White House Press Corps Caught in the Middle of President Obama's Fight with Congressional Republicans

President Barack Obama went to Europe to push for a nuclear arms treaty with Russia, which he considers vital, but faces opposition from congressional Republicans. The White House press corps found themselves caught in the middle of this battle, with European officials visiting them unannounced to express their support for the treaty. The officials, including foreign ministers from Norway, Latvia, Bulgaria, and Hungary, wanted to convey a united message to the press corps, warning against blocking the treaty.

Key Takeaways:

• President Obama has been pushing hard for the START treaty with Russia, but faces opposition from congressional Republicans who are trying to block it.
• The treaty, which aims to reduce nuclear weapons, has been debated in the US for several months, with President Obama urging Congress to pass it during the lame duck session.
• The European officials, including foreign ministers from Norway, Latvia, Bulgaria, and Hungary, visited the White House press corps unannounced to express their support for the treaty.
• The officials, who are also members of conservative parties in their respective countries, wanted to deliver a united message to the press corps, emphasizing the importance of not blocking the treaty.
• The White House press corps was caught in the middle of this battle, with some reporters questioning whether the officials had been solicited by the Obama administration or if they had come together on their own.
• President Obama addressed the issue in his Saturday video address, emphasizing the importance of passing the treaty during the lame duck session.

Statistics:

• The START treaty has been debated in the US for nearly six months.
• The treaty has undergone 18 hearings and almost 1,000 questions have been answered.
• The Obama administration has been pushing hard for the treaty, with President Obama devoting his Saturday video address to the subject.
• The European officials who visited the White House press corps represent conservative governments in their respective countries, including Denmark, Norway, Latvia, Bulgaria, and Hungary.

Sources:

• LIANE HANSEN, host: In some ways, President Obama went to Europe to fight with congressional Republicans in Washington.
• NPR White House correspondent Ari Shapiro's reporter's notebook, which includes quotes from Mr. Jonas Stoere (Foreign Minister, Norway), Mr. Girts Valdis Kristovskis (Minister of Foreign Affairs, Latvia), Mr. Nickolay Mladenov (Foreign Minister, Bulgaria), Mr. Janos Martonyi (Foreign Minister, Hungary), and others.
• President Barack Obama's Saturday video address.