JUST IN: White House Holds First Press Briefing Since Biden Ended 2024 Bid, Endorsed VP Harris
On Wednesday, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre held a White House press briefing.
Fuel your success with Forbes. Gain unlimited access to premium journalism, including breaking news, groundbreaking in-depth reported stories, daily digests and more. Plus, members get a front-row seat at members-only events with leading thinkers and doers, access to premium video that can help you get ahead, an ad-light experience, early access to select products including NFT drops and more:
https://account.forbes.com/membership/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=growth_non-sub_paid_subscribe_ytdescript
Stay Connected
Forbes on Facebook: http://fb.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Instagram: http://instagram.com/forbes
More From Forbes: http://forbes.com
Fuel your success with Forbes. Gain unlimited access to premium journalism, including breaking news, groundbreaking in-depth reported stories, daily digests and more. Plus, members get a front-row seat at members-only events with leading thinkers and doers, access to premium video that can help you get ahead, an ad-light experience, early access to select products including NFT drops and more:
https://account.forbes.com/membership/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=growth_non-sub_paid_subscribe_ytdescript
Stay Connected
Forbes on Facebook: http://fb.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Instagram: http://instagram.com/forbes
More From Forbes: http://forbes.com
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Good afternoon, everyone.
00:10I have a couple of things at the top.
00:14So I want to start by addressing the horrific killing of Sonia Massey.
00:20The President and Vice President both released statements on their heartbreak for Sonia Massey's
00:25family and loved ones as they face this unthinkable and senseless loss.
00:30They've also been clear that all of us, as Americans, regardless of who we are or where
00:37we live, should be able to do so without fearing for our lives.
00:43Sonia's death at the hands of a responding officer reminds us that all too often, black
00:50Americans face fears for their safety in ways that many Americans do not.
00:55Sonia's family deserves justice.
00:59President Biden has been clear about his commitment to doing everything he can to make our communities
01:05safer, including by advancing effective, accountable policing.
01:11That's why the President has pushed Congress to pass a George Floyd Justice in Policing
01:15Act and signed an executive order to make federal policing the gold standard of effectiveness
01:21and accountability.
01:23While we wait for this case to be prosecuted, the President and the Vice President are continuing
01:28to urge Congress to get the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to his desk so he can sign
01:34it.
01:35I also wanted to share the President and the Vice President's deep sadness at the passing
01:40of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.
01:43No matter the issue, from delivering racial justice to building an economy for working
01:48people, she was unrelenting in her leadership, leadership she demonstrated in her work to
01:55reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, make Juneteenth a federal holiday, and reintroducing
02:01the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.
02:04As the President said in his statement on Saturday, she spoke truth to power and represented
02:10the power of the people of her district in Houston with dignity and grace.
02:16Both the President and the Vice President shared the honor of working with her during
02:21their times in Congress.
02:23We at the White House join the President, the Vice President, and their families in
02:27sending our love and condolences to the Congresswoman's family, her constituents, and beloved colleagues
02:34of the Congressional Black Caucus.
02:37Later this evening, after the President's speech, First Lady Jill Biden will travel
02:41to Paris, France, to lead the U.S. Presidential Delegation to the opening of the Paris 2024
02:48Olympic Games.
02:49The First Lady and the delegation will attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games
02:54and cheer on Team USA at various events.
02:59The First Lady previously led the U.S. Delegation to the opening of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games,
03:05which were held in the summer of 2021 due to COVID-19.
03:11And finally, as you all know, and certainly are tracking, what we saw from the President
03:17the last couple of days is what we have seen from him over the last several decades.
03:24Human decency, patriotism, a good man who puts the American people ahead of himself.
03:31As the President said in his letter this past Sunday, it has been the greatest honor
03:37of my life to serve as your President.
03:40And while it has been my intention to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest
03:45of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my
03:51duties as President for the remainder of my term.
03:56As a member of his team and as an American, I am proud of this President's record.
04:03He's accomplished more in nearly one term than most Presidents have in two terms.
04:09The President remains focused on fighting for the American people and building on the
04:14historic progress his administration has made.
04:18He's focused on growing the middle class instead of delivering big giveaways to corporations
04:23and the ultra-wealthy, fighting to lower costs for families instead of raising them by threatening
04:28to cut critical programs like Social Security, fighting for a fairer tax system instead of
04:34championing a $2 trillion tax bill that overwhelmingly benefited the ultra-wealthy, making health
04:42care more accessible and more affordable instead of working to eliminate the Affordable Care
04:47Act, strengthening and growing NATO, not eliminating it, and fighting for our reproductive
04:53freedom, not working to take it away.
