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Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer met today with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal to underscore steadfast U.S. support for Ukraine’s self defense and recovery from Russian aggression.  Prime Minister Shmyhal thanked the people of the United States for their support, and stressed the need for additional U.S. security assistance given Ukraine’s urgent battlefield needs.  The pair also discussed Ukraine’s continued reforms, and the importance of continued progress on these for its Euro-Atlantic integration. 

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The post Readout of Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer’s Meeting with Prime Minister Shmyhal of Ukraine appeared first on The White House.

Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer met today with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal to underscore steadfast U.S. support for Ukraine’s self defense and recovery from Russian aggression.  Prime Minister Shmyhal thanked the people of the United States for their support, and stressed the need for additional U.S. security assistance given Ukraine’s urgent battlefield needs.  The pair also discussed Ukraine’s continued reforms, and the importance of continued progress on these for its Euro-Atlantic integration. 

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The post Readout of Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer’s Meeting with Prime Minister Shmyhal of Ukraine appeared first on The White House.

I offer my deepest condolences to President William Ruto, the Kenyan Defence Forces, and the Kenyan people on the loss of Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Omondi Ogolla and several other passengers in a helicopter crash earlier today. During his nearly four decades of service, General Ogolla was a valuable partner in Kenyan-U.S. relations, dedicating his life to making his country – and all of us – safer and more secure. From combatting terrorist threats posed by al-Shabaab to leading efforts to bolster regional cooperation across a range of domains, he has left an indelible mark. Throughout his career, the United States enjoyed a close relationship with General Ogolla, who received pilot training alongside our own officers in the United States and developed strong relationships with U.S. diplomatic and defense leaders, including Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman, and U.S. Africa Command Commander General Langley. Our hearts go out to General Ogolla’s family and the loved ones of all the victims in today’s crash. We share Kenya’s grief for this tragedy and offer our resolute support in the days ahead.

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The post Statement from National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Helicopter Crash in Kenya appeared first on The White House.

I offer my deepest condolences to President William Ruto, the Kenyan Defence Forces, and the Kenyan people on the loss of Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Omondi Ogolla and several other passengers in a helicopter crash earlier today. During his nearly four decades of service, General Ogolla was a valuable partner in Kenyan-U.S. relations, dedicating his life to making his country – and all of us – safer and more secure. From combatting terrorist threats posed by al-Shabaab to leading efforts to bolster regional cooperation across a range of domains, he has left an indelible mark. Throughout his career, the United States enjoyed a close relationship with General Ogolla, who received pilot training alongside our own officers in the United States and developed strong relationships with U.S. diplomatic and defense leaders, including Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman, and U.S. Africa Command Commander General Langley. Our hearts go out to General Ogolla’s family and the loved ones of all the victims in today’s crash. We share Kenya’s grief for this tragedy and offer our resolute support in the days ahead.

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The post Statement from National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Helicopter Crash in Kenya appeared first on The White House.

     Miranda L. Holloway-Baggett, of Alabama, to be United States Marshal for the Southern District of Alabama for the term of four years, vice Mark F. Sloke, term expired.

     Carmen G. Iguina González, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals for the term of fifteen years, vice Loren L. AliKhan.

     Joseph Russell Palmore, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals for the term of fifteen years, vice Kathryn A. Oberly, retired.

     Curtis Raymond Ried, of California, a Foreign Service Officer of Class One, to be U.S. Representative to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, with the rank of Ambassador.

     John Bradford Wiegmann, of the District of Columbia, to be General Counsel of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, vice Christopher Charles Fonzone, resigned.

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The post Nominations Sent to the Senate appeared first on The White House.

     Miranda L. Holloway-Baggett, of Alabama, to be United States Marshal for the Southern District of Alabama for the term of four years, vice Mark F. Sloke, term expired.

     Carmen G. Iguina González, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals for the term of fifteen years, vice Loren L. AliKhan.

     Joseph Russell Palmore, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals for the term of fifteen years, vice Kathryn A. Oberly, retired.

     Curtis Raymond Ried, of California, a Foreign Service Officer of Class One, to be U.S. Representative to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, with the rank of Ambassador.

     John Bradford Wiegmann, of the District of Columbia, to be General Counsel of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, vice Christopher Charles Fonzone, resigned.

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Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

2:16 P.M. EDT
 
THE PRESIDENT:  I tell you what, I’m not sure I want this night to be over with.  (Laughter.)
 
I tell you what, man, this is a bit of a dream for me.  I mean it sincerely.  Having the Kennedy clan here supporting me like they are, that really means a lot to me.
 
You know, when I was the age of some of you guys in this audience, the — all I had to look to — not all I had — had to look at the Kennedy family. 
 
I have — as I said, I have — I have President John F. Kennedy’s desk, the Resolute, where John-John came out through the front of the desk, you know?  And I sit there and I look at the — those two — those two busts by the fireplace.  I’m sitting at my desk, from here to the wall, there’s President — or excuse me — Martin Luther King and there’s Teddy Kennedy, whose brother is the one sitting — brings to my head about what we got to do, but his brother sitting there on that other — other pedestal, Robert F. Kennedy. 
 
And, look, you’re — you’re my ticket to the White House:  you, Pennsylvania.  No, it’s not hyperbole.  You’re the ticket to the White House. 
 
And I was able — (applause) — and you’re getting a whole hell of a lot of people on board. 
 
I went home, as they say, to Scranon — (pronounced in an accent) — (laughter).  There’s no “T” in Scranton if you’re from Scranton.  (Laughter.) 
 
I went home to Scranton, and we got a chance to talk about a lot of things.  But the main thing we got to talk about is the value set that’s up there, just like it is throughout the working-class areas of this state — you know, an awful lot of good people, decent people I grew up with, people who taught me, for real, that — that everything was about treating everybody with dignity, no matter who you were.  Not a joke.  Not a joke. 
 
And so, then we headed off to Pittsburgh.  And, you know, Pittsburgh is back — the “City of Bridges,” 438 of them, as a matter of fact.  They keep building them too — (laughter and applause) — a whole hell of a lot of them. 
 
But — but, you know, steel — you know, I’ve always joked and said that this not only a steel state, this is — this is a state that has a spine of steel.  And the folks in Pittsburgh are really working like hell, and they’re doing well. 
 
And we’re finally making sure that United States Steel stays United States Steel.  It’s not going to be anything — anybody else’s steel.  (Applause.)
 
And then, you know, we — I’m here because — some of you remember — some of you — I’m only 42, but — (laughter) — some of you who are a little bit older may remember that, for the longest time, my little state of Delaware, just south of here — I was raised in — after Scranton, in Claymont, Delaware, right on the border.  And, you know, for the longest time, Delaware had no television station.  We — we were covered by Philly. 
 
And one of the proudest moments of my life — I nearly got killed politically — was when I was the most popular senator in Pennsylvania.  (Laughter.)  No, really.  Remember that?  It was — because they had to cover — I was on tele- — Philadelphia television as much as both the senators were from Pennsylvania.  (Laughter.)
 
But, look, there’s a lot at stake.  And I’m only going to take a few seconds.
 
AUDIECE MEMBER:  Take as long as you want.
 
THE PRESIDENT:  No, no, no, no, no, no.  (Laughter.)
 
It really is about — our democracy is really at risk.  It’s not a joke.  I mean, I’m being deadly earnest.  And this guy means what he says.  If we haven’t learned that now, we’re kidding ourselves.  He means what he says.
 
And when he talks about being a dictator on the first day, he means being able to negate elements of the Constitution.  He’s named where they were.  He said what he would do.  
 
The idea that he thinks that those insurrectionists were “patriots” and he’s going to free them all if, in fact, he gets elected — I mean, this is a full-blown attack on the Capitol in a way that hadn’t happened since the Civil War.
 
So, there’s a lot going on.  He’s committed to be opposed to — not — not just figuratively, literally — everything you’ve helped me get done — everything.  He wants to get rid of the Affordable Care Act.  He wants to get rid — just go down the list.
 
