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1.  On August 26, 2024, the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) transmitted to the President a report (USITC Report) on its investigation under section 202 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (the “Trade Act”) (19 U.S.C. 2252), with respect to imports of fine denier polyester staple fiber (fine denier PSF).  The product subject to the USITC’s investigation and determination excluded certain fine denier PSF described in the USITC’s Notice of Institution, 89 FR 18435 (March 13, 2024), and listed in subdivision (c)(ii) of Note 32 in the Annex to this proclamation.

     2.  The USITC reached an affirmative determination under section 202(b) of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2252(b)) that fine denier PSF is being imported into the United States in such increased quantities as to be a substantial cause of serious injury to the domestic industry producing an article like or directly competitive with the imported article.  

     3.  Pursuant to section 301(a) of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act (the “USMCA Implementation Act”) (19 U.S.C. 4551(a)), the USITC made findings as to whether imports of Canada and Mexico, considered individually, account for a substantial share of total imports and contribute importantly to the serious injury caused by imports.  The USITC made negative findings of substantial share and contribution to injury with respect to imports of fine denier PSF from Canada and Mexico, considered individually.

     4.  Pursuant to statutes implementing certain free trade agreements to which the United States is a party, the USITC further found that imports of fine denier PSF that are a product of Australia, each Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement country (i.e., Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua) (CAFTA-DR countries), Colombia, Jordan, the Republic of Korea, Panama, Peru, and Singapore, individually, are not a substantial cause of serious injury or threat thereof. 

     5.  Furthermore, pursuant to section 403 of the Trade and Tariff Act of 1984 (Public Law 98-573, 98 Stat. 2948, 3016 (1984)) (19 U.S.C. 2112 note), the USITC found that the serious injury substantially caused by imports to the domestic industry producing a like or directly competitive article does not result from the reduction or elimination of any duty provided for under the United States-Israel Free Trade Agreement.  The USITC also found, pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 2703(e), that the serious injury substantially caused by imports to the domestic industry producing a like or directly competitive article does not result from duty-free treatment provided for under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA) provisions of the Caribbean Basin Initiative trade program or the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program.

     6.  The USITC Commissioners transmitted to the President their individual recommendations that each of them considered would address the serious injury to the domestic industry and be most effective in facilitating the efforts of the domestic industry to make a positive adjustment to import competition.

     7.  On September 10, 2024, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) requested additional information from the USITC under section 203(a)(5) of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2253(a)(5)).  On October 10, 2024, the USITC provided a response that identified unforeseen developments that led to the importation of fine denier PSF into the United States in such increased quantities as to be a substantial cause of serious injury (USITC Supplemental Report).  The USITC Supplemental Report also reported, inter alia, that increased imports of fine denier PSF products of all countries other than Australia, Canada, the CAFTA-DR countries, Colombia, Israel, Jordan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Singapore are a substantial cause of serious injury to the domestic industry.

     8.  Pursuant to section 203 of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2253), and after taking into account the considerations specified in section 203(a)(2) of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2253(a)(2)), the USITC Report, and the USITC Supplemental Report, I have determined to implement action of a type described in section 203(a)(3) (19 U.S.C. 2253(a)(3)) (safeguard measure), with regard to the following fine denier PSF:  fine denier PSF, not carded or combed, measuring less than 3.3 decitex (3 denier) in diameter, whether coated or uncoated.  Fine denier PSF is classifiable in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) in subheading 5503.20.00 and described in statistical reporting number 5503.20.0025 or 9813.00.0520. 

     9.  Pursuant to section 203 of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2253), the action I have determined to take shall be a safeguard measure in the form of a quantitative restriction on imports of fine denier PSF described in paragraph 8 of this proclamation, admitted temporarily free of duty under bond and entered under subheading 5503.20.00 and described in statistical reporting number 5503.20.0025 or 9813.00.0520, imposed for a period of 4 years, with annual reductions in the within-quota quantities in the second, third, and fourth years.  Admission of certain imported articles free of duty under bond is commonly known as a Temporary Importation under Bond (TIB).  TIB entries are subject to the conditions appearing in Chapter 98, Subchapter XIII, of the HTS (19 U.S.C. 1202) as well as regulations promulgated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of the Treasury.

     10.  The quantitative restriction of TIB entries described in paragraph 9 of this proclamation shall be allocated among all countries except those countries the products of which are excluded from such quantitative restriction, pursuant to paragraphs 13 through 16 of this proclamation.

     11.  This safeguard measure shall apply to imports of all countries, except as provided in paragraphs 13 through 16 of this proclamation.

     12.  I have found, pursuant to section 203(e)(4) of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2253(e)(4)), that the most recent 3 years that are representative of imports of fine denier PSF and for which data are available are 2018 through 2020, because that period covers the 3 most recent years before the surge in imports, particularly under TIB entry, from 2021 to 2023.  Setting a quantitative restriction of zero pounds for the first year of this action is consistent with this representative period because the USITC Report indicates that there were no imports of fine denier PSF under TIB entry during 2018 through 2020.

     13.  This safeguard measure shall not apply to imports of any product described in paragraph 8 of this proclamation of a developing country, as listed in subdivision (b)(iii) of Note 32 in the Annex to this proclamation, as long as such a country’s share of total imports of the product, based on imports during a recent representative period, does not exceed 3 percent, provided that imports that are the product of all such countries with less than 3 percent import share collectively account for not more than 9 percent of total imports of the product.  If I determine that a surge in imports of a product described in paragraph 8 of this proclamation of a developing country that is a World Trade Organization (WTO) Member results in imports of that product from that developing country exceeding either of the thresholds described in this paragraph, I may modify this action to apply to such product of such country.

     14.  Pursuant to section 302(a) of the USMCA Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 4552(a)), I have determined after considering the USITC Report and the USITC Supplemental Report that imports of fine denier PSF that are the product of Canada and Mexico, considered individually, do not account for a substantial share of total imports and do not contribute importantly to the serious injury found by the USITC.  Accordingly, pursuant to section 302(b) of the USMCA Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 4552(b)), I have excluded fine denier PSF that is the product of Canada or Mexico from the action I am taking under section 203 of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2253).

     15.  After considering the USITC Report and the USITC Supplemental Report, I have also made the following determinations with regard to fine denier PSF that is the product of the following trading partners:

     (a)  I have determined that imports of fine denier PSF that are the product of Australia are not a substantial cause of the serious injury found by the USITC, and I have therefore determined to exclude such imports that are the product of Australia from the action I am taking under section 203 of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2253), pursuant to section 331(b) of the United States-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (Public Law 108-286, 118 Stat. 919, 949(2004)) (19 U.S.C. 3805 note);

     (b)  In light of the USITC’s finding that imports of fine denier PSF that are the product of each CAFTA-DR country individually are not a substantial cause of serious injury or threat thereof,I have determined to exclude such imports that are the product of each of the CAFTA-DR countries from the action I am taking under section 203 of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2253), pursuant to section 331(b) of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (the “CAFTA-DR Act”) (Public Law 109-53, 119 Stat. 462, 495 (2005)) (19 U.S.C. 4101(b));

     (c) In light of the USITC’s finding that imports of fine denier PSF that are the product of Colombia are not a substantial cause of serious injury or threat thereof, I have determined to exclude such imports that are the product of Colombia from the action I am taking under section 203 of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2253), pursuant to section 331(b) of the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act (Public Law 112-42, 125 Stat. 462, 493-94 (2011)) (19 U.S.C. 3805 note);

     (d)  In light of the USITC’s finding that the serious injury substantially caused by imports to the domestic industry producing a like or directly competitive article does not result from the reduction or elimination of any duty provided for under the United States-Israel Free Trade Agreement, I have determined, as part of the action I am taking under section 203 of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2253), not to suspend the reduction or elimination of any duty on imports of fine denier PSF that are the product of Israel, pursuant to section 403 of the Trade and Tariff Act of 1984 (19 U.S.C. 2112 note);

     (e)  In light of the USITC’s finding that imports of fine denier PSF that are the product of Panama are not a substantial cause of serious injury or threat thereof, I have determined to exclude such imports that are the product of Panama from the action I am taking under section 203 of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2253), pursuant to section 331(b) of the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act (Public Law 112-43, 125 Stat. 497, 529 (2011)) (19 U.S.C. 3805 note);

     (f)  In light of the USITC’s finding that imports of fine denier PSF that are the product of Peru are not a substantial cause of serious injury or threat thereof, I have determined to exclude such imports that are the product of Peru from the action I am taking under section 203 of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2553), pursuant to section 331(b) of the United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act (Public Law 110-138, 121 Stat. 1455, 1486 (2007)) (19 U.S.C. 3805 note);

     (g)  I have determined that imports of fine denier PSF that are the product of Singapore are not a substantial cause of the serious injury found by the USITC, and I have therefore determined to exclude such imports that are the product of Singapore from the action I am taking under section 203 of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2253), pursuant to section 331(b) of the United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (Public Law 108-78, 117 Stat. 948, 970 (2003)) (19 U.S.C. 3805 note); and

     (h)  In light of the USITC’s finding that the serious injury substantially caused by imports to the domestic industry producing a like or directly competitive article does not result from duty-free treatment provided for under the CBERA provisions of the Caribbean Basin Initiative trade program, I have determined, as part of the action I am taking under section 203 of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2253), not to suspend duty-free treatment pursuant to subsection 1 of 19 U.S.C. 2703(e), with respect to imports of fine denier PSF that are the product of any CBERA beneficiary country or territory.

     16.  Although the USITC found that imports of fine denier PSF that are a product of the Republic of Korea are not a substantial cause of serious injury or threat thereof, I have determined to include imports of fine denier PSF that are the product of the Republic of Korea in the action I am taking under section 203 of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2253).  Specifically, consistent with the recommendations of certain USITC Commissioners, I have found that excluding imports of the Republic of Korea from the quantitative restriction could significantly undermine this action.

     17.  While the USITC recommended excluding Jordan from this action under the United States-Jordan Free Trade Area Implementation Act (Public Law 107-43, 115 Stat. 243 (2001)) (19 U.S.C. 2112 note), I have instead determined to exclude such imports that are the product of Jordan as imports of a developing country from the action I am taking, pursuant to paragraph 13 of this proclamation.

     18.  While the USITC Commissioners recommended that I impose a tariff-rate quota on fine denier PSF imports, I have determined not to do so.  The USITC Report indicates that TIB entries of fine denier PSF contributed significantly to the serious injury to the domestic industry.  In addition, such TIB entries are undermining the effectiveness of existing trade actions on fine denier PSF.  Therefore, I have decided to tailor this safeguard remedy to TIB entries of fine denier PSF.  Furthermore, I have determined not to impose a tariff-rate quota on imports of fine denier PSF in the interest of balancing the competing interests of domestic fine denier PSF manufacturers and the impact of the safeguard remedy on downstream United States producers, including manufacturers of textiles, defense products, and consumer products, that rely on fine denier PSF.

     19.  Pursuant to section 203(a)(1)(A) of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2253(a)(1)(A)), I have determined that this safeguard measure will facilitate efforts by the domestic industry to make a positive adjustment to import competition and provide greater economic and social benefits than costs.  If I determine that further action is appropriate and feasible to facilitate efforts by the domestic industry to make a positive adjustment to import competition and provide greater economic and social benefits than costs, or if I determine that the conditions under section 204(b)(1) of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2254(b)(1)) are met, I shall reduce, modify, or terminate the action established in this proclamation accordingly.  In addition, if I determine within 30 days of the date of this proclamation, as a result of consultations between the United States and other WTO Members pursuant to Article 12.3 of the WTO Agreement on Safeguards, that it is necessary to reduce, modify, or terminate the safeguard measure, I shall proclaim the corresponding reduction, modification, or termination of the safeguard measure within 40 days of the date of this proclamation.

     20.  Section 604 of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2483) authorizes the President to embody in the HTS the substance of the relevant provisions of that Act, and of other acts affecting import treatment, and actions thereunder, including the removal, modification, continuance, or imposition of any rate of duty or other import restriction.