04:56You will hear directly from President Biden when he addresses the nation tonight at 8
05:01p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
05:04Tonight, the President will discuss his historic decision to put the country above all else
05:10and about the inflection point we face as a country in this moment.
05:16This is one of those rare moments in history when the decisions we make now will determine
05:23the future of our nation.
05:26America must choose between moving forward or backward, between hope and hate, between
05:32unity and division.
05:34He's signed historic, monumental pieces of legislation into law and has worked across
05:41party lines to get a lot of them done, from jump-starting a historic economic recovery
05:47to the largest investment in clean energy and climate action, gun safety, and more.
05:53The President is proud to have delivered these historic results for the American people,
05:57and he's going to use the remainder of his term to build on this progress for the future
06:04with the enduring faith he has in our nation.
06:06And so, therefore, I encourage all Americans to tune in tonight to hear directly from the
06:11President.
06:12Zeke.
06:13Thanks, Karine.
06:14The President believes that it's best for the country that he not be in the Oval Office
06:17for another four years.
06:18How can you assure the American people that he's up to be in the office for the next six
06:21months?
06:22Well, first I would say is that – and I've heard these suggestions out there.
06:27This is not an answer to you.
06:28This is an answer to the suggestions that I've heard about him resigning from office.
06:35We believe – and any suggestion of that note is ridiculous.
06:39It is not what we believe.
06:41The President – I just laid out what the President has been able to do in almost four
06:45years, and it's been successful.
06:47He's been able to do more, again, than any President has been able to do in two terms.
06:52He's been able to do that more in one term.
06:55And he wants to finish the job that he started in delivering more historic results for the
06:59American people.
07:01And look, he didn't step down from campaigning or from running because he didn't believe
07:09he can serve in a second term.
07:11That is not why.
07:13And what I would say, as I just finished my opening, I would say tune in.
07:16Tune in to what he has to say tonight, and he will lay that out for you all and the American
07:21people as to why he made that decision.
07:24So you're saying he believes that he's capable of serving another four years, but
07:27he just doesn't believe that he can win another four years?
07:29I will let the President speak for himself.
07:31And so today, the President believes that he is capable – fully capable of serving
07:35in the office that he currently has now and for the next four and a half years if he wanted
07:40to.
07:41If he wanted to.
07:42Absolutely.
07:43And let me just quote from what he said on Sunday in his letter.
07:44He said, it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down
07:49and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.
07:55And what – the decision that he made on Sunday was about putting country first, was
08:01about his party, and was about the American people.
08:04Again, I would refer you to what he's going to say tonight.
08:07He will lay that out, speak for himself, and you will hear directly from the American – from
08:11the President.
08:12The American people will answer to you as well.
08:13I just have a different topic.
08:14Yeah, sure.
08:15There's been large protests taking place in Washington.
08:16The White House is now ringed by anti-climb fencing, the Capitol, there's some protests
08:21around the Union Station.
08:23Is the President monitoring these protests?
08:24Does he have a message to the people who are demonstrating right now?
08:28So it's basically what we have said for some time.
08:31We respect the right for all American to peacefully protest.
08:36Peacefully protest.
08:37And obviously, we will continue to strongly condemn any form of violence as it relates
08:43certainly to protesting or destruction of property.
08:46We've been very, very clear.
08:47But Americans have the right to peacefully protest.
08:51Anything that is related to what's happening outside of this campus, the fencing, as you
08:56just mentioned to me, that's something for Secret Service to speak to directly.
08:58Is he watching the protests?
08:59I mean, the President is – he's always kept up-to-date on what's going on.
09:06Right now, he's certainly having meetings today with his senior advisors and other senior
09:12staff.
09:13I can't speak if he's right now watching the protests.
09:15Obviously, he's kept up-to-date into what's happening.
09:19But what I can say right now, we respect everyone's right to peacefully protest.
09:23We understand that this is a painful moment for many, many communities.
09:28But obviously, we're going to continue to condemn – strongly condemn any form of violence
09:32or any destruction of property.
09:33That is something we've been consistent on.
09:35Go ahead, Nancy.
09:36Thanks, Green.
09:37You read the President's statement where he said that it's in the country's best
09:39interest for him to step aside.
09:41Why is it in the country's best interest for him to step aside?