So, what you’re doing here is bigger than me, bigger than you, bigger than any — all of us combined.  It’s about what kind of country our kids are going to live in.  Not because I’m running — not Joe Biden.  I mean this sincerely.  Not because of me, but because of the op- — the opposite, what happens if we lose this election.
 
And it’s — you know, Joe has done a hell of a job.  I asked Joe to be the Envoy to Ireland when we were — (applause) — no, it’s a big deal.  The Irish accords, we were not sure they were going to — weren’t going to fall apart.  He went over, he gained the respect of the Republic as well as the North, and he made sure they stayed in place.
 
So, Joe, I got to warn you: If I win, you’re not going anywhere, pal.  (Laughter and applause.)  Y- — you may — you may be out of the country, but you’re going to be working with us.  (Laughter.)
 
Any rate.  So, I just want to — I just want to thank you all.  You’ve been incredible to me.  Philadelphia has always been the base of how I’ve won all my elections.  I mean, for real.  (Applause.)   So, I’m counting on it.
 
And, you know, Pennsylvania is — I think Pennsylvania is one of those states where it’s kind of unique.  It’s a very successful state.  It’s a wealthy state.  But it’s also a working-class state, where people keep their word, where people mean what they say, where people show up and do what they say they’re going to do.  And that’s who we are. 
 
So, I’ll end by saying: For the longest time, as a young senator, I heard about trickle-down economics.  You know, there used to be — there was a law that was passed in 1934.  It was about unions and could they be — were they legal or not, so on and so forth.  But the law that ended up being passed said not only are unions legit and they have a right to — you can’t artificially stop them from organizing, but they did a second thing.
 
It said that, in the United States of America, if a president is given money from the Congress to do something that is for America — build a new aircraft carrier deck, build a highway, build — whatever it is the money is given for — he should do two things or she should do two things: Number one, make sure they use American products and, number two, American workforce.
 
That was honored in the breach for the vast majority of the years.  When I came to office — and the only excuse could be is there weren’t workers that could do the job in America and if there weren’t materials to be able to do the job. 
 
But since I’ve been President, it’s been investing in America.  The longest time we spent, including some administrations — even some Dem- — (inaudible) some Democratic administrations.  
 
What did we do?  Corporate America — and I know a little bit about corporate America, being from Delaware — more corporations incorporated there than every other state in the union.  That’s not a joke. 
 
But I’ve always been straight with them.  But what did corporate America decide to do?  If they had to build something, they found the cheapest labor in the world to build it with.  So, they go overseas so they — the labor was cheaper — whether it was to Taiwan, South Korea, wherever it was — and then they’d import the product back home.  We changed that.  We are making sure we build it here and sending the product over there.  (Applause.)   And that’s why we’re working.
 
And for the longest time, you notice, the — the mainstream economists criticized me, said I didn’t get it right.  But guess what they’re saying now?  No, I’m serious.  Not — not the right wing, but even the conservative economists.  It’s working.  Invest in wor- — because they started to say, “This about the government making judgments of what’s best for the country.  Let the free enterprise system do it.”  The free enterprise system didn’t do it as well as we’re doing it now.  It’s still a free enterprise system.  We decide where to invest the money. 
 
So, thank you for all you’ve done.  We’re going to do well here in the state because of you.  But it gets down to basic things.  As Joe said, it’s about picking up the phone.  It’s about knocking on doors.  It’s about standing in the shopping centers.  It’s about showing up and just asking, “What do you care about?  What’s on your mind?”  Because an awful lot of people become very sour.  Think about it. 
 
It used to be the way we would communicate.  Most people picked up the paper and read the, quote, “Philadelphia Inquirer,” in the old days, picked up the phone, or turned on the TV and watch the nightly news.  They don’t do it anymore.  It’s on this phone.  It sounds —
 
No, that’s not a joke.  If you — if you look at the percentages of people where they get their news, and there’s so much on — and it’s not — you can almost not blame them because so much of what you read is just flat lies.  Simply not true. 
 
And so, the only way to get through is eye to eye.  That’s the best way to do it.  And that’s why I’m counting on all of you. 
 
And lastly, I’ll point out that, you know, we have 11 headquarters here in Pennsylvania and still we’re going — keep going.  But we also have more people employed here as volunteers — volunteers for full-time employees as well in this effort.  He doesn’t have one single headquarter in this state.  The one he had, he closed.  No, I’m serious.  He doesn’t have any headquarters around the country.
 
You know how much money we raised so far?  We raised a whole hell of a lot of money.  We got one point — but here’s the deal: 1.6 million people.  Let me make sure that’s — either two or six.  I — the press is here and I don’t want to be misquoted.  (Laughter.)  Get the exact number.  Hang on.
 
AIDE:  1.6.
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Is it one si- — it’s 1.6, isn’t it?
 
AIDE:  1.6.
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  1.6.
 
THE PRESIDENT:  One point six million individual contributions.  Okay.  (Applause.)  Those of you that have been involved in politics before know what — the next number I’m going to give you is important: 97 percent of those contributions are under — under $200.  (Applause.)  Ninety-seven percent.  
 
Five hundred fifty new contribut- — individual contributors just since the last election.  I mean, is the — and we raised a lot of money last time around. 
 
So, folks, we’re really moving.  And I think we’re going to see in all the — in — I didn’t even get into the — into the issues which you all know so well. 
 
But I mean — and isn’t it amazing how principled the opposition is?  (Laughter.)  Trump: “I am the reason why Roe v. Wade was overturned.  I think it should be state’s rights issue now.”  (Laughter.)  “But, wait, I don’t know.  Maybe….”
 
These guys — I’m going to get in trouble.  Anyway.  (Laughter and applause.) 
 
Thank you all so very, very much.  Appreciate it, appreciate it, appreciate it.  Thank you.  And thank you.  (Applause.)
 
      2:28 P.M. EDT
 

The post Remarks by President Biden at a Campaign Event appeared first on The White House.

Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

2:16 P.M. EDT
 
THE PRESIDENT:  I tell you what, I’m not sure I want this night to be over with.  (Laughter.)
 
I tell you what, man, this is a bit of a dream for me.  I mean it sincerely.  Having the Kennedy clan here supporting me like they are, that really means a lot to me.
 
You know, when I was the age of some of you guys in this audience, the — all I had to look to — not all I had — had to look at the Kennedy family. 
 
I have — as I said, I have — I have President John F. Kennedy’s desk, the Resolute, where John-John came out through the front of the desk, you know?  And I sit there and I look at the — those two — those two busts by the fireplace.  I’m sitting at my desk, from here to the wall, there’s President — or excuse me — Martin Luther King and there’s Teddy Kennedy, whose brother is the one sitting — brings to my head about what we got to do, but his brother sitting there on that other — other pedestal, Robert F. Kennedy. 
 
And, look, you’re — you’re my ticket to the White House:  you, Pennsylvania.  No, it’s not hyperbole.  You’re the ticket to the White House. 
 
And I was able — (applause) — and you’re getting a whole hell of a lot of people on board. 
 
I went home, as they say, to Scranon — (pronounced in an accent) — (laughter).  There’s no “T” in Scranton if you’re from Scranton.  (Laughter.) 
 
I went home to Scranton, and we got a chance to talk about a lot of things.  But the main thing we got to talk about is the value set that’s up there, just like it is throughout the working-class areas of this state — you know, an awful lot of good people, decent people I grew up with, people who taught me, for real, that — that everything was about treating everybody with dignity, no matter who you were.  Not a joke.  Not a joke. 
 
And so, then we headed off to Pittsburgh.  And, you know, Pittsburgh is back — the “City of Bridges,” 438 of them, as a matter of fact.  They keep building them too — (laughter and applause) — a whole hell of a lot of them. 
 
But — but, you know, steel — you know, I’ve always joked and said that this not only a steel state, this is — this is a state that has a spine of steel.  And the folks in Pittsburgh are really working like hell, and they’re doing well. 
 
And we’re finally making sure that United States Steel stays United States Steel.  It’s not going to be anything — anybody else’s steel.  (Applause.)
 
