"Only Cultured Guests Invited" NYT Reporter Defends Obama Party Amid Quarantine Controversy and Faces Backlash

▲Former U.S. President Barack Obama [Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] A New York Times (NYT) journalist has sparked controversy by defending the 60th birthday party of former U.S. President Barack Obama, which raised concerns over COVID-19 prevention measures.

According to the New York Post on the 9th (local time), Annie Karni, the NYT White House correspondent, appeared on CNN on the 7th, Obama’s birthday, and described the guests invited by former President Obama as "cultured and vaccinated people," saying they "would follow safety protocols."

She also seemingly defended the claim that Obama’s 60th birthday party would cause COVID-19 prevention issues by saying, "Sports games gather more spectators," and "there should be no safety problems."

As Karni’s remarks became known, criticism spread online.

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Glenn Greenwald posted a tweet attaching the CNN interview video, sarcastically writing, "It’s a pandemic crisis, but let cultured people have a good time."

Greenwald’s tweet received over 23,000 likes and was shared more than 7,000 times.

As the controversy grew, Karni clarified, saying, "The video was edited out of context."

Karni explained, "The host’s question was about the reactions of residents living on the island where the birthday party was held, and the phrase ‘cultured people’ was conveying the island residents’ thoughts."

Former President Obama’s side had planned a large-scale 60th birthday party with 475 invited guests and 200 staff members, but reduced the event after concerns about COVID-19 prevention were raised.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.