09:44Does it have to do with his health or his numbers?
09:46It does not have to do – they have nothing to do with his health.
09:49Again, the President's going to speak to this directly to the American people tonight
09:53in prime time.
09:54I know many of you all will be watching it.
09:56There are specials going on tonight.
09:58He will – I promise you, he will speak to this directly to all of you tonight.
10:03But in his letter, he talked about the country, he talked about the party, he talked about
10:07the moment that we're in right now.
10:09It is not about his health.
10:10I can say no, that's not the reason.
10:13But hear him out tonight.
10:15And the President denied for weeks, and you denied for weeks, that he was even thinking
10:20of stepping aside.
10:21What changed from all those days that he had that message to Sunday?
10:26So look, he's going to address this as well this evening.
10:29Let him speak for himself.
10:30But here's what I will say.
10:32And I think we gave a little bit of a tick-tock to all of you.
10:35He met with a small group of advisors on Saturday evening and with his family and was
10:47thinking through how to move forward.
10:50Sunday afternoon, he made that decision.
10:52It was in a very short period of time, as you can imagine.
10:56And then at 1.45, he got on the phone with some of his assistants to the President, some
11:03advisors.
11:04And he let them know.
11:05And then minutes later, a letter went out.
11:09So it was in a very short period of time that the President was able to think about this
11:16and make a decision.
11:18But I would say again, the President's going to address the American people.
11:22You will hear directly from him tonight.
11:24Yeah.
11:25Hey.
11:26Can you talk a little bit more about how he's feeling after making such an extraordinary
11:31decision, like you said?
11:32Yeah.
11:33Quickly.
11:35Does he feel bullied to lead the race?
11:36I'm going to let the President speak for himself.
11:39Look, these are – I mean, obviously, this is a historic moment.
11:45But a decision like this is very personal.
11:48It's not easy to make.
11:51And I think there are very rare, rare politicians who could look at the situation and make a
11:58decision, right?
12:00And I think it speaks to how honorable this President is, how selfless this President
12:07is, that he was able to make this decision and say, it is not about me, it is about the
12:13American people, it is about the country, and make, again, a personal, difficult decision.
12:21And so I think that speaks for itself.
12:24I really do.
12:25I think that speaks for itself.
12:26And in the letter, as you all know, he said that he wanted to address the American people,
12:30was going to give remarks about his decision.
12:34And now we've come to that day where he's going to speak directly to the American people
12:38later tonight, and he's going to lay out what it is that he wants to say, what he believes
12:42the American people want to hear directly from him.
12:44Just switching gears a little bit to Netanyahu's remarks on Capitol Hill, we've heard Republicans
12:51voicing serious criticism against the Vice President for not being there, her team insisting
12:56that it was a scheduling conflict.
12:57But how do you respond to that?
12:59What does it say about her priorities, the Administration's priorities, that she was
13:02not there?
13:03So let me just first say that the Vice President has been unwavering in her commitment to security
13:10of Israel.
13:11As you know, she's been a partner with this President for the past four years, not just
13:15domestic issues, but obviously also foreign policy issues.
13:19She's going to meet with the Prime Minister, Bibi Netanyahu, when he's here.
13:24And so, again, has been a critical partner in ensuring that Israel can defend itself
13:30and to secure a hostage deal.
13:32As you know, the President, we've been talking about that for some time, making sure that
13:36we have this hostage deal.
13:37She's been a partner in that.
13:40And that's what I can certainly say, you know, that she continues to be supportive to Israel,
13:48making sure that Israel's security is ironclad, as we have been, as the partner, as the President
13:53has been.
13:54And she's going to meet with the Prime Minister.
13:56Given the historic nature of Kamala Harris being the top of the ticket, is – does the
14:03President have any regrets about the way that he handed this enormous responsibility off
14:09in such a unusual, shortened, kind of truncated fashion, not having her have a normal ascendancy
14:17to that top position?
14:18Oh, I mean, the President has no regrets.
14:20Has no regrets.
14:22Let's not forget, the Vice President obviously has been Vice President for more than four
14:27years.
14:28I do not see anyone who is more qualified to step in in this moment, right?
14:35She was a senator.
14:37She was an attorney general.
14:39She's been a partner to this President, a critical partner, as I've said.
14:42I've listed out what we've been able to accomplish in the last three and a half, almost four
14:46years, an unprecedented record.
14:49She was a partner in that to the President.