And then, you know, we — I’m here because — some of you remember — some of you — I’m only 42, but — (laughter) — some of you who are a little bit older may remember that, for the longest time, my little state of Delaware, just south of here — I was raised in — after Scranton, in Claymont, Delaware, right on the border.  And, you know, for the longest time, Delaware had no television station.  We — we were covered by Philly. 
 
And one of the proudest moments of my life — I nearly got killed politically — was when I was the most popular senator in Pennsylvania.  (Laughter.)  No, really.  Remember that?  It was — because they had to cover — I was on tele- — Philadelphia television as much as both the senators were from Pennsylvania.  (Laughter.)
 
But, look, there’s a lot at stake.  And I’m only going to take a few seconds.
 
AUDIECE MEMBER:  Take as long as you want.
 
THE PRESIDENT:  No, no, no, no, no, no.  (Laughter.)
 
It really is about — our democracy is really at risk.  It’s not a joke.  I mean, I’m being deadly earnest.  And this guy means what he says.  If we haven’t learned that now, we’re kidding ourselves.  He means what he says.
 
And when he talks about being a dictator on the first day, he means being able to negate elements of the Constitution.  He’s named where they were.  He said what he would do.  
 
The idea that he thinks that those insurrectionists were “patriots” and he’s going to free them all if, in fact, he gets elected — I mean, this is a full-blown attack on the Capitol in a way that hadn’t happened since the Civil War.
 
So, there’s a lot going on.  He’s committed to be opposed to — not — not just figuratively, literally — everything you’ve helped me get done — everything.  He wants to get rid of the Affordable Care Act.  He wants to get rid — just go down the list.
 
So, what you’re doing here is bigger than me, bigger than you, bigger than any — all of us combined.  It’s about what kind of country our kids are going to live in.  Not because I’m running — not Joe Biden.  I mean this sincerely.  Not because of me, but because of the op- — the opposite, what happens if we lose this election.
 
And it’s — you know, Joe has done a hell of a job.  I asked Joe to be the Envoy to Ireland when we were — (applause) — no, it’s a big deal.  The Irish accords, we were not sure they were going to — weren’t going to fall apart.  He went over, he gained the respect of the Republic as well as the North, and he made sure they stayed in place.
 
So, Joe, I got to warn you: If I win, you’re not going anywhere, pal.  (Laughter and applause.)  Y- — you may — you may be out of the country, but you’re going to be working with us.  (Laughter.)
 
Any rate.  So, I just want to — I just want to thank you all.  You’ve been incredible to me.  Philadelphia has always been the base of how I’ve won all my elections.  I mean, for real.  (Applause.)   So, I’m counting on it.
 
And, you know, Pennsylvania is — I think Pennsylvania is one of those states where it’s kind of unique.  It’s a very successful state.  It’s a wealthy state.  But it’s also a working-class state, where people keep their word, where people mean what they say, where people show up and do what they say they’re going to do.  And that’s who we are. 
 
So, I’ll end by saying: For the longest time, as a young senator, I heard about trickle-down economics.  You know, there used to be — there was a law that was passed in 1934.  It was about unions and could they be — were they legal or not, so on and so forth.  But the law that ended up being passed said not only are unions legit and they have a right to — you can’t artificially stop them from organizing, but they did a second thing.
 
It said that, in the United States of America, if a president is given money from the Congress to do something that is for America — build a new aircraft carrier deck, build a highway, build — whatever it is the money is given for — he should do two things or she should do two things: Number one, make sure they use American products and, number two, American workforce.
 
That was honored in the breach for the vast majority of the years.  When I came to office — and the only excuse could be is there weren’t workers that could do the job in America and if there weren’t materials to be able to do the job. 
 
But since I’ve been President, it’s been investing in America.  The longest time we spent, including some administrations — even some Dem- — (inaudible) some Democratic administrations.  
 
What did we do?  Corporate America — and I know a little bit about corporate America, being from Delaware — more corporations incorporated there than every other state in the union.  That’s not a joke. 
 
But I’ve always been straight with them.  But what did corporate America decide to do?  If they had to build something, they found the cheapest labor in the world to build it with.  So, they go overseas so they — the labor was cheaper — whether it was to Taiwan, South Korea, wherever it was — and then they’d import the product back home.  We changed that.  We are making sure we build it here and sending the product over there.  (Applause.)   And that’s why we’re working.
 
And for the longest time, you notice, the — the mainstream economists criticized me, said I didn’t get it right.  But guess what they’re saying now?  No, I’m serious.  Not — not the right wing, but even the conservative economists.  It’s working.  Invest in wor- — because they started to say, “This about the government making judgments of what’s best for the country.  Let the free enterprise system do it.”  The free enterprise system didn’t do it as well as we’re doing it now.  It’s still a free enterprise system.  We decide where to invest the money. 
 
So, thank you for all you’ve done.  We’re going to do well here in the state because of you.  But it gets down to basic things.  As Joe said, it’s about picking up the phone.  It’s about knocking on doors.  It’s about standing in the shopping centers.  It’s about showing up and just asking, “What do you care about?  What’s on your mind?”  Because an awful lot of people become very sour.  Think about it. 
 
It used to be the way we would communicate.  Most people picked up the paper and read the, quote, “Philadelphia Inquirer,” in the old days, picked up the phone, or turned on the TV and watch the nightly news.  They don’t do it anymore.  It’s on this phone.  It sounds —
 
No, that’s not a joke.  If you — if you look at the percentages of people where they get their news, and there’s so much on — and it’s not — you can almost not blame them because so much of what you read is just flat lies.  Simply not true. 
 
And so, the only way to get through is eye to eye.  That’s the best way to do it.  And that’s why I’m counting on all of you. 
 
And lastly, I’ll point out that, you know, we have 11 headquarters here in Pennsylvania and still we’re going — keep going.  But we also have more people employed here as volunteers — volunteers for full-time employees as well in this effort.  He doesn’t have one single headquarter in this state.  The one he had, he closed.  No, I’m serious.  He doesn’t have any headquarters around the country.
 
You know how much money we raised so far?  We raised a whole hell of a lot of money.  We got one point — but here’s the deal: 1.6 million people.  Let me make sure that’s — either two or six.  I — the press is here and I don’t want to be misquoted.  (Laughter.)  Get the exact number.  Hang on.
 
AIDE:  1.6.
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Is it one si- — it’s 1.6, isn’t it?
 
AIDE:  1.6.
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  1.6.
 
THE PRESIDENT:  One point six million individual contributions.  Okay.  (Applause.)  Those of you that have been involved in politics before know what — the next number I’m going to give you is important: 97 percent of those contributions are under — under $200.  (Applause.)  Ninety-seven percent.  
 
Five hundred fifty new contribut- — individual contributors just since the last election.  I mean, is the — and we raised a lot of money last time around. 
 
So, folks, we’re really moving.  And I think we’re going to see in all the — in — I didn’t even get into the — into the issues which you all know so well. 
 
But I mean — and isn’t it amazing how principled the opposition is?  (Laughter.)  Trump: “I am the reason why Roe v. Wade was overturned.  I think it should be state’s rights issue now.”  (Laughter.)  “But, wait, I don’t know.  Maybe….”
 
These guys — I’m going to get in trouble.  Anyway.  (Laughter and applause.) 
 
Thank you all so very, very much.  Appreciate it, appreciate it, appreciate it.  Thank you.  And thank you.  (Applause.)
 
      2:28 P.M. EDT
 

The post Remarks by President Biden at a Campaign Event appeared first on The White House.

Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1:47 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Please, have a seat if you have one.  (Laughter.)

Mom and Dad, I hope you were listening.  (Laughter.) 

What an incredible honor.  What an incredible honor.  I don’t want to become emotional, but what an incredible honor to have the support of the Kennedy family.

John White Jr., thanks for those kind words and for carrying on your family’s civil rights legacy.  And so is your son Kellan, who — who’s doing a hell of a job on our campaign.  (Applause.)  He’s helping us win Pennsylvania.  (Applause.)

