National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby downplayed the controversy surrounding a visit by Biden officials China on Monday, as the trip coincides with the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre.

During Monday’s White House Press Briefing, Kirby stated that the visit was not a misstep but rather a long-planned trip, dismissing claims that it was timed intentionally with the anniversary.

Asked about sending US officials to China on the Tiananmen Square anniversary:

John Kirby: “We would not call it a misstep…This is how the schedules worked out…Making a whole heck of a lot out of nothing.” pic.twitter.com/K6UnvjHOh1

— Conservative War Machine (@WarMachineRR) June 5, 2023

“I mean, this was a long-planned trip and this is the way the schedules worked out. But I think honestly, people criticizing the timing of Tiananmen Square, just making a whole heck of a lot out of nothing. It wasn’t timed to do anything with the anniversary.”

The Tiananmen Square protest were student-led demonstrations that took place in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square during 1989, which turned deadly at the hands of the cruel Communist regime.

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the Tienanmen Square Massacre. Let it be remembered so it is never repeated. #Tienanmen30 #China pic.twitter.com/0oYU4vHFMI

— Khalil (@sehnaoui) June 4, 2019

The Chinese Communists responded cruel, violent measures which aimed to suppress the protesters and prevent their interference with the military’s advancement into the square.

The protests began on April 15 and were forcibly quelled on June 4 when the People’s Liberation Army was deployed to occupy parts of central Beijing. The exact number of casualties remains uncertain, with estimates ranging from several hundred to several thousand deaths, along with thousands of injuries.

The protests were sparked by the passing of Hu Yaobang, a pro-reform Chinese Communist Party general secretary, in April 1989. This event occurred amidst a backdrop of rapid economic growth and societal changes in post-Mao China.

Critics, such as Republican Rep. Darrell Issa, who serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, argue that the visit only benefits China and President Xi Jinping, while weakening the United States’ global position.

“This is no ordinary foreign policy stumble,” he said. “It’s a concession demanded by the Chinese and granted by a White House and State Department willing to bend. It’s a major coup for Xi, and America’s position in the world just got weaker – where it matters most.”

Kirby said that the meeting had been scheduled well in advance and that U.S. officials were forthcoming about their concerns regarding China’s increased aggression with military aircraft.