14:52And so, look, this is, again, a decision that this President made, and I think he is proud
15:00to have made that decision.
15:01I know so.
15:03You saw it in what he has been able to say since Sunday.
15:07He's going to be on camera later today, obviously, to address the American people from the Oval
15:13Office because of this moment and how big this moment is.
15:16He wants to do that.
15:17He wants to make sure that Americans hear directly from him again after putting out
15:22the letter on Sunday.
15:23And if you could distill just into a few kind of bite-sized pieces, what specific policies,
15:31actions, does the President want to get done in these last few months?
15:36So he certainly wants to build on what we've been able to do.
15:39You heard me say this has been a – certainly what he's been able to accomplish in the
15:45four years, in this first term, is more than we have seen in Presidents who have done eight,
15:51many Presidents who have done eight.
15:52And he is going to be known as a consequential President of his time.
15:58And so he's going to continue to build on those successes.
16:01I mean, let's not forget, if it wasn't for the American Rescue Plan, we wouldn't
16:05be able to get out of the pandemic.
16:06We wouldn't be able to open up schools.
16:08We wouldn't be able to open up – businesses wouldn't be able to open up again.
16:13There's the Inflation Reduction Act, which was also an incredibly important piece of
16:18legislation if you think about climate change and dealing with that.
16:22If you think about being able to beat Big Pharma.
16:27You think about the infrastructure legislation, which was done in a bipartisan way.
16:31This President was able to get that done.
16:33Chips and Science Act, again, a bipartisan way.
16:35This President was able to reach across the aisle and get that done.
16:39Think about NATO making that stronger and bigger.
16:41I mean, there are many ways.
16:42I'm just naming a few things that the President's been able to do.
16:45Look, they – both of them, the President and Vice President, are proud to have delivered
16:50these historic results.
16:52And we're going to continue to figure out ways on how to build on this progress.
16:58So that's going to be his focus.
16:59We will have a lot more to share.
17:01I'm not going to call out, name out policies at this time.
17:05But you certainly will hear from this President.
17:07He's going to run through the finish line.
17:10No concerns about being a lame duck?
17:12We don't see ourselves as a lame duck President at all, at all, in this period of time.
17:17This is a President that has been incredibly successful, and he's going to do everything
17:22that he can to continue to fight for the American people.
17:26I would say stay tuned.
17:27Watch him.
17:28Thank you, Karine.
17:29I have two questions, one on the Vice President and then one on the President's decision.
17:34First, it's clear that President Biden and Vice President Harris have met regularly,
17:39including their standing lunches from the outset of the administration.
17:42But I'm wondering now, since he made his decision, if there are any plans to increase the cadence
17:48of those interactions, or if he plans to include her in more of his policymaking processes?
17:53How will that relationship and that involvement change?
17:55So what I can say is the President and the Vice President speak regularly.
17:59They see each other regularly.
18:00You named some ways of how they've been able to do that, to stay in touch and see each
18:04other in person.
18:06Look, the President is committed to being President and leading this country forward
18:12in the way that he believes that Americans want to see this country moving forward.
18:17And the Vice President is going to continue to be a critical partner.
18:20Nothing's going to change in that.
18:23But they're going to continue to engage, interact, and have important conversations as it relates
18:29to policies and moving forward.
18:31That's not going to stop.
18:34And I'll just leave it there.
18:36And on the timing of his decision, it's now been widely reported that when Senator Chuck
18:39Schumer went to visit with the President in Rehoboth a week ago Saturday, that President
18:47Biden said, I need another week.
18:49What did he need another week for?
18:51So I'll say this.
18:52They had a very good conversation, the President and Senator Schumer.
18:58And I'm not going to go into their private conversation.
19:03I'm not going to go into particulars.
19:05But it was a good conversation.
19:06But you said it was a very short time frame in which the President was advised and made
19:10his decision.
19:11In making that decision, right?
19:12When he started thinking about it and making that decision, it started Saturday evening.
19:17And on Sunday afternoon, he made his decision.
19:19But it sounds like he was presented with data a week prior.
19:22I'm just not going to get into specifics.
19:25It started Saturday evening.
19:27The next afternoon, which was Sunday afternoon, he made that decision.
19:31Small group of advisers, including family, was with him on Saturday night.
19:37And then Sunday afternoon, he made the decision.
19:40That's how it happened.
19:41That's how he came to announcing it.
19:42And on the messaging to us, to the press corps, it's been nine days since there's been a briefing.