Kerry, I — that was — that was the most meaningful introduction I’ve ever gotten in my life, other than when my sister introduced me.  And I want to thank you for your friendship, well beyond the introduction.

It’s an incredible honor to receive the endorsement of your family.  And it means so much to me. 

Your mom, Ethel, whom I spoke with on the phone a couple weeks ago — well, I guess, last week — to wish her happy birthday, she’s always been so gracious to my family during the most difficult time of my life.  She’s done so much for the country and the world in her own right. 

And, of course, your dad, who I never got to meet — I just missed — he was a senator from Syra- — from New York.  He came up to Syracuse University and spoke, and I waited in line, but I didn’t get a chance to physically meet him.  I never got — but he inspired me.  And his passion and courage inspired my generation. 

Like millions of Americans, I remember that night on April 4th, 1968.  I was finishing law school at Syracuse University when we heard Dr. King had been assassinated.  The pain and the outrage sparked riots and despair all across the country, including in my home state of Delaware. 

And then we heard a familiar voice I’d listened to many times — your dad, Bobby Kennedy, standing in the back of a truck in Indianapolis asking for peace and quoting one of his favorite Greek poets.  He said, and I quote, “Even in our sleep, our pain, which cannot forget, falls drop by drop upon the heart until, our own despair — in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God.” 

I had a hard time to believe that day that there was any wisdom, trying to work out from despair where — where we’d go.

It was even harder to believe just two months later, on June the 5th [6th].  I had just graduated from law school, earned an incredible — and learned about an incredible man, later that night, had been assassinated.  Yet another tragedy in your family and a gigantic tragedy for the country. 

Only two political heroes I had growing up were gone within a month of each other — months of each other. 

We faced a real inflection point as a nation. 

When I returned home to my city of Wilmington, one of the cities — only city since Reconstruction to be occupied by the military, the National Guard, with drawn bayonets on every street corner for nine straight months following Dr. King’s murder. 

When I graduated that summer, I went home to take a job at one of the oldest law firms in the state.  But after only a matter of months, I left that law firm and took a job as a public defender because I wanted to be more engaged in the effort. 

I went on to run for the county council, for the United States Senate, and then as Vice President of the United States.  I’ve done so in large part because I thought that’s something your dad would have done.

I’m not — I’m not exaggerating that.  He’s always been on my mind, been one of my heroes.  

Today, I sit behind the Resolute Desk, where President John F. Kennedy once sat.  And as I look from the desk — if you’ve ever taken a tour of the White House, I sit in that desk and I look — in front of the fireplace, to the left is a bust of Martin Luther King and to the right is a bust of your dad.  And I remember to keep — keep looking and remind myself what they would do in tough calls.  (Applause.)

The principles Bobby Kennedy embodied were principles taught by my grandparents and parents around our kitchen table.  And that’s not hyperbole; that’s a fact.  My dad said everyone is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect, no matter what their station — no matter what.  

And they thought — I was taught the worst sin of all — I mean this from the bottom of my heart — the worst sin of all was the abuse of power — physical power, economic power, or psycholo- — that was the worst sin of all — abusing power.  (Applause.)  

And then we have an obligation to each other: to leave no one behind, to give hate no safe harbor. 

It’s up to all of us to preserve and protect the very idea of America. 

You know, we’re unique — we’re in unique in America — in world history.  We’re the only nation founded on an idea.  Every other nation in the world is founded on geography, ethnicity, race, religion — except us.  Think about it.  The idea was, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men and women are created equal,” in the image of God, and deserve to be treated equally throughout their lives.  (Applause.)

We’ve never fully lived up to it, but we’ve never walked away from it.  We’ve never walked from it.  And we’re not going to walk away from it now.  (Applause.)  

Today, we face another inflection point in history.

The 2024 election is about two fundamentally different visions of — for America.  Donald Trump’s vision is one of anger, hate, revenge, and retribution.  He embraces the insurrectionists of January the 6th.  He’s running on it.  And as mentioned already, he promised to be a dictator on “day one” — his own words.  And he calls for —

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE PRESIDENT:  No, he — you know he means it.  And he calls for another “bloodbath” when he loses again.  (Applause.)

Look, your family, the Kennedy family, has endured such violence.  Denying January 6th and whitewashing what happens is absolutely outrageous.

I have a very different view of America, one of hope and optimism, like I hope all of you do — optimism that Bobby Kennedy embodied. 

I see an America where we defend democracy, not diminish it.  I see an America where we protect our freedoms, not take them away.  And I see an America where the economy grows from the middle out and the bottom up — and that way, the middle class does well and the poor have a shot — and where healthcare is a right, not a privilege.  (Applause.)

By the way, all the stuff we’ve done so far — we’ve done it, and guess what?  We’ve cut the budget by a lot of money: $172 billion so far.  So, don’t tell me it can’t be done.  (Applause.)

I see a future where the planet — we save the planet — as this guy is busting his neck doing — from climate change, literally — the climate crisis in — in America.

And we’ve got to do something — the idea we send our kids to school teaching them to duck and cover.  Think about that.  The idea, in the United States of America, (inaudible) duck and cover at school.  More kids being killed by gun violence than almost anything else.

Folks, the America we’re building is significantly different.  We’re going to get it done.  And now, it’s time to keep going and not slow down, because there is so much at stake.  

Let me close with this.  I know Bobby Kennedy liked Greek poets, and they’re great, but I prefer Irish poets.  (Laughter.)  And that’s not a joke, unfortunately.  (Laughter.)  My colleagues used to always kid me for quoting Irish poets on the floor of the Senate.  They thought I did it because I’m Irish.  That’s not the reason.  They’re the best poets in the world.  (Laughter.)

The one I enjoy particularly is Seamus Heaney.  He wrote a poem called “The Cure at Troy” that reminds me of the courage of Bobby Kennedy, and I mean this from the bottom of my heart.  And it goes like this, one stanza.  It says, “History teaches us do not hope on this side of the grave.  But then, once in a lifetime, that longed-for tidal wave of justice will rise up, and hope and history rhyme.”

In 2024, we have a chance to make hope and history rhyme again.  Are you ready to do that with me?  (Applause.)

Are you ready to move forward, not back?  (Applause.)

Are you ready to choose unity over division, dignity over demolition, and choose truth over lies?  (Applause.)  Are you ready to choose freedom over [and] democracy?  Because that’s America.  (Applause.)

Folks, I’ve been doing this a long — I know I only look like I’m 40, but I’ve been doing this a long time.  (Laughter.)  But I’ve never been more optimistic about our future, and I mean it. 

We just have to remember who we are.  We’re the United States of America.  There is nothing — I mean this sincerely.  Think about it.  We’re the only nation in the world — as a student of history, I can say — that’s come out of ever crisis stronger than we went in. 

There’s nothing — nothing beyond our capacity when we do it together.

God bless you all.  And may God protect our troops.

Thank you.  (Applause.)

AUDIENCE:  Four more years!  Four more years!  Four more years!

 1:58 P.M. EDT

The post Remarks by President Biden at a Campaign Event | Philadelphia, PA appeared first on The White House.

Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1:47 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Please, have a seat if you have one.  (Laughter.)

Mom and Dad, I hope you were listening.  (Laughter.) 

What an incredible honor.  What an incredible honor.  I don’t want to become emotional, but what an incredible honor to have the support of the Kennedy family.

John White Jr., thanks for those kind words and for carrying on your family’s civil rights legacy.  And so is your son Kellan, who — who’s doing a hell of a job on our campaign.  (Applause.)  He’s helping us win Pennsylvania.  (Applause.)

Kerry, I — that was — that was the most meaningful introduction I’ve ever gotten in my life, other than when my sister introduced me.  And I want to thank you for your friendship, well beyond the introduction.

It’s an incredible honor to receive the endorsement of your family.  And it means so much to me. 

Your mom, Ethel, whom I spoke with on the phone a couple weeks ago — well, I guess, last week — to wish her happy birthday, she’s always been so gracious to my family during the most difficult time of my life.  She’s done so much for the country and the world in her own right. 