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including sections 203 and 604 of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2253 and 2483), section 302 of the USMCA Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 4552), section 331(b) of the United States-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 3805 note), section 331(b) of the CAFTA-DR Act (19 U.S.C. 4101(b)), section 331(b) of the United States-Colombia Free Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 3805 note), section 403 of the Trade and Tariff Act of 1984 (19 U.S.C. 2112 note), section 331(b) of the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 3805 note), section 331(b) of the United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 3805 note), section 331(b) of the United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 3805 note), and 19 U.S.C. 2703(e), do proclaim that:

     (1)  In order to establish a quantitative restriction on imports of fine denier PSF described in paragraph 9 of this proclamation, subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTS is modified as provided in the Annex to this proclamation. 

     (2)  The modifications to the HTS made by this proclamation, included in the Annex to this proclamation, shall be effective with respect to goods admitted temporarily free of duty under bond which are entered under HTS statistical reporting number 9813.00.0520, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time 15 days after the date of this proclamation, and shall continue in effect as provided in the Annex to this proclamation, unless such action is earlier expressly reduced, modified, or terminated.

     (3)  Imports of fine denier PSF that are the product of Australia, Canada, the CAFTA-DR countries, CBERA beneficiary countries and territories, Colombia, Israel, Mexico, Panama, Peru, or Singapore shall be excluded from the safeguard measure established in this proclamation, and such imports shall not be counted toward the quantitative restriction.

     (4)  Except as provided in clause (5) below, imports of fine denier PSF that are the product of developing countries, as listed in subdivision (b)(iii) of Note 32 in the Annex to this proclamation, shall be excluded from the safeguard measure established in this proclamation, and such imports shall not be counted toward the quantitative restriction.

     (5)  If, after the safeguard measure established in this proclamation takes effect, I determine that:

     (a)  the share of total imports of the product of a country listed in subdivision (b)(iii) of Note 32 in the Annex to this proclamation, based on imports during a recent representative period, exceeds 3 percent;

     (b)  imports of the product from all listed countries with less than 3 percent import share collectively account for more than 9 percent of total imports of the product; or

     (c)  a country listed in subdivision (b)(iii) of Note 32 in the Annex to this proclamation is no longer a developing country for purposes of this proclamation;

then I may revise subdivision (b)(iii) of Note 32 in the Annex to this proclamation to remove the relevant country from the list or suspend operation of that subdivision, as appropriate.

    (6)  One year from the termination of the safeguard measure established in this proclamation, the United States note and tariff provisions established in the Annex to this proclamation shall be deleted from the HTS.

     (7)  Any provision of previous proclamations and Executive Orders that is inconsistent with the action taken in this proclamation is superseded to the extent of such inconsistency.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this

eighth day of November, 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-ninth.

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

The post A Proclamation to Facilitate Positive Adjustment to Competition from Imports of Fine Denier Polyester Staple Fiber appeared first on The White House.

     Today marks 35 years since the Berlin Wall came down.  Its fall was one of the greatest advances in human dignity in my lifetime.  As we celebrate this anniversary, may we all remember that what brought the Berlin Wall down and lifted the Iron Curtain is what keeps the flame of liberty shining bright around the world:  the determination of free people everywhere who never fail to stand up for their freedoms and their democracy.

     I still remember when, as a young Senator, I visited West Berlin and saw what it meant to live in a divided city, country, and continent.  Then, in 1989, along with millions of people around the world, I watched the 70,000 brave souls gathered in Leipzig, Germany, crying out for freedom.  After the wall came down, some feared the reunification of Germany would revive old hatreds and rivalries, but leaders of America and Germany dreamed together of a much better future.  The achievement of a Germany whole and free lives on, exceeding everyone’s expectations, and the dream of Europe whole and free remains the work of our time.  My Administration is committed to pushing back against Putin’s vicious attack on Ukraine.  It is another battle in the long struggle for freedom and against aggression and tyranny.

     Together with our partners and allies, the United States is continuing to fight for the freedom and rights of people around the world.  We are working to build a future where women and girls share equal rights and opportunities in their communities; where Indigenous groups, people with disabilities, and racial, ethnic, and religious minorities live free from discrimination; and where LGBTQI+ people can live lives free from fear and hate.  And we must all stay committed to supporting democracy around the world — and at home.  I call on the American people to stand up in defense of our democracy because every generation must do the work of defending, protecting, and safeguarding it.

     The future will be won by those who unleash the full potential of their people to breathe and think freely, innovate and educate daringly, and live and love openly and without fear.  That is the soul of democracy — and I have seen it all around the world, from the brave men and women who brought down the Berlin Wall to the people who are fighting in every region for freedom, justice, and dignity.  Today, may we strengthen our commitment to our democracy and to one another, knowing that the darkness that drives autocracy is no match for the flame of liberty that lights the souls of free people everywhere.

     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 November 9, 2024, as World Freedom Day.  I call upon the people of the United States of America to remember the hope symbolized by the fall of the Berlin Wall and reaffirm our dedication to freedom and democracy.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of November, 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-ninth.

                               JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

The post A Proclamation on World Freedom Day, 2024 appeared first on The White House.

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

2:07 P.M. EST

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Hi.  Good afternoon, everyone.

Q    Good afternoon.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Good to — welcome back to some of you out there who were on the trail.  Good to see you all.

Okay.  As you just heard from the president — President Biden, he spoke with President-elect Trump to congratulate him on his victory.

He also assured him that he would direct his entire administration to work with his team to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition of power.  That is what the American people deserve.

He also spoke with the vice president to congratulate her on a historic, inspiring campaign.

And for some people, this election is a time of victory, and others, it’s a time of loss.  To state the obvious, Tuesday’s night’s results were not our team’s desired outcome.

There is going to be a — a lot of post- — postmortem analysis of what happened in the coming days, in the coming weeks, even in the coming months.  And so, I’m going to leave those questions to the election experts.  That is certainly not my role today.

But what you heard from President Biden is that the struggle for the soul of America, since our very founding, crosses generations and is always ongoing and is still important today.

The president and the vice president accept the choice the country has made and — because the president has said this many time; you heard him say this moments ago in the Rose Garden: You can’t love your country only when you win, and you can’t love your neighbor only when you agree.

The president also spoke to the importance of the integrity of the American election system: It’s honest, it’s fair, and it’s transparent, and it can be trusted, whether you win or you lose.

The president and the vice president are proud to be leaving behind the strongest economy in the world.

And the president and the vice president are proud to have change America for the better.  That’s going to be their focus in the upcoming remaining days.  You heard the president say that we have 74 days left of his administration, and they are going to make every day count on behalf of the American people, regardless — regardless of who voted for them.

With that, Zeke.

Q    Thanks, Karine.  First off, do you have an update on when the president-elect will come visit the president here?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, as we said in our statement yesterday after the vice president spoke at Howard University, our teams — the president obviously invited the president-elect to the White House for them to meet.  Our teams — their team and our team are working on that, and we’re — certainly we’ll share once we lock something in in the near future.

Q    Second, when the president spoke in the Rose Garden a little bit ago, one thing he did not do was take any accountability for his party’s defeat on Tuesday night.  Does he feel any sense of responsibility for the outcome?  Does he feel he would have — he should have done things differently through the course of this campaign?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, there’s a lot there.  And let me — if you don’t mind, give me a second to unpack all of this, because I think it’s important for the American people to hear this as well.

Look, the president has spoken to this, and he’ll — I’ll say it again here.  He was certainly inspired by the — the campaign that the vice president ran. 

And when he decided to pass the torch over to the vice president, you saw — you saw the party come right behind her, support her, right after he was able to do that.  And it’s because she was the right person for the job.

You heard him say that in 2020.  The reason why he selected her as her [his] running mate: because she — he knew she would be able to do the job on day one.

And you heard that, obviously, once he decided to pass the torch, which he didn’t think about, like, second — give it — give any second thought, right?  He thought about it and did it.  Like, it wasn’t something that he gave a second thought to, as I just said.  He knew it was the right thing to do.

And I would want to say as well — is that if you look at the four years — almost three — well, three-plus years, there are some historic accomplishments that they ha- — were able to do together, whether it’s beating Big Pharma and now Medicare is able to negotiate; whether it’s getting a bipartisan infrastructure law; whether it’s the sc- — the — the PACT Act —

Q    CHIPS.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  — the Bipartisan Infrastructure; the CHIPS and Science Act — thank you so much — these are things that were able to get us out of the pandemic.

And you heard me say at the top that the president is proud to leave the strongest economy for the next person that’s coming, for the president-elect, and that’s what they’re going to inherit.

But with all of that said — and this gets to your question — despite all of the accomplishments that we were able to get done, there were global headwinds that — because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Obviously, COVID-19 led to disruptions with the supply chain.  And it had a political toll on many incumbents, if you look at what happened in 2024 globally. 

And that’s what you — that’s part of what you saw, right?  You saw that there was a political toll on incumbent parties around the world here.

Now, I’m going to be very mindful and leave the political analysis to the pundits.  They’re going to dig in.  They’re going to look under the hood.  They’re going to see exactly what happened.

But what we saw two nights ago was not unusual to what we have seen from the incumbencies around the world on the global stage.

Q    To — to restate my question —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — does the president feel any responsibility for the outcome?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  The president understands that he’s going to respect the will of the people.  That’s what he understands.  He understands that the American people made a decision, and he’s going to respect that.

He believe he made the right decision.  When he stepped — stepped aside, decided that he wasn’t going to run, he automatically —

Q    Should he have done that in 2022, though?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Guys, here’s the thing — and we can’t — we can’t rewrite history.  We have to remember what happened in 2022.  2022 is a perfect example, actually, because when we came out of 2022 midterms, we saw a successful midterms from — from — for any new administration in over 60 years, and it was because of the president’s policies. 

Let’s not forget that all of the accomplishments that the president did — again, I had listed the bipartisan infrastructure legislation, CHIPS and Science Act, the Inflation Reduction Act — those are popular with the American people.  They are.  Those policies were indeed popular, and that’s what got us through the 2022 midterm. 

It was supposed to be a red wave.  That didn’t happen.

And so, coming out of that, we did see some historic markers there. 

And so, the president believed that he needed to do — he’s always going to put the American people first.  When he decided to step down and endorse immediately the vice president, that’s what he thought was the right thing to do in that moment, in that time.

Q    So — one last one for me.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Sure.  Sure.

Q    I’m sure my colleagues have a few to unpack there, but —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  (Laughs.)

Q    The president entered the office, he said he went around — and traveled around the world and met with world leaders, he was always sa- —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — would recount this anecdote of, you know, “I’d say ‘America is back,’ and then they would say, ‘But for how long?’”  I mean, the world now has that answer.  It was four years —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — and two days.  Does the president feel like he has let down America’s allies and partners that now someone with a d- — very different world view than him —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — will now be in the Oval Office?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, look, I’m not going to get into what the president-elect is going to do, not going to do.  I’m not going to do that. 

What I’m going to say is the president’s message is cont- — is going to continue to be the same.  American leadership matters.  How we conduct ourselves on the global stage matters.

You know, we are indispensable nation on the world stage.  That is what the president believes.  And that is something that he’s heard, to your point, when he was around the world.  And he appreciates the cooperation that he’s received from our partners and our allies, when it — if you think about Ukraine and how he — we were able to make NATO stronger and get 50 — more than 50 countries behind Ukraine, when you think about what’s happening in the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East.

And so, cannot speak to what the next administration is going to do.  I can only speak to what the president was proud that he was able to do over the last, you know, three-plus years, and that’s going to continue to be our focus, and that’s what we believe is the right thing to do on behalf of the American people. 

Go ahead, Nancy.

Q    Thank you.  Does the president have any regrets about when he chose to leave the race or any regrets about deciding to run for a second term?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, look, the president is very proud of what he was able to accomplish.  He was very proud in when he made that decision to hand over the torch, pass the torch to the vice president.  He believed it was the right decision to make at that time.  He believed that she was ready — she was ready to lead on day one and has been very proud on what he’s been able to deliver. 

And as I was talking to Zeke — or answering Zeke’s question moments ago, what we saw two nights ago was certainly very much in line to what we’ve seen in other G7 countries in incumbencies, the role, the toll that the pandemic took, even though we were able to lead in the world when it comes to the economy.  We saw what happened in other G7 countries, and so that is what we believe.