19:43The President obviously published his letter officially on Sunday, withdrawing from the
19:44race.
19:45Why go on television to make your first comments about that decision, rather than make a press
20:01report?
20:02No, I appreciate that.
20:03We've always had a protocol here.
20:04When the President's not here, we don't do a briefing.
20:06That's just the way that it's always happened.
20:10The interview that I did yesterday was on the books for about two, three weeks.
20:14It was way before, way before the President made his decision.
20:17That's it.
20:19Yeah?
20:20Okay.
20:21Did the President exit the race because he didn't think he could defeat Donald Trump
20:24in November?
20:25I'm not going to get into specific details of his thoughts.
20:28I would say tune in to tonight when he speaks directly to the American people.
20:33You'll hear what he thinks about this, his decision.
20:36He said in his letter that he wanted to address the American people about this decision that
20:41he made on Sunday.
20:42I would tune in to that, and you'll hear directly from him.
20:45And also, similar to some of the questions my colleagues have asked, for weeks, people
20:48from this podium and other top spokespeople for the President were adamant that there
20:52was no way he was dropping out.
20:55Just in terms of credibility moving forward, I'm curious if you guys could just address
20:59that.
21:00I mean, I kind of addressed it a couple times of the President's decision making.
21:05When we all, when folks from my team, from folks from this White House said that he wasn't
21:11going to drop out or he was not planning to drop out, that's where we were.
21:15That's where we were in that time.
21:17That is the guidance that we had.
21:20I mean, it's not...
21:21You guys not receiving the proper guidance?
21:25Tyler, on Saturday night, he met with a small group of advisors and his family, and that's
21:33when the decision started.
21:35Sunday, he made the final, Sunday afternoon, he made the final decision.
21:39That's where we were.
21:41And we've talked about this.
21:42This was a dynamic situation.
21:44It was.
21:45This is a historic moment.
21:46You have to...
21:47That is true.
21:49And it was for the President to come to that decision, to come to that decision.
21:54When we told you all that the President, you heard from the President, he's not going to
21:59drop out, and he actually addressed it himself, not just us.
22:01There were multiple events, multiple opportunities where the President said, he's in it.
22:07So you heard directly from him multiple times after the debate.
22:12The President, again, met with a small group of advisors on Saturday.
22:16Sunday, he made his final decision.
22:17That's how it worked.
22:18That's how it happened.
22:19Do you think tonight we'll get a better sense from him about what went into that decision
22:21that he made?
22:22I would tune in tonight.
22:23I would let the President speak for himself in this moment.
22:27Okay.
22:28Given the level of support the Vice President has received from lawmakers, other Democrats,
22:35senators, the party in general, has the President expressed any sentiment that maybe he should
22:40have made his decision sooner and given her a longer timeline?
22:45What I will say is this was a difficult decision to make, a personal decision to make, and
22:50the President made it.
22:52And I will leave it at that.
22:53Has he given any advice at this point to the Vice President in her process of picking a
22:59running mate?
23:00They speak regularly.
23:01They speak often.
23:02They've spoken a couple of times.
23:05And I'm not going to get into their private discussions.
23:06Okay?
23:07Is the Vice President or her staff going to be more closely involved in the day-to-day
23:08operations of the administration, given that she's now the president?
23:09I kind of got this question moments ago.
23:20Nothing more to add where the Vice President's been a critical partner.
23:24She's been important – played an important role to a lot of decisions that have been
23:28made in the past three and a half years.
23:30That's not going to change.
23:33And the President has always, obviously, appreciated her policy savvy, her ideas, her thoughts,
23:42and that's going to continue.
23:43Do you have more to say now?
23:46The President is still President.
23:48He's still very much Commander-in-Chief.
23:50He's still very much the President of the United States, and he's still very much going
23:54to lead this country in the way and the direction that he believes is right, is the right way
24:00to do it.
24:01So that doesn't change.
24:02That's not going to change.
24:03And just to make sure I understood your answer earlier, they have spoken about the VP selection
24:07specifically, or the –
24:08Oh, the VP selection.
24:10That is something, obviously, I can't speak to.
24:12The campaigns – the campaign site I could speak to.
24:15What I can say is I heard the question as giving advice to the Vice President in any
24:22way, right?
24:23They've spoken many times.
24:24I'm just not going to get into private conversation.
24:27The VP pick specifically, anything related to that, obviously, the campaign can speak
24:30to that more if you want more details.