And, of course, your dad, who I never got to meet — I just missed — he was a senator from Syra- — from New York.  He came up to Syracuse University and spoke, and I waited in line, but I didn’t get a chance to physically meet him.  I never got — but he inspired me.  And his passion and courage inspired my generation. 

Like millions of Americans, I remember that night on April 4th, 1968.  I was finishing law school at Syracuse University when we heard Dr. King had been assassinated.  The pain and the outrage sparked riots and despair all across the country, including in my home state of Delaware. 

And then we heard a familiar voice I’d listened to many times — your dad, Bobby Kennedy, standing in the back of a truck in Indianapolis asking for peace and quoting one of his favorite Greek poets.  He said, and I quote, “Even in our sleep, our pain, which cannot forget, falls drop by drop upon the heart until, our own despair — in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God.” 

I had a hard time to believe that day that there was any wisdom, trying to work out from despair where — where we’d go.

It was even harder to believe just two months later, on June the 5th [6th].  I had just graduated from law school, earned an incredible — and learned about an incredible man, later that night, had been assassinated.  Yet another tragedy in your family and a gigantic tragedy for the country. 

Only two political heroes I had growing up were gone within a month of each other — months of each other. 

We faced a real inflection point as a nation. 

When I returned home to my city of Wilmington, one of the cities — only city since Reconstruction to be occupied by the military, the National Guard, with drawn bayonets on every street corner for nine straight months following Dr. King’s murder. 

When I graduated that summer, I went home to take a job at one of the oldest law firms in the state.  But after only a matter of months, I left that law firm and took a job as a public defender because I wanted to be more engaged in the effort. 

I went on to run for the county council, for the United States Senate, and then as Vice President of the United States.  I’ve done so in large part because I thought that’s something your dad would have done.

I’m not — I’m not exaggerating that.  He’s always been on my mind, been one of my heroes.  

Today, I sit behind the Resolute Desk, where President John F. Kennedy once sat.  And as I look from the desk — if you’ve ever taken a tour of the White House, I sit in that desk and I look — in front of the fireplace, to the left is a bust of Martin Luther King and to the right is a bust of your dad.  And I remember to keep — keep looking and remind myself what they would do in tough calls.  (Applause.)

The principles Bobby Kennedy embodied were principles taught by my grandparents and parents around our kitchen table.  And that’s not hyperbole; that’s a fact.  My dad said everyone is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect, no matter what their station — no matter what.  

And they thought — I was taught the worst sin of all — I mean this from the bottom of my heart — the worst sin of all was the abuse of power — physical power, economic power, or psycholo- — that was the worst sin of all — abusing power.  (Applause.)  

And then we have an obligation to each other: to leave no one behind, to give hate no safe harbor. 

It’s up to all of us to preserve and protect the very idea of America. 

You know, we’re unique — we’re in unique in America — in world history.  We’re the only nation founded on an idea.  Every other nation in the world is founded on geography, ethnicity, race, religion — except us.  Think about it.  The idea was, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men and women are created equal,” in the image of God, and deserve to be treated equally throughout their lives.  (Applause.)

We’ve never fully lived up to it, but we’ve never walked away from it.  We’ve never walked from it.  And we’re not going to walk away from it now.  (Applause.)  

Today, we face another inflection point in history.

The 2024 election is about two fundamentally different visions of — for America.  Donald Trump’s vision is one of anger, hate, revenge, and retribution.  He embraces the insurrectionists of January the 6th.  He’s running on it.  And as mentioned already, he promised to be a dictator on “day one” — his own words.  And he calls for —

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE PRESIDENT:  No, he — you know he means it.  And he calls for another “bloodbath” when he loses again.  (Applause.)

Look, your family, the Kennedy family, has endured such violence.  Denying January 6th and whitewashing what happens is absolutely outrageous.

I have a very different view of America, one of hope and optimism, like I hope all of you do — optimism that Bobby Kennedy embodied. 

I see an America where we defend democracy, not diminish it.  I see an America where we protect our freedoms, not take them away.  And I see an America where the economy grows from the middle out and the bottom up — and that way, the middle class does well and the poor have a shot — and where healthcare is a right, not a privilege.  (Applause.)

By the way, all the stuff we’ve done so far — we’ve done it, and guess what?  We’ve cut the budget by a lot of money: $172 billion so far.  So, don’t tell me it can’t be done.  (Applause.)

I see a future where the planet — we save the planet — as this guy is busting his neck doing — from climate change, literally — the climate crisis in — in America.

And we’ve got to do something — the idea we send our kids to school teaching them to duck and cover.  Think about that.  The idea, in the United States of America, (inaudible) duck and cover at school.  More kids being killed by gun violence than almost anything else.

Folks, the America we’re building is significantly different.  We’re going to get it done.  And now, it’s time to keep going and not slow down, because there is so much at stake.  

Let me close with this.  I know Bobby Kennedy liked Greek poets, and they’re great, but I prefer Irish poets.  (Laughter.)  And that’s not a joke, unfortunately.  (Laughter.)  My colleagues used to always kid me for quoting Irish poets on the floor of the Senate.  They thought I did it because I’m Irish.  That’s not the reason.  They’re the best poets in the world.  (Laughter.)

The one I enjoy particularly is Seamus Heaney.  He wrote a poem called “The Cure at Troy” that reminds me of the courage of Bobby Kennedy, and I mean this from the bottom of my heart.  And it goes like this, one stanza.  It says, “History teaches us do not hope on this side of the grave.  But then, once in a lifetime, that longed-for tidal wave of justice will rise up, and hope and history rhyme.”

In 2024, we have a chance to make hope and history rhyme again.  Are you ready to do that with me?  (Applause.)

Are you ready to move forward, not back?  (Applause.)

Are you ready to choose unity over division, dignity over demolition, and choose truth over lies?  (Applause.)  Are you ready to choose freedom over [and] democracy?  Because that’s America.  (Applause.)

Folks, I’ve been doing this a long — I know I only look like I’m 40, but I’ve been doing this a long time.  (Laughter.)  But I’ve never been more optimistic about our future, and I mean it. 

We just have to remember who we are.  We’re the United States of America.  There is nothing — I mean this sincerely.  Think about it.  We’re the only nation in the world — as a student of history, I can say — that’s come out of ever crisis stronger than we went in. 

There’s nothing — nothing beyond our capacity when we do it together.

God bless you all.  And may God protect our troops.

Thank you.  (Applause.)

AUDIENCE:  Four more years!  Four more years!  Four more years!

 1:58 P.M. EDT

The post Remarks by President Biden at a Campaign Event | Philadelphia, PA appeared first on The White House.

WASHINGTON – Today, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to serve as key leaders in his administration:

• John Bradford Wiegmann, Nominee to be General Counsel of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence
• Curtis Raymond Ried, Nominee to be U.S. Representative to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, with the rank of Ambassador

John Bradford Wiegmann, Nominee to be General Counsel of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence

John Bradford Wiegmann is a Deputy Assistant Attorney General for National Security at the U.S. Department of Justice. In that position, he spearheads the National Security Division’s efforts to develop and implement policies relating to intelligence, counterterrorism, counterespionage, nation-state threats, and other national security matters, in addition to providing legal assistance and advice on matters of national security law and legislation. Wiegmann also oversees appeals in national security-related prosecutions, supports the Department’s participation in interagency groups established by the National Security Council, and works with foreign partners on issues of common concern. Before joining the U.S. Department of Justice, Wiegmann was an Assistant Legal Adviser at the U.S. Department of State, a Deputy Legal Adviser at the National Security Council, and Special Counsel to the General Counsel at the Department of Defense. He has been a career government attorney since 1996. Before joining the government, Wiegmann worked at Shea & Gardner in Washington, D.C., where he focused on civil litigation, and he served as a law clerk for Judge Patrick E. Higginbotham on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He is a summa cum laude graduate of Duke University and a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School. He and his wife, Theresa, have two children and live in Washington, D.C.