Look, there’s going to be a lot of punditry, a lot of election experts who are going to have their opinions, who are going to have their thoughts, but the president is very, very proud — very proud of what he’s been able to accomplish and incredibly impressed for what the vice president was able to do. 

Q    Has the president been hearing from foreign leaders about the outcome of this election, and have they expressed any concerns to th- — to him?  What has his message been to them?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, I can’t — I don’t have any — any calls to read out about the president speaking to foreign leaders.  It’s only been two — two days, as I just mentioned, and so don’t have anything for you to — to read — to read out.

But it’s very much, you know, what I just said moments ago about his message to world leaders about how important it is to have our participation, American’s leadership on the world stage, and what that means.  And we’ve been able to see that for the last three-plus years, whether it’s Ukraine, whether it’s the Middle East, whether it’s Indo-Pacific, a lot of that — making NATO stronger was certainly the president’s leadership.  And that’s what other allies and partners — that’s what they rely on us on. 

And so, we’re going to continue to do that.  That’s going to be our focus the next 74 days.  I just don’t have anything to read out.

But our message is: America is going to continue to be there.  I can’t speak to what the administration — the next administration is going to do.

Q    And the president said today that he’s going to assist with the transition.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    Has the Trump transition team been responsive?  Have they taken the steps that need to be taken so far in order to ensure an orderly transition?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, if you’re talking about the MOUs that the — the transition teams need to sign, as of now, the Trump-Vance transition team has not yet entered the agreements with the White House and the general services.

And our chief of staff — our chief of staff, Jeff Zients, reached out to the Trump-Vance cochairs, and so we’re going to leave that line of communications open.  We’re going to be helpful here.  We want to have an effective, efficient transition of power. 

And so, we are ready — ready to provide that.  As you know, the president invited the president-elect, Donald Trump, to come to the White House, and so once we lock that in, we certainly will share that with all of you. 

But we’re ready.  We’re ready to assist.  We have been.  We’ve been trying to be there and be ready to assist in any transition — with this pa- — obviously, this transition.  And so, we’re going to reach out, have those conversation.  And — and so, I’ll just leave it there. 

Go ahead.

Q    Thanks, Karine.  Does President Biden believe he could have won if he stayed in this race?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  President Biden believes that he made the right decision when he decided to step aside and immediately endorse the vice president, and you saw the party come behind her, support her.  And he believed it was the right thing for the American people.  He put himself aside. 

This was not about him.  This was about what was right for the American people, and that’s what he believes.  He believes it was the right decision to make.  And he’s very, incredibly proud. 

Q    And just to follow up on the previous questions.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Sure.

Q    The president said, when he stepped aside, that his number one priority was making sure that Vice President Harris would succeed him at the White House.  That, of course, is not going to happen.  So, does he have any regrets?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  In which way?  Any regrets in —

Q    How it all played out since —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I — I mean, I said this at the top.  This was not the outcome that our team had wanted.  So, are we disappointed?  Yes, we are disappointed.  It would be false for me to say that we were not.

But we also respect — we respect the outcome of the election.  We rexpect [respect] what the Americans — American people voted for, wanted.  And so, because of that, the president is also going to make sure there is a peaceful transfer of power, because that’s what the American people deserve. 

And so, you know, not going to get into analysis here of — of specifics of what happened, but what we know is the results.  And so, are we disappointed?  Of course.  Of course.  But it is important to make sure that what the American people decided on, what it is that they wanted to see, that we respect that, and we’ll do that.

Q    And what are the president’s top priorities in the next 70 or so days?  When Trump comes in, he could undo quite a bit of what President Biden has put in place through executive action. 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, a couple of things.  Again, I’m not going to get into hypotheticals here about what the president-elect is going to do or not do.  I can tell you a couple of our focus — things that we’re going to focus on in the upcoming 74 days.  And we’re going to make sure that we keep the government open.  We’re going to deliver assistance for communities devastated by Hurricanes Helene and Milton and other recent disasters.  We’re going to pass the NDAA.  That’s important.  And we’re also going to make sure that we confirm well-qua- — -qualified judicial nominees.  That’s going to be a — certainly our focus in the next 74 days.

And I’m just not going to get into the next administration, what it is that they’re going to do or not do.  I can speak to what our focus is going to be. 

Go ahead, Jeff.

Q    Karine, in 2020, President Trump did not invite then-President-Elect Biden to come to the White House.  President Biden has elected now President-Elect Trump to come. 

I’m curious if that was a hard decision for him, given that he didn’t have that —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — offer four years ago. 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, look, you mean a — a decis- — hard decision for him to make — the president — President Biden to make right now?

Q    To invite him now.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I mean, you’ve covered the president for a long time.  I think you covered him when he was vice president.  You know — you know Joe Biden, right?  You know that this is a person that cares about the American people, that respects the office.  And if anything, he’s — he has shown that not just the three-plus years; he has shown that as senator, as vice president. 

And so, it is not surprising to me that he would do the right thing on behalf of the American people.  This is not about the president-elect, right?  This is about the American people.  They deserve — they deserve a peaceful transfer of power.  That’s what this president understands and wants to make sure that we execute — the Biden-Harris administration.

And so, that is what you saw.  That’s what you’re going to see.  That’s what you heard from him.  You heard that from the vice president as well, yesterday, when she was at Howard.  And that’s what you’re going to see over the next 74 days.  

So, it is — I think it is in line with who this president is and how he sees the importance of respecting the American people and how it is important to make sure we have — we truly, truly have a peaceful transfer of p- — of power.  And him being the president, the current president, the onus is on him to make sure that happens. 

Q    There has been a lot of criticism in the last couple days directly addressed at President Biden for some of the questions that have already been asked: running in the first place or not stepping aside faster.  Some of that criticism has also been directed at his team and the advisers around him for advising him to do what he did.  Can you address that criticism?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  To — to do what he did, meaning?

Q    Running again, not stepping aside faster, and showing what some people say — quoting folks here — an “arrogance” of believing he was the only one who could beat Donald Trump. 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I mean — well, you said something at the end that I do want to — (laughs) — just kind of reiterate and remind —

Q    Please.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  — remind folks, and it was a good reminder to me, which is, like, look, the president — this is the president who has been the only person has been able to beat Donald Trump.  I mean, that is true.  In 2020, he was able to do that.  There were more than 20 candidates who tried to beat him, and they — he was the one that has been able to do that. 

I talked about what happened in the midterms, how it was historical for a new administration in more than 60 years to have been able to have that type of outcome, from the 2022 midterms, when everybody said it would be a red wave. 

What I will also say is that he’s incredibly proud of the campaign that this vice president ran — incredibly proud of her.  And when he did decide to step aside, he immediately endorsed her, and the party unified behind her.  They did. 

Q    Yeah, you said that.  My — my question is just if you can or want —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — to address the criticism that’s being directed at him for this loss.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  There’s going to be a lot of people who are going to say a lot of things.  There’s going to be election experts who are going to look under the hood in the next couple of days and weeks and months, as I’ve said already, and they’re going to have their opinion on this race. 

What I can say is that — and this is something the president says all the time — you get knocked down, you get back up.  And the president said this moments again [ago].  You know, this is a defeat, but we are not defeated.  And the president believes he made the right decision on behalf of the American people, on behalf of this country, to step aside. 

And we saw what happened in 2022 after the midterms.  We saw where we were at that time.  And this is how elections are.  This is.  It ebbs and flows.  You win.  You lose.  And this is where we are today. 

What we’re going to focus on is respecting the American people and how we move forward in the next 74 days. 

Go ahead.

Q    Thank you, Karine.  You talked about the influence that the 2022 midterms had on the president’s thinking to decide to run for reelection, but around that time in 2023, polls showed that roughly 80 percent of Americans believed at that time that the president was too old to serve another term.  Did he believe those voters were wrong?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  What he believed is what 14 million voters decided in the primary: to make him and the vice president — obviously, she was on the ticket — the nominee.  That’s what happened.  Fourteen million for — for this current — past primary.  Fourteen million Americans decided that.  So, they made their decision on who they wanted.  They did.  That was decided.

Now, as we know, in July, the president made a decision to step aside, and he immediately, again, decided to, without thought — without, you know, second-guessing, endorse the vice president.  So, you had 14 million Americans who made that decision in the primary. 

Q    But around that time in 2023, the president’s team also very firmly encouraged other rising stars — luminaries in the party, people who had participated in the primaries in the 2020 cycle — to rally behind the president and not to consider their own ambitions.  Was that the wrong call?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I’m not going to get into conversations.  I — I’m not going to get into that reporting.  It is not unusual for people to rally behind the — the leader of the party — in this case, is Do- — pardon me — in this case, is Joe — Joe Biden for the Democratic Party.  It is not unusual for that to happen. 

I’m not going to relitigate or get into what was said, not said.  I actually don’t have any information on that.  What I can say is what the president decided to do, what this — the president believed, and what the president is going to continue to do is put the American people first.  That is the most important thing for him. 

Q    And —

Q    In the back, Karine.

Q    — does the president have worries about what the country and what this office will look like after January 20th?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look, the president is going to certainly, again, respect what majority of Americans decided.  They decided they wanted Donald Trump to be president, and he’s going to respect that. 

I don’t want to get into hypotheticals about what’s going to happen in the next mi- — administration, not happen in — in the next administration. 

We are proud — the president is incredibly proud of what he has been able to do for the American people, and that’s going to continue to be his focus. 

I talked about the legisla- — -lative focuses that we’re going to have in the next 74 days, and he wants to continue to implement those historic legislations — now laws — that he was able to get done. 

And, you know, the next administration is going to inherit a strong economy, which he’s very proud about. 

But I think, for now, I’m going to leave it there. 

Q    And does the president hope to meet with the president-elect before leaving to go to South America, where he’ll meet with world leaders? 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  What I can tell you, it’ll be in the near future.  We have to — we’re going to work that out.  Our — certainly, his staff is going to work with the staff of the president-elect to find a time that works for both.  I can’t say the timing just yet.  Certainly, you all will know when that occurs.  But I can say for sure it will be in the near future.

Go ahead.

Q    Thank you, Karine.  So, does the president believe that he could have beat Donald Trump?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  What the president believes is that he did the right thing for the American people.  I’m not — I’m just — I’m not going to get into, you know, what could have, would have.  He believe he did the right thing. 

He believe that the vice president ran a — a — really, a great campaign.  He’s incredibly proud of what she’s been able to do and how she was u- — able to unify the party and how she stepped up and was able to get — to — to get running with a — with a impressive campaign. 

And so, that’s what he believed.  He thought it was the right thing to do.  And here’s the thing: The party u- — unified behi- — behind her.  And I think that’s what is important.  He did the right — he believe he did the right thing.

Q    So, Republicans have threatened to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act. 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Mm-hmm.

Q    Does the White House have any plans to take any actions to safeguard some of the measures, such as, you know, clean energy investments, for instance?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, a couple of things.  I do want to talk about the Inflation Reduction Act.  That is a popular piece of legislation, obviously, that became law.  That is, when you think about climate change, the most comprehensive law to be passed to deal with climate change. 

I talked about beating Big Pharma.  When you think about Medicare now being able to negotiate and, not only that, you’re — obviously, to negotiate to lower cost. 

I mean, there is so much that came out — that comes out of the Inflation Reduction Act.  Only Democrats voted for i- — for it.  You have heard us warn about Congress trying to repeal that.  And it is popular.  We saw what happened when they tried to repeal the ACA, the Affordable Care Act, which became popular and helped tens of millions of people get health care. 

And so, that should be a warning for them.  That should be a warning for them not to go after something that actually helps the American people, that actually delivers on key, key priorities, and that is actually popular. 

So, I’ll — I’ll leave it there. 

Go ahead, Jon.

Q    Thanks, Karine.  One of the issues debated, discussed quite a bit during the course of the campaign was the issue of reproductive rights.  Is the White House, the president concerned that with a Republican in the White House, Republicans controlling the Senate, a super conservative majority on the Supreme Court, at the very least —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — we don’t know what’s going to happen in the House — that reproductive freedoms for women will be rolled back? 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I mean, that is something that we have said consistently that we are concerned about.  I believe three national bans on abortion were introduced in Congress.  This is something that Republican elected officials continue to go after — the rights for women to make decision on their own body, very difficult decision, a decision that should be kept between a woman, her family, and her doctor. 