24:32But Vice President Harris won't have extra staff in meetings that wouldn't normally
24:37be there for some sort of overlap transition?
24:39I would say that nothing is going to change.
24:41The President is the President of the United States.
24:44He's going to continue to lead this administration the way that he sees fit.
24:49They are partners.
24:50They are partners.
24:52They have been.
24:53She's been, again, a critical partner in some of the big items that we've been able
24:58to get done on behalf of this country.
25:00Obviously, she's going to play a role, as she has done in the past.
25:04Did you watch the Prime Minister's speech?
25:07That just ended not too long after I came out here.
25:11I have not talked to the President about this, if he was able to catch some of the Prime
25:15Minister's speech.
25:16Obviously, they're going to – as you know, they're going to be meeting here at the
25:18White House.
25:19So I'm not going to get into the details.
25:20I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
25:21I'm not going to get into the details.
25:22I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
25:23I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
25:24I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
25:25I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
25:26I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
25:27I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
25:28I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
25:29I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
25:30I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
25:31I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
25:32I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
25:33I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
25:34I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
26:05I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
26:06I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
26:07I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
26:08I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
26:09I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
26:10I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
26:11I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
26:12I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
26:13I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
26:14I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
26:15I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
26:16I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
26:17I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
26:18I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
26:19I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
26:20I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
26:21I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
26:22I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
26:23I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
26:24I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
26:25I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
26:26I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
26:27I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
26:28I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
26:29I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
26:30I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
26:31I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
26:32I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
26:33I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
27:04I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
27:05I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
27:06I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
27:07I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
27:08I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
27:09I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
27:10I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
27:11I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
27:12I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
27:13I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
27:14I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
27:15I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
27:16I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
27:17I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
27:18I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
27:48I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
28:17I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
28:18I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
28:19I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
28:20I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
28:21I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
28:22I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
28:23I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
28:24I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
28:25I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
28:26I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
28:27I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
28:28I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
28:29I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
28:30I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
28:31I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
28:53I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
28:54I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
28:55I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
28:56I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
28:57I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
28:58I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
28:59I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:00I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:01I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:02I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:03I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:04I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:05I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:06I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:08I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:09I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:10I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:11I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:12I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:13I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:14I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:15I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:16I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:17I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:18I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:19I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:20I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:21I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:22I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:44I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:45I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:46I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:47I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:48I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:49I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:50I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:51I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:52I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:53I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:54I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:55I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:56I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:57I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
29:59I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
30:00I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
30:01I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
30:02I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
30:03I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
30:04I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
30:05I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
30:06I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
30:07I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
30:08I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
30:09I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
30:10I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
30:11I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
30:12I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
30:13I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
30:35I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
30:36I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
30:37I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
30:38I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
30:39I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
30:40I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
30:41I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
30:42I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
30:43I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
30:44I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
30:45I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
30:46I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
30:47I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
30:48I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
30:49I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
31:11I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
31:12I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
31:13I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
31:14I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
31:15I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
31:16I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
31:17I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
31:18I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
31:19I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
31:20I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
31:21I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
31:22I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
31:23I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
31:24I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
31:25I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
31:26I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
31:27I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
31:28I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
31:29I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
31:30I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
31:31I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
31:32I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
31:33I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
31:34I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
31:35I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
31:36I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
31:37I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
31:38I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
31:39I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:06I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:07I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:08I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:09I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:10I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:11I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:12I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:13I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:14I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:15I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:16I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:17I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:18I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:19I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:20I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:21I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:22I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:23I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:24I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:25I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:26I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:27I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:28I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:29I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:30I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:31I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:32I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:33I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:35I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:36I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:37I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:38I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:39I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:40I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:41I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:42I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:43I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:44I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:45I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:46I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:47I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:48I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