Curtis Raymond Ried, Nominee to be U.S. Representative to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, with the rank of Ambassador

Curtis Raymond Ried, a Career Member of the Foreign Service, currently serves as Deputy Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff and Executive Secretary of the White House National Security Council (NSC). Prior to becoming Chief of Staff, he served as the NSC’s Senior Director for Multilateral Affairs. Ried was most recently assigned overseas as Deputy Political Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Israel. Previously, Ried served on the NSC as Senior Advisor to the National Security Advisor, and prior to that, as the NSC’s Director for United Nations Affairs. Earlier, Ried was a political advisor, and later Political Counselor, at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York. Other assignments include tours in Algeria, Indonesia, Iraq, Timor-Leste, and the United Kingdom. A native of California, Ried holds a BA from the George Washington University and an MA from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques (Sciences Po) in Paris, France. He speaks French, German, and Hebrew.  

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The post President Biden Announces Key Nominees appeared first on The White House.

WASHINGTON – Today, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to serve as key leaders in his administration:

• John Bradford Wiegmann, Nominee to be General Counsel of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence
• Curtis Raymond Ried, Nominee to be U.S. Representative to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, with the rank of Ambassador

John Bradford Wiegmann, Nominee to be General Counsel of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence

John Bradford Wiegmann is a Deputy Assistant Attorney General for National Security at the U.S. Department of Justice. In that position, he spearheads the National Security Division’s efforts to develop and implement policies relating to intelligence, counterterrorism, counterespionage, nation-state threats, and other national security matters, in addition to providing legal assistance and advice on matters of national security law and legislation. Wiegmann also oversees appeals in national security-related prosecutions, supports the Department’s participation in interagency groups established by the National Security Council, and works with foreign partners on issues of common concern. Before joining the U.S. Department of Justice, Wiegmann was an Assistant Legal Adviser at the U.S. Department of State, a Deputy Legal Adviser at the National Security Council, and Special Counsel to the General Counsel at the Department of Defense. He has been a career government attorney since 1996. Before joining the government, Wiegmann worked at Shea & Gardner in Washington, D.C., where he focused on civil litigation, and he served as a law clerk for Judge Patrick E. Higginbotham on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He is a summa cum laude graduate of Duke University and a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School. He and his wife, Theresa, have two children and live in Washington, D.C.

Curtis Raymond Ried, Nominee to be U.S. Representative to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, with the rank of Ambassador

Curtis Raymond Ried, a Career Member of the Foreign Service, currently serves as Deputy Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff and Executive Secretary of the White House National Security Council (NSC). Prior to becoming Chief of Staff, he served as the NSC’s Senior Director for Multilateral Affairs. Ried was most recently assigned overseas as Deputy Political Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Israel. Previously, Ried served on the NSC as Senior Advisor to the National Security Advisor, and prior to that, as the NSC’s Director for United Nations Affairs. Earlier, Ried was a political advisor, and later Political Counselor, at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York. Other assignments include tours in Algeria, Indonesia, Iraq, Timor-Leste, and the United Kingdom. A native of California, Ried holds a BA from the George Washington University and an MA from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques (Sciences Po) in Paris, France. He speaks French, German, and Hebrew.  

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Today, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan convened the U.S.-Israel Strategic Consultative Group (SCG) to consult on a series of issues in the wake of Iran’s unprecedented missile and drone attack against Israel. The Israeli side was led by Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi. The discussion began in a small group format to discuss the Iran attack and the collective efforts to further enhance Israel’s defense through advanced capabilities as well as cooperation with a broad coalition of military partners. Mr. Sullivan also briefed the Israeli side on new sanctions and other measures that began today, in coordination with Congress and G7 capitals, following on the President’s call with G7 leaders held the morning after Iran’s attack.

The two sides then broadened to include interagency delegations to discuss Rafah. The two sides agreed on the shared objective to see Hamas defeated in Rafah. U.S. participants expressed concerns with various courses of action in Rafah, and Israeli participants agreed to take these concerns into account and to have further follow up discussions between experts, overseen by the SCG. Participants will meet again soon. 

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The post Readout of U.S.-Israel Strategic Consultative Group appeared first on The White House.

Today, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan convened the U.S.-Israel Strategic Consultative Group (SCG) to consult on a series of issues in the wake of Iran’s unprecedented missile and drone attack against Israel. The Israeli side was led by Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi. The discussion began in a small group format to discuss the Iran attack and the collective efforts to further enhance Israel’s defense through advanced capabilities as well as cooperation with a broad coalition of military partners. Mr. Sullivan also briefed the Israeli side on new sanctions and other measures that began today, in coordination with Congress and G7 capitals, following on the President’s call with G7 leaders held the morning after Iran’s attack.

The two sides then broadened to include interagency delegations to discuss Rafah. The two sides agreed on the shared objective to see Hamas defeated in Rafah. U.S. participants expressed concerns with various courses of action in Rafah, and Israeli participants agreed to take these concerns into account and to have further follow up discussions between experts, overseen by the SCG. Participants will meet again soon. 

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11:53 A.M. EDT

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Hey.  Hey, guys.  We sadly don’t have a lot of time.  So, let me just do this at the top really quickly, and then I’ll turn it off — turn it over.

So, we do have some news for you at the top.  On Monday, April 22nd, the President will travel to Virginia to celebrate Earth Day.  We will have more details, obviously, to share in the upcoming days.  But the President is looking forward to celebrating Earth Day next week.

I do want to give a qu- — a statement about what we saw in Arizona yesterday.

For the second time, Republican elected officials in Arizona have — have blocked efforts to repeal the state’s extreme and dangerous abortion ban from 1864.

This law, which includes no exceptions when a woman’s health is at risk or in tragic cases of rape or incest, threatens doctors with jail time and will put the health and lives of women in Arizona at risk.  It is outrageous.

After the Arizona Supreme Court’s ruling paved the way for this Civil War-era ban to go into effect, Republican elected officials tried to dance — to distance themselves from their own extreme agenda to rip away women’s freedom.  But when Democratic elected officials in Arizona offered a bill to repeal this arcane law, Republicans said no twice.

The President and the Vice President stand with the vast majority of Americans who support a woman’s right to choose.  And the administration will continue to fight to protect access to reproductive healthcare and call on Congress to pass a law restoring the protections of Roe v. Wade for women in — in every state.

I know the Admiral doesn’t have a topper, but he’s happy —

MR. KIRBY:  No topper.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  — to take any of your questions on the Middle East.

Q    So, John, we saw the Iran sanctions this morning.  Why were these targets not already sanctioned?  They were involved in Iran’s UAV industry, which has been helping Russia fight its war in Ukraine.  Why are there any targets that ha- — that —

MR. KIRBY:  Look, sanctions — sanctions — the whole sanctions process is an iterative process, and they can be cumulative too.

I would remind you that, over the last three years, we’ve done 600 sanctions across a wide range of entities and individuals and organizations and businesses across Iran.  These are specifically targeted at their drone capability.  And — and we’ll keep the option open for, you know, anymore that we need.

Q    Quickly, about the meeting today over Rafah — the virtual meeting. 

MR. KIRBY:  Yeah.

Q    Who is leading the talks from the U.S. side and —

MR. KIRBY:  Jake.

Q    And — and are you planning to discuss Israel’s plan to attack Iran?  I mean, to what extent is that getting discussed?

MR. KIRBY:  The meeting is going on right now, so we’ll give you a readout when it’s over.  I’m not going to get ahead of it.  The main purpose really is to talk about Rafah and to continue to have a conversation with the Israelis about their intentions and to also share our — our continued concerns over a major ground offensive there.

Q    And — and a quick one on — on, you know, the President’s decision to impose tariffs on China.  I mean, di- — had he mentioned that to President Xi when he spoke to him a few days ago on, you know, the decision to impose higher tariffs on steel?

MR. KIRBY:  I’ll just say that, broadly speaking, the President did talk to President Xi about unfair trade practices and — and the flooding in the global market of certain commodities that make it hard for American workers and families and businesses. 