And so, you know, it is incredibly concerning.  And we’re talking about women across the country whose health could be at risk.  And so, what I can say is the president and the vice president is going to continue to stand with majority of Americans on calling on Congress to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade.  That’s what we want to see. 

Are we concerned?  Yes, we’re concerned.  Nothing changes about our concern about that post-election. 

And they’ve — Republicans in Congress have made themselves very, very clear.  And so, we’re going to do everything that we can when — we have — we have taken steps to protect women and this decision — important, critical decisions that they have to make.  And so, that will certainly continue. 

Q    You said the vice president ran a great campaign, and yet she underperformed in every state compared with President Biden when he ran in 2020.  Why do you suppose that was?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I — I’m not going to do punditry from here.  That is not something that I’m going to do.  I’m not going to dive into the data.  Not going to do that. 

There’s going to be plenty of time for election experts to look under the hood, to tinker around in it, figure out what happened.  I’ll leave that to de- — them to — to deal with. 

But I would say she ran an impressive campaign.  Some of you reported that.  What she was able to do, it was impressive — how she — the — with which — the amount of money she was able to raise, how she was able to put together a campaign around her — right? — a campaign that, obviously, the president built and was happy to hand that over to her, and she stepped up to the moment. 

Now there’s going to be a lot that’s being — that’s going to be discussed about what happened, the data, exactly what occurred.  And so, I’m going to leave that to them. 

But what I will say, and I think this is just a data point that I’ve been talking about, about what we’ve seen in G7 countries, what we’ve seen with incumbencies after the pandemic, because what the — the disruptions that the pandemic caused.  Even though we did what we — we did everything that we could to have policies to get us out of the pandemic and leading the world on the economic front, there were political toll.  Right?  The pandemic led to some political tolls for incumbencies. 

That’s just a data point that I’m sharing with all of you that has been consistent to what we’ve seen with G7 countries.  And so, I’ll — I’ll just leave it there. 

Go ahead, Karen.

Q    Thanks, Karine.  We’ve heard the president say recently, in the summer, that the — former President Trump’s vision for America is “dark” and that it’s “not who we are.”  But given the results on Tuesday night, does he think he misjudged where the country is right now?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look, the country spoke.  They did.  Majority of the country spoke.  They were very clear on where they wanted to see the direction of this country, and we’re going to respect that.  We are.  We’re going to respect that. 

But to your question about what the president said, the president always believes it is important to be honest.  He sees it as an obligation, to be honest to the American people.  And that’s what you heard from the president tha- — said there.

But, again, American people made a decision.  We’re going to respect that.  We’re going to have a peaceful transfer of power.  That is something the president is going to lead — right? — he’s going to lead by example.  That’s what you’re going to continue to see in the next 74 days.

Go ahead.

Q    Thanks, Karine.  Picking up on that just a little bit.  Earlier, you said that the White House’s view, when it came to reproductive rights, did not change —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — from pre- and post-election.  The president repeatedly referred to Donald Trump as a “threat to democracy” over and over again.  And this morning, though, he said, “We’re all going to be okay.”  So, was that just political rhetoric?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I mean — I mean, if you know the president, you know that him saying, “We’re all going to be okay” — he’s an optimist, right?  He believes when you get knocked down, you get back up. 

We are — we — we — we lost, but we’re not defeated, right?  We — we suffered a defeat, but we’re not defeated.  And that is the president’s optimistic nature. 

And it’s very similar to the question that I just got from Karen.  The president believes, as — as you asked me about the threat to democracy — believes in being — an obligation to be honest to the American people. 

And we cannot forget, it wasn’t — just really quickly, it wasn’t just the president who was saying this, right?  I mean, you ha- — the former president, now the president-elect, said there wa- — talked about an “enemy within,” right?  He talked about mistreating Americans who disagree with him, about “terminating” the Constitution. 

And you heard from his former — former chief of staff, John Kelly, and, let’s not forget, the — the former Defense Secretary, Mark Esper.  We heard from them and what they had to say.  So, we weren’t the only ones saying that.

And the president does believe that he needs to be honest — has an obligation to be honest to the American people. 

Now we’re in a situation where the American people have spoken, and we’re going to respect the outcome of the election two days ago, because we have to respect the — the — our election system.  It’s important to do that.

And at the same time, he’s — he’s still a leader.  He wants to make sure that he shows optimism, right?  He wants to make sure that people understand that there is a tomorrow, right?  There is going to be another opportunity to have your voices heard. 

And so, that is very much quintessential Joe Biden, I think, if you — if you have followed him and — and really reported on him for the past several years.

Q    To be clear, does he still believe that Donald Trump is a threat to democracy?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I think that the president was very clear, what he stated, and it was very honest. 

And what we are trying to do — and I get your question.  What we are trying to do is respect what the American people decided.  We’re — we’re not trying to cause any divisions here.  We’re trying to be very respectful of what the American people —

But, again, when he spoke, he wanted to be honest with the American people and share what he believed.  And it wasn’t just him.

But right now, we want to move forward.  We want to make sure there’s a tra- — a peaceful transfer of power.  That’s what the American people deserve.

Q    On another topic, do the election results ramp up the urgency to get more aid to Ukraine?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, look, I think in September the president talked about surging aid to Ukraine.  And we talked — and you’ve been hearing us — to kind of announce aid to Uk- — to Ukraine over the past several — several weeks, if not months.  And so — and so, that’s not going to change.  We’re going to surge and get that out there to Ukraine.  We understand how important it is to make sure they have what they need. 

And so, that hasn’t changed.  That is no different.  And so, we’re going to — surging that aid to Ukraine, we’re going to continue to make sure that they have the — the strongest — everything that they need on the — on the battlefield to push back against Russia’s aggression.  So, that certainly doesn’t change.

And we have taken action to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses and enhance their battlefield capabilities.  And so, we are committed.  We continue to be committed.  But we’ve been surging that aid for some time — like I said, when the president made an announcement back on the — September 26th.  And so, that’s going to continue, for sure.

Q    And then one last one, if I may.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Sure.  Yeah, sure.

Q    Senator Bernie Sanders, he says that — he has suggested that party leadership abandoned the working class.  What’s the White House response to that?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I mean, look, I — obviously, we respect Senator Sanders.  He’s been a partner with us in all — many of the important, historic pieces of legislation that we were able to get passed.  Certainly, the senator has been a partner with us. 

Here’s what I will say to that — is the president has been called the — the most pro-union president when it comes to working class — right? — pro-union.  If you think about unions, we’re talking about the working class, right? 

And he’s done everything that he could to make sure that we created jobs where you don’t need a college degree — right?  — think about the bipartisan infrastructure act, you think about the CHIPS and Science Act — those legislation created jobs, are going to create thousands of jobs where you literally can make a — could get a six-figure salary a year and not have to have a college education. 

And the president created 16 million jobs in the past more than three-plus years.  And it is because wages went up, right? Unemployment has gone down.  And he believes everybody deserves a shot.  You hear him say that: Everybody deserves a shot.  And building an economy from the bottom up, middle out, making sure that we are continuing to grow the middle class — I think you see that in his policies. 

And so, you know, respectfully disagree with the senator.  And I think you can talk to unions; you could see the jobs that we’ve been able to create to disprove that.  And this is a president that cares, certainly, about the people who do get forgotten, the people who are not able to make ends meet.  He understands what it’s like to sit around a kitchen table, trying to figure out how you’re going to pay for a medical bill, how are you going to pay for your kids’ school, how are you going to pay for groceries.  And so does the vice president.

Go ahead, Ken.

Q    President-elect Trump has heard from a number of world leaders since the election: Xi, Macron, Zelenskyy, Netanyahu.  What is the level of concern that Trump may try to conduct foreign policy in this transition period and — and get in the way of some of the president’s foreign policy (inaudible)?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I mean, look, it’s not unusual — right? — for a president-elect to hear from world leaders, especially after an election win.  I — I don’t have anything beyond that.  I’m not going to speculate beyond that.  And so, I’m just going to — I’m just going to leave it there. 

Q    And does the president see this election as a setback to some of the efforts he’s been making to try to get the hostages released, to try to, you know, bring peace to — to Gaza? 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, look, since you mentioned Gaza, we’re going to continue to work to get — to advance diplomatic efforts, obviously, to end the war in Gaza, and secure the release of all the hostages.  That’s what we’re going to continue to do. 

And as well as our efforts to get to a resolution in Lebanon that ensures citizens on both sides of the blue line can safely return home. 

And so, that’s going to continue — next 74 days, that’s going to continue to be a focus, and that’s going to be — continue to be a commitment.

Q    Does this make it harder, though? 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  You know, it’s — it’s asking for speculation.  I — I’m not going to speculate.  I — all I can speak to is what we’re committed to do and — but that doesn’t change.  That certainly doesn’t change.

Go ahead, Tam.

Q    Thank you.  As you said, the Trump team hasn’t yet signed those memorandums —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — of understanding with GSA.  Does that in any way impede your ability to help there be a smooth transition?  Are there any practical implications in terms of what this White House is able to do?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay.  A couple of things.  I’m glad you asked this.  So, there are two memoranda — memoranda of understanding under the Presidential Transition Act.  The first one is the MOU that’s with the GSA, which offers services like office space, equipment, and supplies. 

And then the second MOU is with the White House, which con- — which outlines access to agency employees, facilitates [facilities], and information. 

So, yesterday, the chief of staff here, Jeff Zients, reached out to Trump-Vance transition cochairs — that’s Howard Lutnick and also Linda McMahon — to make clear our intention to lead an orderl- — orderly transition and reiterate — reiterate the role the agreements play in — in initiating transition activities. 

Zients — Jeff acknowledged the public comments in — in mid-October by cochairs that they intend to execute on the MOUs, which both parties in the past transition have agreed to.  So, he stressed that the White House and the administration were ready — were ready to assist. 

They said that they were going to.  And so, we’ll — we’ll leave that to them. 

Q    What happens if they don’t get signed?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I — I’m not going to get into hypotheticals —

Q    Are you holding back —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  — from here.

Q    — anything now? 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I mean, look, we’re here to assist.  We want to have a peaceful transition of power.  We want to make sure they have what they need. 

I laid out — there’s a purp- — there’s a reason I wanted to lay out the two MOUs for folks to understand. 

And, look, they said they have an intent to do so.  We’re going to leave it to them.  That is really a question for them to — to answer. 

We are ready.  We are prepared.  We want this to work, and so we — we stand by that. 

Q    And we heard from the president today.  However, he did not take questions.  We’re hearing from you.  We would like to hear from the president.  It’s traditional for the president to come out.  It would be much easier to ask him, for instance, how he feels about the election. 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Sure.

Q    Are you going to make that happen?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  He will be looking forward to talking to all of you soon.  And when that happens, we will let you know. 

You’re talking about like a actual press conference? 

Q    Like an actual press conference.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay.  We have 74 days.  We have 74 days. 

Go ahead, Danny.

Q    Thanks, Karine.

Q    How about multiple?

Q    Does — does President Biden — (laughter). 

Yeah, so, does President Biden fear for Ukraine’s future after Donald Trump’s victory, given that he’s talked, you know, about cutting aid, about pushing through a peace deal?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look, i- — I — and I’ve been pretty consistent the past couple of questions.  I don’t want to speculate what the administration is going to do or not do.  I’m going to focus on today.  I’m going to focus on the next 74 days.  That’s what I can speak to.

As you’ve seen, this president, our allies, and partners have rallied — have rallied behind Ukraine, stood up to Putin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, building a co- — coalition of more than 50 countries to make sure Ukraine had it — had what it needed on the battlefield.  And we’re going to continue to do that.  We’re going to continue to surge — surge assistance, support that they need to Ukraine so that they can — are able to defend their freedom and — and — and fight for their independence and protect themselves from Russia’s aggression. 

That is what we’re committed to.  That’s what we’re going to continue to do.  I’m just not going to stand here and speak to what the administration is going to do or not going to do — the upcoming administration. 

Q    Can I just — well, I’m going to ask you to speculate one more time —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — about something else.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.  Sure.

