer Morgan Gisholt Minard both took to Twitter after the meeting to share their experience
Morgan Gisholt Minard

Mr Sopel (left) and Newsgathering Producer Morgan Gisholt Minard (right) both took to Twitter after the meeting to share their experience

Mr Biden said: 'We had a good first full day in the UK. Prime Minister Johnson and I had a very productive meeting. We affirmed the special relationship -- it's not said lightly -- the special relationship between our people.'

Mr Biden gave Mr Johnson a new bike and helmet, according to British reports. And the PM called his American counterpart a 'breath of fresh air.'

Mr Johnson told the BBC: 'The talks were great. They went on for a long time. We covered a huge range of subjects.

'It's wonderful to listen to the Biden administration and Joe Biden because there's so much they want to do together with us. It's fantastic. It's a breath of fresh air,' he said of the American president.

The love fest came after Mr Biden and Mr Johnson, along with their wives, held a picturesque photo-op by the ocean amid a transatlantic row between the two nations over Northern Ireland.

Mr Johnson down played a report that the US was unhappy with his government's handling of Northern Ireland during Brexit talks with the European Union.

He said: 'There's complete harmony on the need to keep going, to find solutions and make sure we uphold the Belfast/Good Friday agreement.'

The pair appeared relaxed as they unwound after the bilateral meeting and a visit with Boris Johnson, his wife Carrie and their newborn son Wilfred 

The first couple then took in the view from their table and looked relaxed ahead of the start of the G7 today

The first couple then took in the view from their table and looked relaxed ahead of the start of the G7 today

President Biden checked his phone as security and members of the Secret Service manned the barriers

President Biden checked his phone as security and members of the Secret Service manned the barriers 

President Biden said he and UK PM Johnson reaffirmed the special relationship

President Biden said he and UK PM Johnson reaffirmed the special relationship

President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Boris Johnson downplayed their differences and emphasized the 'special relationship' between their two nations after their first face-to-face meeting

President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Boris Johnson downplayed their differences and emphasized the 'special relationship' between their two nations after their first face-to-face meeting

President Joe Biden gives a half hug to Carrie Johnson

President Joe Biden gives a half hug to Carrie Johnson

Carbis Bay, United Kingdom. Carrie Johnson, wife of the Prime Minister and First Lady of the United States Dr Jill Biden reacts as Wilfred Johnson sits on the beach during the G7 leaders Summit in Carbis Bay Cornwall

Carbis Bay, United Kingdom. Carrie Johnson, wife of the Prime Minister and First Lady of the United States Dr Jill Biden reacts as Wilfred Johnson sits on the beach during the G7 leaders Summit in Carbis Bay Cornwall

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called President Joe Biden 'great' and a 'breath of fresh air'

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called President Joe Biden 'great' and a 'breath of fresh air'

President Biden uploaded this photo of the pair to Twitter and said: 'The special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom is stronger than ever. Thank you for hosting me today, Prime Minister Johnson'

President Biden uploaded this photo of the pair to Twitter and said: 'The special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom is stronger than ever. Thank you for hosting me today, Prime Minister Johnson'

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki (L) and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan (C) listen to President Biden's remarks

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki (L) and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan (C) listen to President Biden's remarks



At their meeting, the two leaders downplayed tensions between their nations and joked about their personal lives.

Sitting next to the prime minister on Thursday afternoon, Biden recycled one of his favorite lines, saying the two men had something in common - both married above their station.  Boris, 56, and Carrie Johnson, 33, married on May 29.

'I'm thrilled to meet your wife. I told the prime minister we have something in common: we both married above our station,' Biden, 78, said. 

'I'm not going to disagree with the president there,' Johnson responded. 

'Or indeed on anything else. I think it highly likely,' he added, in what was interpreted as a sly reference to the Northern Ireland issue.

The two couples met on a scenic deck overlooking St Ives Bay, England, a view of the Atlantic Ocean in front of them.

'It gorgeous. I don't want to go home,' Biden said.

Ahead of the meeting, officials tried to down play reports of a strain between Biden and Johnson after a report the president ordered the rebuke of the prime minister. The White House called the report 'wrong' and emphasized the special relationship between the two nations.

First lady Jill Biden, 70, was on message for the meet-and-greet, wearing a blazer with the word 'love' on the back.

'I think that we're bringing love from America. This is a global conference and we are trying to bring unity across the globe and I think it's needed right bow, that people feel a sense of unity from all the countries and feel a sense hope after this year of the pandemic,' she said.

After the picturesque greeting, Biden and Johnson split off to view the 1941 Atlantic Charter - they signed a new version at their sit down - and then began their 90 minute meeting. The 'special relationship' between the US and the UK began during the dark days of World War II.

Jill Biden told reporters the president had been 'studying for weeks' ahead of his first foreign trip. 'I think he's so well prepared. He's been studying for weeks, working up to today. Of course he knows most of the leaders that'll be here. Joe loves foreign policy. This is his forte,' she said.

While the president and prime minister met, Jill Biden, wearing a custom Brandon Maxwell dress,  and Carrie Johnson, in a red LK Bennett gown, took baby Wilfred to the beach for a stroll and dip in the water.  Downing Street released photos of the event and Wilfred's face was not visible in the pictures.

The flurry of friendly photo-ops and joking repartee gave the message loud and clear: the US-UK special relationship is strong and there is no dissension here.  

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, his wife Carrie Johnson and President Joe Biden with first lady Jill Biden walk outside Carbis Bay Hotel, Carbis Bay, Cornwall

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, his wife Carrie Johnson and President Joe Biden with first lady Jill Biden walk outside Carbis Bay Hotel, Carbis Bay, Cornwall

The two couples met amid tensions over Northern Ireland

The two couples met amid tensions over Northern Ireland


Carrie Johnson and Jill Biden walk out to the sea barefoot during their meeting

Carrie Johnson and Jill Biden walk out to the sea barefoot during their meeting 

The newlywed Johnson and the first lady beamed as they played with Wilfred on the sand - with their flip flops beside them

The newlywed Johnson and the first lady beamed as they played with Wilfred on the sand - with their flip flops beside them

Mrs Johnson grins and gestures to Wilfried while the trio frolicked on the beach

Mrs Johnson grins and gestures to Wilfried while the trio frolicked on the beach 

Carrie and her son Wilfred made a grand entrance onto the world stage before the G7 summit

Carrie and her son Wilfred made a grand entrance onto the world stage before the G7 summit 

The pair laughed as they paddled in the shallow waters

The pair laughed as they paddled in the shallow waters 

Biden and Boris share a joke next to the beach in St. Ives

Biden and Boris share a joke next to the beach in St. Ives 

First lady Jill Biden was on message, wearing a jacket with the word 'Love' on the back

First lady Jill Biden was on message, wearing a jacket with the word 'Love' on the back

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, front, and Jeff Zients, White House coronavirus response coordinator, right, listen as President Joe Biden speaks

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, front, and Jeff Zients, White House coronavirus response coordinator, right, listen as President Joe Biden speaks

Boris and Carrie Johnson walk hand-in-hand before their meeting with the Bidens

Boris and Carrie Johnson walk hand-in-hand before their meeting with the Bidens 

President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson held their first face-to-face meeting

President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson held their first face-to-face meeting

Jill Biden told reporters the Bidens were 'bringing the love' from America

Jill Biden told reporters the Bidens were 'bringing the love' from America

The Bidens and the Johnsons look out at Carbis Bay with a British warship in the distance at the start of their day

The Bidens and the Johnsons look out at Carbis Bay with a British warship in the distance at the start of their day 

Post a Comment

Start typing and press Enter to search