Q    John —

Q    What was his response?

MR. KIRBY:  I’ll leave it at that.

Q    John, can you give an update on discussions regarding hostage negotiations — those Israeli hostage and American hostages that are being held in Israel? 

And also, as part of that, is there proof of life for — that’s been given to the Israelis as it relates to those who were abducted on October the 7th of last year?

MR. KIRBY:  Proof of life for all of them?  I wish we had more information, Jon.  We don’t.  That’s been the case since October 7th.  We just don’t have the ability to know the individual condition of any one hostage.  So, we’re — we’re obviously doing the best we can to try to g- — gain as much information as we can.  But we don’t.

As for the status of negotiations, as I said earlier, I mean, for us, this is still an active effort.  There’s still a proposal on the table.  We urge Hamas to take that proposal.  And we’re waiting to see what they do about it.

Q    Can I — can I just ask a follow-up?  If — if you don’t have any information regarding proof of life, how can the Israelis negotiate, you know, in — in fairness with —

MR. KIRBY:  They know who has been taken. 

Q    Okay.

MR. KIRBY:  They know who has been taken. 

Q    Right.

MR. KIRBY:  And — and we want them all back.

Sadly, if that means that not all of them come back alive, then they still need to be with their families.  We just don’t know the condition of each and every one of them.  You can’t count on Hamas to be perfectly honest about — about all their conditions.  But we want them all back regardless. 

Q    The U.N. Security Council vote tomorrow on recognizing statehood for the Palestinian territory.  What’s the U.S. thinking on that?  And are you prepared to use your veto?

MR. KIRBY:  We completely believe in the two-state solution and a state for the Palestinian people.  We believe the best and the most sustainable way to do that is through direct negotiations between the parties. 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Sorry, guys.  We’re going to have to sit.  Thanks, everybody. 

(Cross-talk.)

Q    We didn’t address the cannibals.

Q    A couple of questions.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay. 

Q    Can we see the “cannibal” tab in your book?  (Laughter.) 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  There is no “cannibal” tab.  What are you talking about?  (Laughter.)  Is that what you — is that what you’re asking me about?

Q    I mean —

Q    Yeah.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay.  Look, I’ll just — and I think we shared this with some of you, so I’m just going to kind of repeat.

Look, you saw the President.  He was incredibly proud of his uncle’s service in uniform.  You saw him at the war memorial.  It was incredibly emotional and important to him. 

You saw him respond to all of you when asked about the moment, yesterday, and his uncle who lost his life when the military aircraft he was on crashed in the Pacific after taking off near in New Guinea.  The President highlighted his uncle’s story as he made the case for honoring our sacred commitment to — to equip those we send to war and to take care of them and their families when they come home. 

And as he reiterated that the last thing American veterans are are “suckers” or “losers,” and he wanted to make that clear.  He wanted to make —

Q    By embellishing the story? 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I mean, look, I — I don’t have anything beyond — but what I just laid out.  But it was a really proud moment for him.  It was incredibly emotional.  I think some of your colleagues, as — as you know, Zeke, were there, and they got to witness the President pray at the — at the war memo- — war memorial, look for his uncle’s name, honor him. 

And I think we can’t — we can’t forget that moment.  And we cannot also forget what it means to be a commander-in-chief, what it means to lift up our service members, what it means to make sure that we respect their service.  And he made that contrast very clear as to what we saw from the former — former President. 

(Cross-talk.)

Sorry, guys.  Thank you. 

12:00 P.M. EDT

The post Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby En Route Philadelphia, PA appeared first on The White House.

11:53 A.M. EDT

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Hey.  Hey, guys.  We sadly don’t have a lot of time.  So, let me just do this at the top really quickly, and then I’ll turn it off — turn it over.

So, we do have some news for you at the top.  On Monday, April 22nd, the President will travel to Virginia to celebrate Earth Day.  We will have more details, obviously, to share in the upcoming days.  But the President is looking forward to celebrating Earth Day next week.

I do want to give a qu- — a statement about what we saw in Arizona yesterday.

For the second time, Republican elected officials in Arizona have — have blocked efforts to repeal the state’s extreme and dangerous abortion ban from 1864.

This law, which includes no exceptions when a woman’s health is at risk or in tragic cases of rape or incest, threatens doctors with jail time and will put the health and lives of women in Arizona at risk.  It is outrageous.

After the Arizona Supreme Court’s ruling paved the way for this Civil War-era ban to go into effect, Republican elected officials tried to dance — to distance themselves from their own extreme agenda to rip away women’s freedom.  But when Democratic elected officials in Arizona offered a bill to repeal this arcane law, Republicans said no twice.

The President and the Vice President stand with the vast majority of Americans who support a woman’s right to choose.  And the administration will continue to fight to protect access to reproductive healthcare and call on Congress to pass a law restoring the protections of Roe v. Wade for women in — in every state.

I know the Admiral doesn’t have a topper, but he’s happy —

MR. KIRBY:  No topper.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  — to take any of your questions on the Middle East.

Q    So, John, we saw the Iran sanctions this morning.  Why were these targets not already sanctioned?  They were involved in Iran’s UAV industry, which has been helping Russia fight its war in Ukraine.  Why are there any targets that ha- — that —

MR. KIRBY:  Look, sanctions — sanctions — the whole sanctions process is an iterative process, and they can be cumulative too.

I would remind you that, over the last three years, we’ve done 600 sanctions across a wide range of entities and individuals and organizations and businesses across Iran.  These are specifically targeted at their drone capability.  And — and we’ll keep the option open for, you know, anymore that we need.

Q    Quickly, about the meeting today over Rafah — the virtual meeting. 

MR. KIRBY:  Yeah.

Q    Who is leading the talks from the U.S. side and —

MR. KIRBY:  Jake.

Q    And — and are you planning to discuss Israel’s plan to attack Iran?  I mean, to what extent is that getting discussed?

MR. KIRBY:  The meeting is going on right now, so we’ll give you a readout when it’s over.  I’m not going to get ahead of it.  The main purpose really is to talk about Rafah and to continue to have a conversation with the Israelis about their intentions and to also share our — our continued concerns over a major ground offensive there.

Q    And — and a quick one on — on, you know, the President’s decision to impose tariffs on China.  I mean, di- — had he mentioned that to President Xi when he spoke to him a few days ago on, you know, the decision to impose higher tariffs on steel?

MR. KIRBY:  I’ll just say that, broadly speaking, the President did talk to President Xi about unfair trade practices and — and the flooding in the global market of certain commodities that make it hard for American workers and families and businesses. 

Q    John —

Q    What was his response?

MR. KIRBY:  I’ll leave it at that.

Q    John, can you give an update on discussions regarding hostage negotiations — those Israeli hostage and American hostages that are being held in Israel? 

And also, as part of that, is there proof of life for — that’s been given to the Israelis as it relates to those who were abducted on October the 7th of last year?

MR. KIRBY:  Proof of life for all of them?  I wish we had more information, Jon.  We don’t.  That’s been the case since October 7th.  We just don’t have the ability to know the individual condition of any one hostage.  So, we’re — we’re obviously doing the best we can to try to g- — gain as much information as we can.  But we don’t.

As for the status of negotiations, as I said earlier, I mean, for us, this is still an active effort.  There’s still a proposal on the table.  We urge Hamas to take that proposal.  And we’re waiting to see what they do about it.

Q    Can I — can I just ask a follow-up?  If — if you don’t have any information regarding proof of life, how can the Israelis negotiate, you know, in — in fairness with —

MR. KIRBY:  They know who has been taken. 

Q    Okay.

MR. KIRBY:  They know who has been taken. 

Q    Right.

MR. KIRBY:  And — and we want them all back.

Sadly, if that means that not all of them come back alive, then they still need to be with their families.  We just don’t know the condition of each and every one of them.  You can’t count on Hamas to be perfectly honest about — about all their conditions.  But we want them all back regardless. 