Q    On a — on a related note, I mean, Vladimir Putin said today he was ready to talk to Donald Trump.  Would that be a good idea?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I — I’m just not going to speak to that.  I mean, he — again, he’s the president-elect.  That’s what the American people decided.  I can speak to what we’re going to do the next 74 days, our continued commitment to make sure that Ukraine has what it needs to — to beat back Putin’s aggression.  And that’s what I’m going to speak to.

Go ahead.

Q    Thanks, Karine.  I had two questions on pardons.  The first: Does the president intend to pardon any administration officials or people that Trump has threatened with any sort of legal actions?  He’s got 74 days, as — as you mentioned.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah, I know pardons is going to be a big part of the questions that I get here over the next several weeks and a couple of — couple of months that we have.  I don’t have anything to share or any thought process on pardons.  Once we have something to share, we certainly will share that. 

Q    Secondly, his son, Hunter, is also up for being sentenced next month.  Does the president have any intention of pardoning him?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  We’ve been asked that question multiple times.  Our answer stands, which is no.

Q    Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead.

Q    You mentioned two MOUs. 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    Can you give us a flavor of what might be subsequent MOUs that might be coming up?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I was talking about the transition and how — there’s two MOUs that are related to the Transition Act —

Q    Right.  Right.  Are there any more?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  — Transition Presidential Act [Presidential Transition Act], and that’s what I was speaking to.  I — I don’t have anything else beyond that.  This is part of the Transition Pre- — Presidential Act, and that’s what I was speaking of.  I just wanted to make sure that there was an understanding that there’s two MOUs.  I — I don’t have anything beyond that. 

Okay.  Go ahead.

Q    Is the president still planning to attend APEC and the G20 Summits next week? 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  S- —

Q    And — and, if so, given there’s such little time in office, what does he aim to do there — to accomplish there?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, look, he is planning to attend both conferences, if you will.  He’s going to be going to Peru and — and Brazil to attend those conferences, respectfully.  We will have more to share.  I don’t have anything beyond that, but I can confirm that the president will be attending.

Go ahead, Anita, in the back. 

Q    Thank you.  Two foreign policy questions.  First of all, you know, what are your top foreign p- — policy objectives in the next 74 days, especially vis-á-vis the Americans being held in Gaza and an end to the war in Ukraine?  Are you — what are you doing to work to — if you can’t solve these problems —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — in the next 74 days, to hand this one to the next administration?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, look, the president is going to continue — as — as more broadly, speaking of — in more general terms, speaking of the president’s focus on foreign policy, he’s going to continue to push forward with the progress that we’ve made over the three-plus years, and that’s been on an array of important issues, whether I — I’ve been talking about Ukraine — whether it’s continuing to strengthen — strengthen our alliances and partnership, standing with Ukraine, making sure they have what they need on the — on the ground to beat back against Putin’s aggression, tackling challenges we face in the range from Indo-Pacific to the Middle East.  So, that will continue to be the president’s focus on foreign policy matters certainly that are important to the American people. 

I spoke to Gaza already when I was asked a question about Gaza.  We’re going to have those diplomatic conversations.  We want to make sure that we bring the hostages home — that is, all the hostages.  That is a focus.  And let’s not forget Lebanon as well.  We want to make sure there’s a resolution there. 

And so, that’s a lot.  That is nothing new to what the president has been focused on for the past several months or — or past three-plus years.  And so, we’re going to continue to do that. 

Q    And you’re — you’re cool with the next administration maybe finalizing the deal and getting the credit for that if you line it up?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I mean, it — that’s — it’s — look, this is about what’s right for the American people.  You know?  This is ri- — I mean, I just said moments ago the president is very proud to be handing over the strongest economy.  The next administration is going to inherit a strong economy, and the president is proud about that.  He’s proud that he’s been able to do the work so that the next administration will inherit that. 

And so, look, we’re going to focus on what we can do right now in the next 74 days.  And everything that this president does, every focus that he has is on the American people, and that’s what we’re going to continue to do.

Q    And then, at APEC and at the G20, what is the president’s message to China and the other 19 members of the G20, especially vis-á-vis —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — climate change, which, you know, President Trump has a very different policy on?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.  And we’ll have more to share on what the goals and what the message is going to be when the president travels next week.  I was able to confirm that he’ll be attending those two conferences.  We’ll have more to share for you all, but I think we’ve been very clear on our messaging when it comes to the Indo-Pacific, when it comes to China.  I think we’ve been very clear on that.  But we will certainly have more to share. 

Go ahead, Gerren.

Q    Thanks, Karine.  Considering the outcome of the election, what is the White House’s message to Black and brown communities, LGBTQ Americans who are fearful of the vulnerabilities of a Trump administration, given some policy proposals like eliminating DEI mechanisms, banning LGBTQ, bans in health care and in classrooms?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    And how is the — is the president thinking about ways he can advance or preserve civil rights, his agenda —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — in these final days? 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, look, the president and the vice president, as you know, have put civil rights as one of the top issues in their administration, and we have taken action to make sure that people who are — who have — who are vulnerable and did not have protections or — or needed additional protections, we made sure that we did everything that we can with this administration so that people in those vulnerable communities feel protected.  And that’s something that the president and the vice president believe in, are very proud of, and continue to do. 

And when it comes to this election, I said this.  We did not have the desired outcome.  There are some people who are celebrating and some people who are heartbroken by this moment, and we understand that.  But the reality is a majority of the American people voted, and so we’re going to respect that. 

I don’t have anything — any new policies to speak to.  But for those who are hurting, we see you.  We hear you.  We understand what you’re going through.  But don’t have anything else to — to speak to. 

Q    Just one more question. 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Sure.

Q    There are reports of racist text messages targeting Black Americans being sent across the country, particularly on college campuses — Ohio State, University of Alabama, Clemson University.  These messages are claiming to be from Trump supporters, indicating that recipients have been selected to, quote, “pick cotton” on plantations. 

These messages were quickly condemned by campus and civil rights leaders, but is the White House tracking this?  And what concern does the White House have about the outcome of the election leading to heightened hate speech?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Well, look, I have not spoken to the team here about that reporting.  It — it does sound concerning, obviously.  I would have to go back and get a better sense of what is indeed happening and what, you know, the — the facts are.

You know, just going to the broader question, it is important for every community to feel safe, to feel protected.  That is something that this president has done and the vice president has done over the three and a half years.  We understand how vulnerable communities can feel, and it is important that we do that. 

And I think that’s why, in the next 74 days, the president wants to lead by example.  That’s why we keep talking about a peaceful transfer of power.  That’s why we keep talking about the importance of the election system and the results, because he believes it’s important to, again, lead by example, as president of the United States.  And that’s what we’re going to do here. 

Again, I can’t speak to the reportings directly.  If it in- — indeed is what’s happening, it is concerning.  And so, let me talk to the team and get you a fuller — a fuller answer. 

AIDE:  Karine, you have time for a couple more.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay.  Go ahead.

Q    Thank you.  What will Kamala focus on in the next 74 days?  And will she spoke with J.D. Vance?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Oh, wait.  I’m sorry.  You’re talking about the vice president?

Q    Yes.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay.  So, I think we t- — I talked about what the administration, which obviously includes the vice president, what we’re going to focus on the next 74 days.  I will have more to share with you about a potential meeting with the vice president and the incoming vice president, J.D. Vance.  Don’t have anything to share with you at this time. 

Go ahead, Brian, in the back.

Q    Thanks a lot, Karine.  You know, Donald Trump had classified documents at Mar-a-Lago that he did not secure.  Does the president have concerns about classified information being given to Donald Trump in the next 74 days as part of the transition, that Donald Trump will not take steps to protect that — those (inaudible)?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look, I’m going to leave it to ODNI to speak to whatever information — classified information.  I’m not going to get into speculation from here and just — just leave it there for — for now. 

Q    I had one other —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Oh —

Q    — one other follow-up.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah, sure. 

Q    When Pre- — when President Biden invites Trump to the White House, will he also invite the other living presidents?  Will he invite Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — to be here as well?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I — I don’t have anything beyond President Biden inviting the president-elect when they spoke recently.  I don’t have anything more. 

Obviously, when that meeting lands in the very near future, we will share that.  The teams are working on it.  I just don’t have anything beyond — beyond the president inviting the president-elect. 

Go ahead, Phil.

Q    Thank you.  First, a quick follow-up.  Just — does the president still stand by his description of the former president, now president-elect, as an existential threat to democracy?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I don’t have anything else to share beyond what I’ve said.  The president believes — when he said it at the time, he believes he had an obligation to be honest with the American people.  I laid out what people who — former staffers of the former president said.  We’re talking about John Kelly, former chief of staff.  We’re talking about the former Defense secretary.  They were very clear. 

And we also heard words that the president-elect said: “enemy within,” going after people who disagree with him.

And so, the president is always, always going to be very honest with the American people.  I don’t have anything else to share beyond that. 

Look, we are — we are being very clear here, right?  The outcome was not what we wanted.  And the American people have made a decision, and we want to respect — we want to respect the decision that the American people have made.  And we are going to make sure that the American people get what they deserve, which is a peaceful transfer of power. 

And we’re going to focus — continue to focus on issues that matter — we believe that matter to the American people in the next 74 days.

Q    So, it sounds like his assessment hasn’t changed.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  He was being honest.  He has an obligation, and he was being honest with the American people.  And he will continue to do so.

Q    A question about the peaceful transition.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Sure.

Q    What is President Biden’s message to career civil servants who will carry over into the next administration?  Does President Biden believe that they should be fully cooperative as the next president seeks to put his agenda into action?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Fully cooperative?

Q    Not slow things down. 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Oh, n- — absolutely.

Q    Republicans have —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah, I mean, look, we’re saying —

Q    — voiced a lot of frustration —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  We’re saying that we want a good — a peaceful transition.  We want an ef- — effective, efficient transition.  That’s what we’re saying.  And that’s in the president’s administration.

Career, political — we want to make sure that that transition happens in an orderly way, and we’re not looking to slow down anything.  We want it to happen — to happen.  That’s what the American people deserve. 

This is not political here, folks.  This is not about politics.  This is about the right thing to do for the American people.  They’ve made a decision, and we’re respecting that. 

Q    Thank you, Karine.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.  No problem. 

I don’t know how much — go ahead, sir.

Q    Yeah.  Are members of the Trump team traveling with the — the president and government officials to Lima to the APEC Summit?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I’m sorry, what’s the —

Q    Are —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  What’s the —

Q    Are members of the Trump team traveling or are they going to be in Lima (inaudible) —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  You’re — you’re going to have to ask the Trump — the Trump team on that.  I can only speak for the president. 

Q    Karine —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.  Go ahead, Jacqui.

Q    Thank you, Karine.  Just to follow up on the pardon question.  Is a commutation also still off the table?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  For — who are you talk- —

Q    For Hunter.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Who are you talking about? 

Q    Hunter.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Oh.  I — no.  No.  I mean, we’re not — that’s not what we’re going to do.

Q    You had said on Air Force One that the president would — would not consider a commutation of his son.  Does that —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah, that stands.

Q    You’re saying that still stands?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah, yeah.  That stands.

Q    Okay.  Great.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah, yeah.

Q    And then I heard you earlier in the briefing talking about the pandemic’s role in the outcome of this election.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    And it sounds like that is being looked at internally as potentially one of the causes of this outcome. 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    But Ritchie Torres, the congressman, tweeted, “Donald Trump has no greater friend than the far left, which has managed to alienate historic numbers of Latinos, Blacks, Asians, and Jews from the Democratic Party with absurdities like ‘Defund the Police’ or ‘From the river to the sea’ or ‘Latinx.’”

Is the — is the administration, the campaign, the Democratic Party looking at the pandemic as the cause, rather than — is that easier than —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, let’s —

Q    — looking in the mirror?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Well, so, look, let’s step back here.  I think I’ve been and the president and the vice president has been pretty clear in understanding that the American people have spoken and respecting that.  I think we have tried to be incredibly respectful of what happened two nights ago, and we’re going to continue to do that. 

And I’m not going to speak to every person in the Democratic Party who has an opinion or a thought.  I’m — I’m just not.  It is not something that I’m going to do. 

I talked about the political toll on incumbent parties around the world as a data point — right? — as something that we have seen pretty consistency — pretty consistently with G7 allies in this time. 