32:49I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
33:11I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
33:12I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
33:13I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
33:14I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
33:15I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
33:16I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
33:17I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
33:18I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
33:19I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
33:20I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
33:21I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
33:22I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
33:23I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
33:24I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
33:25I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
33:47I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
33:48I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
33:49I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
33:50I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
33:51I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
33:52I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
33:53I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
33:54I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
33:55I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
33:56I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
33:57I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
33:58I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
33:59I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
34:00I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
34:01I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
34:23I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
34:24I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
34:25I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
34:26I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
34:27I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
34:28I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
34:29I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
34:30I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
34:31I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
34:32I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
34:33I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
34:34I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
34:35I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
34:36I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
34:37I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
34:59I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
35:00I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
35:01I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
35:02I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
35:03I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
35:04I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
35:05I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
35:06I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
35:07I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
35:08I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
35:09I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
35:10I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
35:11I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
35:12I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
35:13I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
35:34I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
36:03I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
36:04I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
36:05I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
36:06I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
36:07I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
36:08I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
36:09I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
36:10I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
36:11I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
36:12I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
36:13I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
36:14I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
36:15I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
36:16I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
36:18I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
36:19I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
36:20I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
36:21I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
36:22I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
36:23I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
36:24I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
36:25I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
36:26I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
36:27I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
36:28I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
36:29I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
36:30I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
36:31I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
36:32I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
36:53I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
37:22I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
37:23I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
37:24I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
37:25I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
37:26I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
37:27I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
37:28I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
37:29I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
37:30I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
37:31I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
37:32I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
37:33I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
37:34I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
37:35I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
37:36I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
38:04I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
38:05I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
38:06I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
38:07I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
38:08I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
38:09I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
38:10I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
38:11I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
38:12I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
38:13I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
38:14I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
38:15I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
38:16I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
38:17I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
38:18I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
38:39I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
39:08I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
39:09I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
39:10I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
39:11I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
39:12I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
39:13I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
39:14I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
39:15I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
39:16I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
39:17I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
39:18I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
39:19I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
39:20I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
39:21I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
39:22I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
39:44I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
39:45I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
39:46I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
39:47I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
39:48I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
39:49I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
39:50I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
39:51I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
39:52I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
39:53I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
39:54I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
39:55I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
39:56I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
39:57I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
39:58I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
40:29I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
40:30I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
40:31I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
40:32I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
40:33I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
40:34I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
40:35I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
40:36I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
40:37I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
40:38I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
40:39I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
40:40I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
40:41I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
40:42I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
40:43I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
41:14I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
41:15I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
41:16I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
41:17I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
41:18I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
41:19I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
41:20I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
41:21I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
41:22I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
41:23I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
41:24I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
41:25I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
41:26I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
41:27I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
41:28I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
41:49I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
42:18I just want to make sure that you're aware of that.
42:45He did it in a bipartisan way.
42:48And when he wasn't able to get it done in a bipartisan way,
42:51he found policy ways to do that in executive action.
42:56And we've been able to be successful,
42:57whether it's the border, whether it's
43:00trying to get things done on the student loan side.
43:03There's been ways that the president has been very still
43:07very, very focused on making sure we're delivering
43:09on the initiatives, on the goals that we set out
43:11to do in the beginning of this administration.
43:13That doesn't stop.
43:14That doesn't stop.
43:15Go ahead.
43:15Thank you, Karine.
43:16I have two questions, domestic and foreign policy.
43:18On domestic, was there any reason
43:20why the president did not endorse the vice
43:22president in the first week?
43:23It took like a while, maybe 15, 20 minutes.
43:26Yeah, I mean, look, the first meeting.
43:30The first week was he withdrew him from the race,
43:32but he did not say clearly that he is endorsing her.
43:35From the letter to the state sent.
43:38To the tweet.
43:39Yeah.
43:39It was a half hour.
43:41It was a 30 minute.
43:41Because there was a 30 minutes?
43:43You're questioning a 30 minute window?
43:45Because he's, no, I'm not questioning.
43:47I'm just asking if there was a reason.
43:49I mean, look, he put out a letter to the American people
43:53about a decision that he had made.
43:55That deserved a standalone letter, I believe, right?
43:59A decision, an important historic decision.
44:01He wanted to do that and speak directly
44:03to the American people.
44:04That's why he did the letter.
44:06And then, obviously, 30 minutes later, you got the endorsement.
44:11That's not a significant amount.
44:13But it's not a significant amount of time.
44:14I think if you look at the letter,
44:16you see that he was truly trying to lay down
44:19the decision, a very weighty decision.
44:23And he wanted to say that directly
44:25to the American people.
44:26Fair enough.
44:26He is doing it now.
44:29I say thank you for approving that answer.
44:32I have a second question on foreign policy.
44:34Just to follow up on this question.
44:37What message does administration send to the world
44:40when we see the White House is barricaded
44:43in anticipation of Prime Minister Netanyahu's visit
44:46here?
44:47The President of the ICC found a reasonable ground
44:50to indict him as a war criminal, and 70% of Israelis
44:53want him to step down.