Q    The U.N. Security Council vote tomorrow on recognizing statehood for the Palestinian territory.  What’s the U.S. thinking on that?  And are you prepared to use your veto?

MR. KIRBY:  We completely believe in the two-state solution and a state for the Palestinian people.  We believe the best and the most sustainable way to do that is through direct negotiations between the parties. 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Sorry, guys.  We’re going to have to sit.  Thanks, everybody. 

(Cross-talk.)

Q    We didn’t address the cannibals.

Q    A couple of questions.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay. 

Q    Can we see the “cannibal” tab in your book?  (Laughter.) 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  There is no “cannibal” tab.  What are you talking about?  (Laughter.)  Is that what you — is that what you’re asking me about?

Q    I mean —

Q    Yeah.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay.  Look, I’ll just — and I think we shared this with some of you, so I’m just going to kind of repeat.

Look, you saw the President.  He was incredibly proud of his uncle’s service in uniform.  You saw him at the war memorial.  It was incredibly emotional and important to him. 

You saw him respond to all of you when asked about the moment, yesterday, and his uncle who lost his life when the military aircraft he was on crashed in the Pacific after taking off near in New Guinea.  The President highlighted his uncle’s story as he made the case for honoring our sacred commitment to — to equip those we send to war and to take care of them and their families when they come home. 

And as he reiterated that the last thing American veterans are are “suckers” or “losers,” and he wanted to make that clear.  He wanted to make —

Q    By embellishing the story? 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I mean, look, I — I don’t have anything beyond — but what I just laid out.  But it was a really proud moment for him.  It was incredibly emotional.  I think some of your colleagues, as — as you know, Zeke, were there, and they got to witness the President pray at the — at the war memo- — war memorial, look for his uncle’s name, honor him. 

And I think we can’t — we can’t forget that moment.  And we cannot also forget what it means to be a commander-in-chief, what it means to lift up our service members, what it means to make sure that we respect their service.  And he made that contrast very clear as to what we saw from the former — former President. 

(Cross-talk.)

Sorry, guys.  Thank you. 

12:00 P.M. EDT

The post Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby En Route Philadelphia, PA appeared first on The White House.

   

This Education and Sharing Day, USA, we remember the life and legacy of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, as the leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement and recommit to our shared values of honesty, dignity, and equal justice that he long championed and that have made America strong.

Forced to flee Nazi-occupied Europe during one of history’s darkest moments, the Rebbe found a new home and purpose in America.  In the wake of the Holocaust, he led hundreds of thousands to deepen their faith.  As a prolific scholar and teacher, his calls for new schools and community centers inspired people to build them in all 50 States and across the globe, and they moved generations to embrace education not only as a means of self-improvement but as an essential path to a more just society.  Here in America, he also offered counsel to some of my predecessors as President, always advocating for our Nation’s role as a beacon of hope in the world.   

We honor the Rebbe’s birthday every year, but we know this year is different.  Violence and cruelty have reminded us that hate never goes away — it only hides.  Silence is complicity, and America will not be silent.  As Americans, we reject terrorism and will keep working unequivocally to combat antisemitism at every turn.  My Administration remains dedicated to Israel’s security, and here at home, we have been implementing America’s first-ever National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism.  We will give hate no safe harbor.

The Rebbe knew that education is fundamental to cultivating understanding and acceptance.  It opens us up to one another, and it builds not just knowledge but character, as well as an awareness of something bigger than ourselves.  The Rebbe’s beliefs are reflected in the American creed that every person is created equal and deserves to be treated equally throughout their lives, starting with access to a quality education — a mission my Administration shares.

As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Rebbe’s passing, we honor his work by celebrating our common faith in our Nation and by working to ensure that every American has a chance to learn, grow, and thrive — in the classroom and as caring and courageous people.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 19, 2024, as Education and Sharing Day, USA.  I call upon government officials, educators, volunteers, and all the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.

                             JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

The post A Proclamation on Education and Sharing Day, USA, 2024 appeared first on The White House.

   

This Education and Sharing Day, USA, we remember the life and legacy of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, as the leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement and recommit to our shared values of honesty, dignity, and equal justice that he long championed and that have made America strong.

Forced to flee Nazi-occupied Europe during one of history’s darkest moments, the Rebbe found a new home and purpose in America.  In the wake of the Holocaust, he led hundreds of thousands to deepen their faith.  As a prolific scholar and teacher, his calls for new schools and community centers inspired people to build them in all 50 States and across the globe, and they moved generations to embrace education not only as a means of self-improvement but as an essential path to a more just society.  Here in America, he also offered counsel to some of my predecessors as President, always advocating for our Nation’s role as a beacon of hope in the world.   

We honor the Rebbe’s birthday every year, but we know this year is different.  Violence and cruelty have reminded us that hate never goes away — it only hides.  Silence is complicity, and America will not be silent.  As Americans, we reject terrorism and will keep working unequivocally to combat antisemitism at every turn.  My Administration remains dedicated to Israel’s security, and here at home, we have been implementing America’s first-ever National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism.  We will give hate no safe harbor.

The Rebbe knew that education is fundamental to cultivating understanding and acceptance.  It opens us up to one another, and it builds not just knowledge but character, as well as an awareness of something bigger than ourselves.  The Rebbe’s beliefs are reflected in the American creed that every person is created equal and deserves to be treated equally throughout their lives, starting with access to a quality education — a mission my Administration shares.

As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Rebbe’s passing, we honor his work by celebrating our common faith in our Nation and by working to ensure that every American has a chance to learn, grow, and thrive — in the classroom and as caring and courageous people.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 19, 2024, as Education and Sharing Day, USA.  I call upon government officials, educators, volunteers, and all the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.

                             JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

The post A Proclamation on Education and Sharing Day, USA, 2024 appeared first on The White House.

Less than a week ago, Iran launched one of the largest missile and drone attacks the world has ever seen against Israel. Together with our allies and partners, the United States defended Israel. We helped defeat this attack. And today, we are holding Iran accountable—imposing new sanctions and export controls on Iran.
 
The sanctions target leaders and entities connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iran’s Defense Ministry, and the Iranian government’s missile and drone program that enabled this brazen assault. As I discussed with my fellow G7 leaders the morning after the attack, we are committed to acting collectively to increase economic pressure on Iran. And our allies and partners have or will issue additional sanctions and measures to restrict Iran’s destabilizing military programs.
 
During my Administration, the United States has sanctioned over 600 individuals and entities—including Iran and its proxies, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Kataib Hezbollah. And we will keep at it. I’ve directed my team, including the Department of the Treasury, to continue to impose sanctions that further degrade Iran’s military industries.
 
Let it be clear to all those who enable or support Iran’s attacks: The United States is committed to Israel’s security. We are committed to the security of our personnel and partners in the region. And we will not hesitate to take all necessary action to hold you accountable.

###

The post Statement from President Joe Biden on Iran Sanctions appeared first on The White House.

Less than a week ago, Iran launched one of the largest missile and drone attacks the world has ever seen against Israel. Together with our allies and partners, the United States defended Israel. We helped defeat this attack. And today, we are holding Iran accountable—imposing new sanctions and export controls on Iran.
 
The sanctions target leaders and entities connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iran’s Defense Ministry, and the Iranian government’s missile and drone program that enabled this brazen assault. As I discussed with my fellow G7 leaders the morning after the attack, we are committed to acting collectively to increase economic pressure on Iran. And our allies and partners have or will issue additional sanctions and measures to restrict Iran’s destabilizing military programs.
 
During my Administration, the United States has sanctioned over 600 individuals and entities—including Iran and its proxies, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Kataib Hezbollah. And we will keep at it. I’ve directed my team, including the Department of the Treasury, to continue to impose sanctions that further degrade Iran’s military industries.
 
Let it be clear to all those who enable or support Iran’s attacks: The United States is committed to Israel’s security. We are committed to the security of our personnel and partners in the region. And we will not hesitate to take all necessary action to hold you accountable.

###

The post Statement from President Joe Biden on Iran Sanctions appeared first on The White House.