And, obviously, one of the re- — one of the things that occurred was the pandemic.  It did.  It caused disruption.  It caused the supply chain to be disrupted and led f- — and — and caused the economy to be turned upside down. 

While we put policies — and we are, in fact, leading the world on the economy, it doesn’t stop — it doesn’t stop the fact that in- — there has been a political toll for incumbents. 

That is something that I’m telling you as a data point to share, because we know that you guys would have questions.  That’s a data point that I’m using. 

And I’m also saying that there’s going to be election experts in the next days, weeks, months, who are going to — again, looking under the hood, kick the — kick the tires, trying to figure out exactly what happened two nights ago. 

And so, they’re the pundits.  They’re going to speak to that.  They’re the experts. 

And so, we’ll have more information as they look at the data.  And so, we’ll let — we’ll — we’ll leave that to them. 

And so, I’m offering you our perspective, our thoughts, how we’re going to move forward in the next 74 days. 

And I — I think what Americans should be assured of is that this is a president that’s going to put the American people first.  That’s what people can be assured for.

Q    But is that examination happening at all inside, though?  Because as — as Gabe mentioned —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.  Yeah.

Q    — you know, this administration’s message to millions of Americans that they’re going to wake up the day after the election, if Trump won, and have their rights stripped away, that democracy would crumble, and the president said today, “We’re going to be okay.”  So, how do — how do you square that?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I — I can square that.  I’m going to square that in a way that hopefully makes sense, because I’ve been answering this question multiple times. 

The American people made the decision.  There was an election two nights ago.  There was.  And it was a free and fair election, and we respect the election process.  We do.  And Americans spoke.

And so, the job of the president is to make sure we respect that.  The job of the president is to make sure that we have a peaceful transfer of power.  That is what the American people deserve, and that’s what we’re going to — it’s — it’s really — it’s not complicated.  It’s truly, truly as simple as that — as simple as that. 

The president called the president-elect, invited him to the White House.  You know why?  Because that’s customary.  That is customary.  That is what you do.  If you respect what the American people decided, that’s what you do.  And that’s what the pre- — the president is going to make sure that the Trump transition has what it needs, which — which is being led, obviously, by our chief of staff here. 

Why?  Because the president wants to lead by example.  It’s not complicated.  It really isn’t.  And, you know, that’s important.

Q    So, lead — “lead by example” is the message to people who are fearful based on what the messaging was about —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I —

Q    — the stakes and what could happen?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Well, now you’re just twisting everything around, and that’s really unfair. 

Q    No, I’m asking you to be clear.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  No, it is — no, no, no, Jacqui, it’s unfair, because I’ve been standing here trying to be very respectful to what happened the last two nights — two nights ago — being respectful.  I have been standing here saying that we respect the decision that the American people made.  I’ve been standing here and saying that the president is going to put the American people first.  I’ve been standing here talking about how the Ameri- — the president is going to make sure that they get what they deserve, which is a peaceful transfer of power. 

I do not appreciate having my words twisted.  That is — I have been very clear —

Q    (Inaudible.)

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  — very, very, very clear about what the president wants to do, and the vice president.  We want to make sure that we deliver for the American people.  They deserve — they deserve a peaceful transfer of power, and that’s what you’re going to see.

Thanks, everybody. 

3:07 P.M. EST

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President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. will travel to Lima, Peru from November 14-16 to meet with President Dina Boluarte to reinforce the strong U.S.-Peru bilateral relationship and participate in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, where he will highlight U.S. economic leadership and engagement in the Indo-Pacific region.

President Biden will then travel to Manaus and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from November 17-19. While in Manaus, President Biden will visit the Amazon rainforest to engage with local, indigenous, and other leaders working to preserve and protect this critical ecosystem, the first such visit of a sitting U.S. President. In Rio de Janeiro, President Biden will meet with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil on the margins of the G20 and reinforce U.S. leadership on workers’ rights and clean economic growth. During the G20, President Biden will demonstrate the strong value proposition of the United States to developing countries and lead the G20 to work together to address shared global challenges like hunger and poverty, climate change, health threats, and developing country debt burdens.

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President Joe Biden spoke today with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil to discuss preparations for the upcoming G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro.  President Biden congratulated President Lula on Brazil’s successful G20 presidency and highlighted the progress made on advancing workers’ rights and combatting hunger and poverty.  President Biden also wished President Lula a full recovery from his recent injury.  The two leaders agreed to stay in close contact on regional and global issues and expressed their commitment to meet at the G20.

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President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to attend the Inauguration of His Excellency Duma Gideon Boko on November 8, 2024, in Gaborone, Botswana. 

The Honorable Howard A. Van Vranken, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Botswana, will lead the delegation.

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Dear Mr. Speaker:   (Dear Madam President:)

Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date.  In accordance with this provision, I have sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice stating that the national emergency with respect to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction declared in Executive Order 12938 of November 14, 1994, is to continue in effect beyond November 14, 2024.

                               Sincerely,

                               JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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Dear Mr. Speaker:   (Dear Madam President:)

Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date.  In accordance with this provision, I have sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice stating that the national emergency with respect to the threat from securities investments that finance certain companies of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) that was declared in Executive Order 13959 of November 12, 2020, and expanded in scope in Executive Order 14032 of June 3, 2021, is to continue in effect beyond November 12, 2024. 

The PRC exploits United States capital to resource and to enable the development and modernization of its military, intelligence, and other security apparatuses, which continues to allow the PRC to directly threaten the United States homeland and United States forces overseas.  Through the national strategy of Military-Civil Fusion, the PRC increases the size of the country’s military-industrial complex by compelling civilian Chinese companies to support its military and intelligence activities.  Those companies, though remaining ostensibly private and civilian, directly support the PRC’s military, intelligence, and security apparatuses.  At the same time, those companies raise capital by selling securities to United States investors that trade on public exchanges both here and abroad, lobbying United States index providers and funds to include these securities in market offerings, and engaging in other acts to ensure access to United States capital.

The PRC military-industrial complex, by directly supporting the efforts of the PRC’s military, intelligence, and other security apparatuses, continues to constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat, which has its source in whole or substantial part outside the United States, to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.  In addition, the use of Chinese surveillance technology outside the PRC and the development or use of Chinese surveillance technology to facilitate repression or serious human rights abuse continue to constitute unusual and extraordinary threats, which have their source in whole or substantial part outside the United States, to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.

Therefore, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13959, expanded in scope by Executive Order 14032, with respect to the threat from securities investments that finance certain companies of the PRC.

                               Sincerely,

                               JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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    On November 14, 1994, by Executive Order 12938, the President declared a national emergency with respect to the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States posed by the proliferation of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons (weapons of mass destruction) and the means of delivering such weapons.  On July 28, 1998, by Executive Order 13094, the President amended Executive Order 12938 to respond more effectively to the worldwide threat of weapons of mass destruction proliferation activities.  On June 28, 2005, by Executive Order 13382, the President, among other things, further amended Executive Order 12938 to improve our ability to combat proliferation.  The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivering them continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.  For this reason, the national emergency declared in Executive Order 12938 of November 14, 1994, with respect to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivering such weapons must continue beyond November 14, 2024.  Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency declared in Executive Order 12938, as amended.

    This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.

                               JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

    November 7, 2024.

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MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE

THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY

THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY

SUBJECT:       Presidential Determination Pursuant to Section 1245(d)(4)(B) and (C) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, after carefully considering the reports submitted to the Congress by the Energy Information Administration, including the report submitted in October 2024, and other relevant factors, including global economic conditions, the level of spare capacity, and the availability of strategic reserves, I determine, pursuant to section 1245(d)(4)(B) and (C) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, Public Law 112-81, and consistent with prior determinations, that there is a sufficient supply of petroleum and petroleum products from countries other than Iran to permit a significant reduction in the volume of petroleum and petroleum products purchased from Iran by or through foreign financial institutions.

I will continue to monitor this situation closely.

The Secretary of State is authorized and directed to publish this determination in the Federal Register.

                               JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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On November 12, 2020, by Executive Order 13959, the President declared a national emergency pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States constituted by the threat from securities investments that finance certain companies of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

     The President found that the PRC is exploiting United States capital to resource and enable the development and modernization of its military, intelligence, and other security apparatuses, which continues to allow the PRC to directly threaten the United States homeland and United States forces overseas.  Through the national strategy of Military‑Civil Fusion, the PRC increases the size of the country’s military-industrial complex by compelling civilian Chinese companies to support its military and intelligence activities.  Those companies, though remaining ostensibly private and civilian, directly support the PRC’s military, intelligence, and security apparatuses and aid in their development and modernization.  At the same time, those companies raise capital by selling securities to United States investors that trade on public exchanges both here and abroad, lobbying United States index providers and funds to include these securities in market offerings, and engaging in other acts to ensure access to United States capital. 

     The President further found that the PRC’s military-industrial complex, by directly supporting the efforts of the PRC’s military, intelligence, and other security apparatuses, constituted an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.

     On January 13, 2021, the President signed Executive Order 13974 amending Executive Order 13959.

     On June 3, 2021, I signed Executive Order 14032, which expanded the scope of the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13959.  I found that additional steps are necessary to address that national emergency, including the threat posed by the military-industrial complex of the PRC and its involvement in military, intelligence, and security research and development programs, and weapons and related equipment production under the PRC’s Military-Civil Fusion strategy.  In addition, I found that the use of Chinese surveillance technology outside the PRC and the development or use of Chinese surveillance technology to facilitate repression or serious human rights abuse constituted unusual and extraordinary threats to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States, and I expanded the national emergency to address these threats.  Executive Order 14032 amended Executive Order 13959 and revoked Executive Order 13974 in its entirety.

     The threat from securities investments that finance certain companies of the PRC and certain uses and development of Chinese surveillance technology continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.

     For this reason, the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13959 of November 12, 2020, expanded in scope by Executive Order 14032 of June 3, 2021, must continue in effect beyond November 12, 2024.  Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13959 with respect to the threat from securities investments that finance certain companies of the PRC and expanded in Executive Order 14032.

     This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.

                               JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

    November 7, 2024.

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Rose Garden

11:24 A.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  Good morning.  (Applause.)  Good morning, good morning.  (Applause.) 

Thank you.  Please.  (Applause.)  Thank you.

Good to see this Cabinet and staff together here.  (Applause.)

Thank you.  (Applause.)

Thank you, thank you, thank you.  Please.  (Applause.)

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

It’s good to see you all.  Particularly good to see my granddaughter sitting in the front row here.  Hi, Finn.  How are you, honey?

For over 200 years, America has carried on the greatest experiment in self-government in the history of the world — and that’s not hyperbole; that’s a fact — where the people — the people vote and choose their own leaders and they do it peacefully and where, in a democracy, the will of the people always prevails. 

Yesterday, I spoke with President-elect Trump to congratulate him on his victory.  And I assured him that I would direct my entire administration to work with his team to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition.  That’s what the American people deserve. 

Yesterday, I also spoke with Vice President Harris.  She’s been a partner and a public servant.  She ran an inspiring campaign, and everyone got to see something that I learned early on to respect so much: her character.  She has a backbone like a ramrod.  She has great character, true character.  She gave her whole heart and effort, and she and her entire team should be proud of the campaign they ran. 

You know, the struggle for the soul of America since our very founding has always been an ongoing debate and still vital today.  I know, for some people, it’s a time for victory, to state the obvious.  For others, it’s a time of loss. 

Campaigns are contests of competing visions.  The country chooses one or the other.  We accept the choice the country made.  I’ve said many times you can’t love your country only when you win.  You can’t love your neighbor only when you agree. 

Something I hope we can do no matter who you voted for is see each other not as adversaries but as fellow Americans, bring down the temperature. 

I also hope we can lay to rest the question about the integrity of the American electoral system.  It is honest, it is fair, and it is transparent.  And it can be trusted, win or lose. 

I also hope we can restore the respect for all our election workers, who busted their necks and took risks at the outset.  We should thank them — thank them for staffing voting sites, counting the votes, protecting the very integrity of the election.  Many of them are volunteers who do it simply out of love for their country. 

And as they did — as they did their duty as citizens, I will do my duty as president.  I will fulfill my oath, and I will honor the Constitution.  On January 20th, we will have a peaceful transfer of power here in America. 

