Biden relies on scripted directives to pause in meeting with Iraqi PM

President Biden once again found himself using scripted crib sheets when he met with the Iraqi prime minister in the Oval Office.

The 81-year-old US president flipped through the script – which included an all-caps stage direction indicating when to pause in the comments to allow translators to translate – to make his first public statement since. Iran launches unprecedented direct missile and drone attacks on Israel over the weekend, according to the New York Post .

During a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Biden repeatedly looked down at his notes while al-Sudani spoke without relying on any cards or scripts.

The White House did not issue a statement on camera during the attack, instead releasing photos of Biden and his national security team tracking the attack in the situation room.

Biden also spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to express his support for Israel.

The next day, he met with G7 leaders to discuss how to handle the situation diplomatically.

Behind the scenes, Biden reportedly urged Netanyahu to avoid escalating the conflict with Iran. In his speech on Monday, Biden reiterated the United States’ commitment to Israel’s security and called for a ceasefire.

“The United States is committed to Israel’s security. We are committed to the ceasefire [between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip] “This will bring the hostages home and prevent the conflict from escalating further,” Biden said in a brief speech on Monday, according to the New York Times.

This isn’t the first time Biden has used cue cards to make off-the-cuff comments. Last April, he was seen using a card that appeared to contain a question from a reporter, whom Biden then invited to ask questions.

Axios said in February that Biden’s use of note cards at private fundraisers had upset some donors, the New York Post reported.