Later, Jessica Yellin, reporting from Mongolia, couldn’t let the door incident go. She said, "This wraps up a trip that saw no major accomplishments for the U.S. on key issues, but that did produce a classic and symbolic video moment.
"It happened as Mr. Bush attempted to make his exit after a press conference in China, only there was no way out for the Commander in Chief."
President Bush: "I was trying to escape. It didn't work."
Yellin: "The moment seemed to symbolize Mr. Bush's dilemma throughout this Asia trip. Halfway around the world he's been unable to escape a domestic squabble over Iraq and whether it's unpatriotic to question the war."
Full transcript follows:
Robin Roberts: "President Bush returning home this morning after making little headway during his trip to Asia. And he'll return to a growing battle over the war in Iraq. ABC's Jessica Yellin is with the President in Mongolia."
Jessica Yellin: "Good morning, Robin. President Bush is now headed home after a final stop in Mongolia. He became the first U.S. president ever to visit this country. This wraps up a trip that saw no major accomplishments for the U.S. on key issues, but that did produce a classic and symbolic video moment.
"It happened as Mr. Bush attempted to make his exit after a press conference in China, only there was no way out for the Commander in Chief."
President Bush: "I was trying to escape. It didn't work."
Yellin: "The moment seemed to symbolize Mr. Bush's dilemma throughout this Asia trip. Halfway around the world he's been unable to escape a domestic squabble over Iraq and whether it's unpatriotic to question the war."
President Bush: "I heard somebody say, 'Well, maybe so and so is not patriotic because they disagree with my position. I totally reject that thought."
Yellin: "The President came all the way to Mongolia to get a friendly audience on the war and he thanked this sparsely populated country for contributing 120 troops to the effort. Now, the President returns home from Asia with no major deals on security or trade, but White House officials say they never expected new agreements from this trip. It would seem they set expectations low and met them.
"Next, the President heads to Crawford for Thanksgiving. It will be his first time back at his vacation home since Hurricane Katrina cut his summer break short."