To all our incredible staff, supporters, Cabinet members, all the people who have been hanging out with me for the last four years — “God love you,” as my mother would say — thank you so much. 

You put so much into the past four years.  I know it’s a difficult time.  You’re hurting.  I hear you, and I see you.  But don’t forget — don’t forget all that we accomplished. 

It’s been a historic presidency — not because I’m president — because what we’ve done, what you’ve done — a presidency for all Americans. 

Much of the work we’ve done is already being felt by the American people.  The vast majority of it will not be felt — be felt over the next 10 years.  We have a — we have legislation we passed that’s just — only now just really kicking in. 

We’re going to see over a trillion dollars’ worth of infrastructure work done, changing people’s lives in rural communities and communities that are in real difficulty, because it takes time to get it done, and so much more that’s going to take time.  But it’s there.

The road ahead is clear, assuming we sustain it.  There’s so much — so much we can get done and will get done based the way the legislation was passed.  And it’s truly historic.

You know, we’re leaving behind the strongest economy in the world.  I know people are still hurting.  But things are changing rapidly.  Together, we’ve changed America for the better. 

Now we have 74 days to finish the term — our term.  Let’s make every day count.  That’s the responsibility we have to the American people. 

Look, folks, you all know it in your lives: Setbacks are unavoidable, but giving up is unforgivable.  Setbacks are unavoidable, but giving up is unforgivable.  We all get knocked down, but the measure of our character, as my dad would say, is how quickly we get back up.  Remember, a defeat does not mean we are defeated.  We lost this battle.

The America of your dreams is calling for you to get back up.  That’s the story of America for over 240 years and counting.  It’s a story for all of us, not just some of us. 

The American experiment endures, and we’re going to be okay, but we need to stay engaged.  We need to keep going.  And above all, we need to keep the faith. 

I’m so proud to have worked with all of you.  I really mean it.  I sincerely mean it. 

God bless you all.  God bless America.  And may God protect our troops.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  (Applause.) 

Thanks.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

11:30 A.M. EST

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What America saw today was the Kamala Harris I know and deeply admire.

She’s been a tremendous partner and public servant full of integrity, courage, and character.

Under extraordinary circumstances, she stepped up and led a historic campaign that embodied what’s possible when guided by a strong moral compass and a clear vision for a nation that is more free, more just, and full of more opportunities for all Americans.

As I’ve said before, selecting Kamala was the very first decision I made when I became the nominee for president in 2020. It was the best decision I made. Her story represents the best of America’s story. And as she made clear today, I have no doubt that she’ll continue writing that story.

She will continue the fight with purpose, determination, and joy. She will continue to be a champion for all Americans. Above all, she will continue to be a leader our children will look up to for generations to come as she puts her stamp on America’s future. 

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Today, we honor generations of America’s veterans — patriots who have stood on the frontlines of freedom and kept the light of liberty shining bright around the world.  Just as they have kept the ultimate faith in our Nation, we must keep ultimate faith in them.

     Each one of our Nation’s veterans is a link in a chain of honor that stretches back to our founding days — bound by a sacred oath to support and defend the United States of America.  Throughout history, whenever and wherever the forces of darkness have sought to extinguish the flame of freedom, America’s veterans have been fighting to keep it burning bright.  I remember so clearly the pride the First Lady and I felt in our son Beau during his service in Iraq.  He — like all our veterans from Belleau Wood, Baghdad, and Gettysburg to Guadalcanal, Korea, and Kandahar and beyond — lived, served, and sacrificed by a creed of duty.  We owe them a debt of gratitude we can never fully repay, not just for fighting for our democracy, but for giving back to our communities and inspiring the next generation to serve, even after they hang up their uniforms.

     As a Nation, we have one truly sacred obligation:  to prepare and equip those we send into harm’s way and to care for them and their families when they return home.  Since I came into office, I have signed more than 34 bipartisan laws to support our veterans and their families, caregivers, and survivors.  That includes the landmark Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, which enacted the most significant expansion of benefits and services for veterans exposed to toxins in more than 30 years.  Today, more than 1.1 million veterans and 11,000 survivors of deceased veterans are now receiving new service-connected disability benefits, and over 5.8 million veterans have been screened for toxic exposure — a critical step to ensuring they get access to the care they need.  And as of last March, any exposed veteran who served during any conflict outlined in the PACT Act will be able to enroll in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care.  My Administration is ensuring that women veterans enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs health care have equitable access to benefits and health services.  My Administration has worked to reduce barriers and reach out to veterans to make sure they can access their earned benefits.  As a result, the VA is delivering more benefits to more veterans than ever before.  In 2024, the VA processed more claims than ever and is providing record level health care services.  We have taken steps to eliminate barriers and disparities for all veterans, including people of color, LGBTQI+ people, and women.  We have made progress in addressing veteran homelessness, and we are working to end the silent scourge of suicide by addressing financial and legal risk factors, promoting secure storage of firearms, and expanding access to mental health services.  Last year, the VA housed nearly 48,000 veterans, expanded access to health care and legal assistance for homeless veterans, and helped more than 158,000 veterans and their families keep their homes.  And we are committed to assisting the roughly 200,000 service members who transition from the military each year with finding good-paying jobs, including by connecting them to Registered Apprenticeship programs.  My Administration has also prioritized supporting veteran entrepreneurship.  This year, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses secured almost $32 billion in Federal contracts, nearly $4 billion more than in the prior year. 

     While our veterans are the steel spine of this Nation, their families are the courageous heart — they also serve and sacrifice so much for our country.  Last year, I signed an Executive Order calling for the most comprehensive set of administrative actions in our Nation’s history to support the economic security of military and veteran spouses, caregivers, and survivors.  The Executive Order increases training and employment opportunities for military spouses in the workforce and encourages Federal agencies to do more to retain military and veteran spouses through flexible policies.  Additionally, through the First Lady’s Joining Forces initiative, my Administration is working to better support military and veteran families on everything from making school transitions easier for military children to expanding economic opportunities and improving well-being for military spouses, caregivers, and survivors. 

     Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to visit Normandy to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day alongside so many World War II veterans.  Their service and sacrifice helped free the world from tyranny.  We learned then what we still know now:  Democracy is never guaranteed.  Every generation must preserve it, defend it, and fight for it.  Today, we honor all our veterans, who have preserved, defended, and fought for our democracy.  They prove that we are a Nation that can meet darkness with light again and again, no matter how high the cost or how heavy the burden.  May we all strive to be worthy of their sacrifices for us, doing our part to keep the light of liberty burning bright for generations to come.

     In respect and recognition of the contributions our veterans and their families, caregivers, and survivors have made to the cause of peace and freedom around the world, the Congress has provided (5 U.S.C. 6103(a)) that November 11 of each year shall be set aside as a legal public holiday to honor our Nation’s veterans.

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim November 11, 2024, as Veterans Day.  I encourage all Americans to recognize the valor, courage, and sacrifice of these patriots through appropriate ceremonies and private prayers and by observing two minutes of silence for our Nation’s veterans.  I also call upon Federal, State, and local officials to display the flag of the United States of America and to participate in patriotic activities in their communities.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of November, 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-ninth.

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists for the Seminole Tribe of Florida and ordered Federal aid to supplement the Tribal Nation’s efforts in the areas affected by Hurricane Milton beginning on October 5, 2024, and continuing.

The President’s action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals of the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding is also available to the Seminole Tribe of Florida and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by Hurricane Milton.  For a period of 90 days of the Tribal Nation’s choosing within the first 120 days from the start of the incident period, assistance for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program is authorized at 100 percent of the total eligible costs.

Lastly, Federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

Ms. Leda M. Khoury of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas. 

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the Tribal Nation and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), or by using the FEMA App. Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV.

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Last night, the International Association of Machinists (IAM) ratified a strong contract that recognizes the contribution of over 33,000 workers. I want to congratulate Boeing and the IAM for reaching an agreement that secures historic wage increases and benefits for these workers.  This agreement represents a positive step for Boeing’s future as a leader in the aerospace industry. As I always say: collective bargaining works.
 

# # #

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I congratulate the International Association of Machinists and Boeing for coming to an agreement that reflects the hard work and sacrifices of 33,000 Machinist workers. This contract provides a 38% wage increase over four years, improves workers’ ability to retire with dignity, and supports fairness at the workplace. This contract is also important for Boeing’s future as a critical part of America’s aerospace sector. And it was achieved with the support of my economic team, including Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su and National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard.

Over the last four years, we’ve shown collective bargaining works. Good contracts benefit workers, businesses, and consumers—and are key to growing the American economy from the middle out and the bottom up.

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Carrie Furnace
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Hello, Pittsburgh!  (Applause.)  Hey, everybody.  Hi.  (Applause.)

Can we hear it for Cedric the Entertainer?  (Applause.)

Hey, everyone.  (Applause.)  (Laughs.) 

We’re doing this.

     AUDIENCE:  Kamala!  Kamala!  Kamala!

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Pittsburgh!  (Applause.)  Are we ready to do this?  (Applause.)

Are we ready to vote?  (Applause.)

Are we ready to win?  (Applause.)

Oh, it is good to be here tonight with all these leaders.  I thank you all so very much. 

I want to thank Representatives Lee, Deluzio.  Let’s send them back to the U.S. House of Representatives.  (Applause.)

Please send Bob Casey back to the United States Senate.  (Applause.)

And I thank everyone for being here and taking the time out of your busy lives to be here this evening. 

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  We love you, Madam V.P.!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I love you back.  (Applause.)  I

love you back.  I love you back. 

All right.  So, Pittsburgh, this is it.  Tomorrow is Election Day.  (Applause.)  Tomorrow is Election Day, and the momentum is on our side.  (Applause.) 

Our campaign has tapped into the ambitions, the aspirations, and the dreams of the American people.  And we know it is time for a new generation of leadership in America.  (Applause.)  And I am ready to offer that leadership as the next president of the United States.  (Applause.)

But we still got some work to do, because, look, the race is not over, and we must finish strong. 

So, listen, here’s the thing about the hard work.  We like hard work.  Hard work is good work.  Hard work is joyful work.  (Applause.) 

And make no mistake, we will win.  (Applause.)  We will win.  We will win.  We will win.

And we will win because when you know what you stand for, you know what to fight for.  (Applause.)  And we have an opportunity in this election to finally turn the page on a decade of politics driven by fear and division.  We are done with that.  We’re done.  (Applause.)  We’re done.  We’re exhausted with it.

And, Pittsburgh, we are not —

AUDIENCE:  Going back!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — going back.  We’re not going back.

AUDIENCE:  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  We’re not going back. 

And we are not going back because America is ready for a fresh start.  (Applause.)  And we are ready for a president who knows the true measure of a leader is not based on who you beat down; it is based on who you lift up.  (Applause.)

And instead of stewing over an enemy’s list, I will spend every day working on my to-do list — (applause) — full of priorities to improve your life, because ours is not a fight against something; it is a fight for something.  (Applause.)

It is a fight for the future, and it is a fight for freedom — (applause) — like the fundamental freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body — (applause) — and not have her government tell her what to do. 

And when Congress passes a bill to restore reproductive freedom nationwide, as president of the United States, I will proudly sign it into law.  (Applause.)  Proudly.  Proudly.

So, America, I am asking for your vote.  I am asking for your vote.  (Applause.) 

And here — and here is my pledge to you.  As president, I pledge to seek common ground and commonsense solutions to the challenges you face. 

I am not looking to score political points.  I am looking to make progress.  I pledge to listen to those who will be impacted by the decisions I make. 

     AUDIENCE:  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And we are not going back.

And here’s the thing, guys, we are fighting for a democracy.  We are fighting for a democracy.  (Applause.)  And in a democracy, true leadership understands that the leader listens to the experts and listens to people who disagree with them.  I will listen to people who disagree with me because I do not believe that people who disagree with me are the enemy.  In fact, I will give them a seat at the table.  (Applause.)  That is what real leaders do.  That is what strong leaders do.  (Applause.)

And I pledge to always put country above party and self and to be a president for all Americans.  (Applause.)