44:55So look, I can't speak to Israelis.
44:58That's, you know, I'm not going to speak to domestic politics.
45:01I think we've been very clear on our feelings about ICC
45:05and their recommendations, something
45:06that we do not agree on.
45:07We've been very clear about that.
45:09Look, when it comes to what we're seeing outside,
45:16as you said, the barricades and such,
45:18that's something for Secret Service to speak to.
45:20They can speak to why they feel that it's needed.
45:24That is not for me to speak to.
45:26But it doesn't change the fact that we
45:28believe in the right for all Americans
45:31to peacefully protest.
45:32That is something that we've always been very clear about.
45:35It is the right of all Americans to peacefully protest.
45:38And we understand that this is an incredibly painful moment
45:41for many communities, and we respect that.
45:45And also, in that same vein, we're
45:48going to strongly condemn any type of violence
45:52or destruction of property.
45:55That is something that we've been very clear about as well.
45:58But peacefully protest, that's something that we support.
46:03I can't speak to there's reasons why the Secret Service is
46:07deciding to do that.
46:08That is for them to speak to directly.
46:12Good.
46:12Markeia.
46:13Hi.
46:13Thank you, Karine, very much.
46:15Karine, you were saying how difficult was this decision
46:18for President Biden.
46:20What is his mood since he took this decision?
46:24And what will be the tone of the address tonight?
46:28Also, what did he decide to do from the Oval Office?
46:32I wonder if he's going to do a campaigning from-
46:34So a couple of things.
46:36Look, I saw the President not too long ago,
46:38a couple hours ago.
46:39He's determined.
46:40He's in good spirits.
46:42He wants to speak directly to the American people tonight.
46:46That is his focus.
46:47He is doing it from the Oval Office
46:49because, as many of you all reported,
46:51and we agree with all of you, this is an important moment.
46:54This is a historic moment.
46:56And this decision was a big decision,
46:59was an important decision.
47:01And Oval Offices are used for moments
47:05that, I would say, moments like these that are historic.
47:08So he wants to do it from the Oval.
47:10He's going to do it in prime time.
47:11He's going to speak directly to the American people.
47:13I would say, again, tune in.
47:16You'll hear what he has to say.
47:18And I think it's going to be important.
47:21I think it's going to be important.
47:22Do you expect that he's going to ask people
47:25to vote for Harris from the Oval or do you think-
47:29It's going to be a speech, I believe,
47:33that is going to be important for the American people
47:37to hear directly from this President in this moment,
47:41in this historic moment.
47:43And I'm not going to get into details, get into specifics.
47:47I've said this many times from here,
47:48I'm not going to get ahead of the President.
47:50This is his opportunity,
47:51his opportunity to explain that decision
47:56and for the American people to listen in.
47:59So I know I got to go. Go ahead.
48:01Thanks so much, Queen.
48:02Can you give us any more color
48:03about the preparation for the speech?
48:05Who's been helping the President write it?
48:07If he's been sounding, using anybody as a sounding board?
48:12I'm not going to go into details.
48:15Obviously, this is the President's speech
48:17that the President's very deeply involved in.
48:21You don't use the Oval Office often.
48:26You use it for incredibly important moments.
48:32And that's what you're going to hear tonight.
48:34I'm just not going to get into specifics
48:36as to how the President is preparing.
48:39I will say this, obviously,
48:40his senior advisors are always heavily involved.
48:44And this is a President that's taking this very seriously,
48:48very focused, like he does with any other speech.
48:52And so, tune in. Tune in.
48:54And can you say whether or not you'd be willing
48:57to have the President's doctor come to the podium,
49:01particularly given that he is the President,
49:04does intend to serve out his term,
49:06and there have been a number of questions
49:07about, you know, his fitness for office?
49:10I mean, some of those questions could be settled
49:12if perhaps there was a, you know, the doctor,
49:14if his doctor would come to the podium
49:16or if more medical records could be released.
49:18You heard from the President's doctor,
49:21I believe, every day that he had COVID.
49:23He gave his assessment of what was going on,
49:27what was happening.
49:28There was a memo that was sent out to all of you.
49:31Obviously, the memo was given to me,
49:33and we shared it publicly. I don't have anything else.
49:38And you've heard me say this many times,
49:39there was an extensive medical evaluation
49:44that was done, physical, that was done in February.
49:48You all have that.
49:50I just don't have anything else to share from here.
49:52All right. Thanks, everybody. I'll be back tomorrow.