So, Pittsburgh, that is my pledge to you.  And to you I ask, then, who here has a plan to vote?  (Applause.)  Fantastic.  Okay, so help spread the word then.  Polls are open here in Pennsylvania tomorrow from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.  You know that.  (Laughs.)

Go to IWillVote.com for all the information you need, including where and when to vote and where to drop off your mail ballot, because we need everyone to vote, Pennsylvania.  You will make the difference in this election.  (Applause.)  You will make the difference.

And, friends, listen, we are all here together because we love our country.  We love our country.  And when you love something, you fight for it.  (Applause.) 

And I do believe it is one of the highest forms of patriotism — 

     AUDIENCE MEMBERS:  We love you, Kamala!

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I love you back.  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)  Love you back. 

And one of the highest forms of our love of our country is to then fight for the ideals of our country and to fight to realize the promise of America. 

So, Pittsburgh, listen, we got one day left to get this done.  So, now we work to get out the vote.  (Applause.)  Let’s reach out in these next 24 hours to family and friends and classmates and neighbors and coworkers. 

And as we do that, let us really be true to what our campaign has been about from the very start.  And on that, I say, please, let us be intentional about building community.  (Applause.)  Let us be intentional about building coalitions. 

Because here is the thing.  So much about these last several years has been about trying to make people point their fingers at each other, to have Americans point their fingers at each other, to try and make people feel alone or feel small.  But let us do the work, as we work toward this win, of building up community and coalition and reminding everyone that we have so much more in common than what separates us.  (Applause.)  Let that be our goal.

And let us remind everyone, your vote is your voice, and your voice is your power.  (Applause.)

So, one last time, Pittsburgh, I ask you: Are you ready to make your voices heard?  (Applause.)

Do we believe in freedom?  (Applause.)

Do we believe in opportunity?  (Applause.)

Do we believe in the promise of America?  (Applause.)

And are we ready to fight for it?  (Applause.)

And when we fight —

     AUDIENCE:  We win!

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — we win.

God bless you.  And God bless the United States of America.  God bless you.  God bless you.  (Applause.)  

                              END

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Muhlenberg College
Allentown, Pennsylvania

3:49 P.M. EST

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Hey, Allentown!  Hi, everybody.  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)  Hi.  Hi.  Hi.  (Applause.)  Hey, everyone.  Hi.

Oh, it’s so good to see everybody.  Thank you all.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

Are we ready to do this?  (Applause.) 

Are we ready to vote?  (Applause.)

Are we ready to win?  (Applause.)

All right.  Well, we’re going to get to work.  We are going to get to work.  We’ve got 24 hours to go.  (Applause.)  And, Allentown, you are going to make the difference.  The path to the White House runs through this room right here.  (Applause.)

And — and sincerely, I want to thank everyone for taking the time out of your lives to be here — (applause) — and all the work that you have been doing, the work we will continue to do.  I’m going to say it in that room, but I needed to come here and say to you all here.  (Applause.) 

Over these next 24 hours, I say to all the leaders who are here, let’s get out there.  Let’s remind people of the power that they have through their vote.  (Applause.)  Their vote is their voice about the future of our country, because we are fighting to move forward.  (Applause.) 

We love our country, and we are going to see this through.  And in the process, we are going to build community, and we are going to build coalitions.  (Applause.)  And we are going to remind each other we are all in this together.  (Applause.) 

And I thank you all so, so very much.  Please take care.  I’ll see you on the other side of it all.  All right?  (Applause.)  Thank you. 

God bless you.  God bless you.  Thank you.  Thank you.  (Applause.) 

                         END                     3:51 P.M. EST

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Muhlenberg College
Allentown, Pennsylvania

4:13 P.M. EST

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Hey, Allentown!  (Applause.)  Hello, Pennsylvania!  (Applause.)  Hey, everyone.  Hi.

Can we hear it for Elizabeth?  (Applause.)  Let’s hear it for Elizabeth.  (Applause.)  

Good afternoon.  All right, Allentown, are we ready to do this?  (Applause.)

Are we ready to vote?  (Applause.)

Are we ready to win?  (Applause.)

All right.  Oh, it’s good to be back in Pennsylvania, and it is good to be with so many incredible leaders.  Let me thank everyone. 

     AUDIENCE MEMBER:  (Inaudible.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I want to thank everyone — (applause) — I want to thank everyone for taking the time out of your busy lives to be here this afternoon.  We are all in this together, and I know we all here know this.  But I thank you for all the work everyone has been doing over these last months —

     AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Thank you, Kamala!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — and over the next 24 hours.  (Applause.)  Thank you all.

I want to thank my dear friend Governor Shapiro for his leadership — (applause) — his friendship, and all that he does.  Congressman — Congresswoman Wild, let’s reelect her — (applause) — to the United States House of Representatives.  And while we’re at it, please send Bob Casey back to the United States Senate.  (Applause.)

Mayor Tuerk, I thank you for your friendship and your long-standing leadership.  (Applause.)

And can we hear it for Fat Joe — (applause) — and Frankie Negrón?  (Applause.)

So, listen, I am so thankful to everyone for being here and including the leaders of the Puerto Rican community.  I stand — (applause) — I stand here proud of my long-standing commitment to Puerto Rico and her people, and I will be a president for all Americans.  (Applause.)  All Americans.  All Americans.

So, Allentown, this is it.  Just one more day.  One more day.  (Applause.)  One more day left in one of the most consequential elections of our lifetime, and momentum is on our side.  (Applause.)  Momentum is on our side.  Can you feel it?  We have momentum, right?  (Applause.)

Because our campaign has tapped into the ambitions and the aspirations and the dreams of the American people.  We are optimistic and excited about what we will do together, and we here know it is time for a new generation of leadership in America.  (Applause.)  And I am ready to offer that leadership as the next president of the United States of America.  (Applause.)

Now, Pennsylvania, the race is not yet over.  Okay?  We got a lot of work to do, and we have got to finish strong. 

So, listen, we got hard work to do.  But here’s the thing: We like hard work.  (Applause.)  Hard work is good work.  (Applause.)  Hard work is joyful work.  (Applause.)

And make no mistake, we will win.  (Applause.)  We will win.  We will win.  We will win.  We will win.  (Applause.)

And one of the reasons we will win is because I do believe when you know what you stand for, you know what to fight for.  (Applause.)

And we have an opportunity, in this election, to finally turn the page on a decade of politics that have been driven by fear and division.  We’re done with that.  We’re done.  (Applause.)  And we’re exhausted with it.  America is ready for a fresh start —

     AUDIENCE MEMBER:  I love you, Kamala!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I love you, sweetheart.  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)

And America is ready for a new way forward where we see our fellow American not as an enemy but as a neighbor.  (Applause.)  We are ready — we are ready for a president who understands that the true measure of the strength of a leader is not based on who you beat down; it is based on who you lift up.  (Applause.)

And, Pennsylvania, you know me.  I am not afraid of tough fights, evidently.  (Laughs.)  For decades as a prosecutor and the top law enforcement officer of our biggest state, I won fights against the big banks that ripped off homeowners.  I won fights against for-profit colleges that scammed veterans and students.  I won fights against predators who abused women and children and seniors and cartels that trafficked in guns and drugs and human beings. 

     AUDIENCE MEMBER:  We’re not going back!  (Applause.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  We’re not going back.  And it is my pledge to you — it is my pledge to you, if you give me a chance to fight on your behalf as president, there is nothing in the world that will stand in my way.  (Applause.)  Nothing in the world.

And it is my pledge to you that when I walk — with your help, it is my pledge to you that when I walk in the White House, instead of stewing over an enemies list, I will spend every day working on my to-do list — (applause) — on your behalf, full of priorities that are about improving your life, about bringing down the cost of living, about banning corporate price gouging on groceries, about making housing and childcare more affordable.  (Applause.)

My plan will be about cutting taxes for workers and middle-class families and small businesses; lowering health care costs, including the cost of home care for our seniors.  (Applause.)

Because here’s wh- — here’s where I’m coming from on this: I believe access to health care should be a right and not just a privilege of those who can afford it.  (Applause.)

And to those certain individuals who still want to get rid of the Affordable Care Act —

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — trying to take us back to the days when insurance companies could deny people with preexisting conditions, well, to them, we say: We are —

AUDIENCE:  Not going back!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — not going back.  We are not going back.  And we are not going back —

AUDIENCE:  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  We’re not going back.  We’re not going back.

And we are not going back because ours is a fight for the future.  (Applause.)  Ours is a fight for the future.  And it is a fight for freedom — (applause) — like the fundamental freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body and not have her government tell her what to do.  (Applause.)

And when Congress, with Bob Casey’s help, passes a bill to restore reproductive freedom nationwide — (applause) — as president of the United States, I will proudly sign it into law.  (Applause.)

So, Pennsylvania, I am here to ask for your vote.  I am here to ask for your vote.  (Applause.)

And here is my pledge — and here is my pledge to you.  As president, I pledge to seek common ground and commonsense solutions to the challenges you face.  (Applause.)  I am not looking — I am not looking to score political points.  I am looking to make progress.  (Applause.)

And I pledge to you —

(A protestor disruption can be heard.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  That’s okay.

     AUDIENCE:  USA!  USA!  USA!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And — and it is my pledge to you to listen to those who will be impacted by the decisions I make, to listen to experts, and to listen to people who disagree with me because I don’t believe people who disagree with me are the enemy.  (Applause.)

And you know what?  By the way, listen, we are fighting for a democracy right now.  (Applause.)  And we love our democracy.  And democracy can be a bit complicated sometimes, but that’s okay.  We are fighting for a democracy, which is why I say that I am not going to be a leader who thinks that people who disagree with me should be put in jail, that they are the enemy.  (Applause.)  I’ll give them a seat at the table, because that’s what real leaders do and that’s what strong leaders do.  (Applause.)

And it is my pledge to you to always put country above party and self and to be a president for all Americans.  (Applause.)

So, Allentown, that is my pledge to you. 

And so, let me ask: Who here has a plan to vote?  (Applause.)  Fantastic.  That’s great.  That’s great.  (Laughs.)

All right.  So, poll- — polls are open here in Pennsylvania tomorrow from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.  Let’s get the word out.  (Applause.)  Let — let’s get —

AUDIENCE:  Vote!  Vote!  Vote!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Definitely vote.  (Laughs.)

AUDIENCE:  Vote!  Vote!  Vote!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Vote.

And let’s get the word out.  All the leaders here, help get the word out to remind people of the hours the polls are open and to remind folks that they can go to IWillVote.com for all the information that folks may need in terms of when and where to vote and where to drop off their mail ballots — right? — because that’s going to be very important. 

And to all the leaders here, I ask you to please continue to talk to your friends and your family and your neighbors and let them know why you decided to take time out of your busy lives to be here right now and what is at stake in this election.  (Applause.)  Please share your perspective on why this election is so important.  And encourage folks to let them know their voices must be heard, because we —

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  UAW is in the house!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And UAW is in the house.  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)  And I am so proud to have your support.  Thank you.  I am so proud to have your support.

And we need everyone in Pennsylvania to vote because you are going to make the difference in this election.  (Applause.)  You will.

So, here’s how I think about things.  We are all here together because we love our country.  And when you love something, you fight for it.  (Applause.)  And I do believe it is one of the highest forms of patriotism, of our expression of our love for our country, to then fight for its ideals and to fight to realize the promise of America.

And, look, I have always believed in our nation’s promise because I have lived it.  I grew up as a child of the Civil Rights Movement.  (Applause.)  My parents would take me to marches when I was in a stroller.  And there were people there — we’ve all read and know about it — there were people there from all walks of life who came together in a fight for freedom and for opportunity. 

You know, growing up, I watched my mother as she raised my sister and me and gave us the same chances our country gave her.  I was blessed to have family by blood and to have family by love who — (applause) — who instilled in me the values of community and compassion and faith.  I’ve spent my life fighting for people who have been hurt and counted out but who never stopped believing in — that in our country, anything is possible.  (Applause.)

I have lived the promise of America.  And today, I see the promise of America in everyone who is here, in every one of you, in every one of us.  We are the promise of America.  (Applause.)  We — everyone here, we are the promise of America.  We are the promise of America. 

And I see it — I see it in the fathers and the mothers and the grandparents who work hard every day for their children’s future.  I see it in the women who refuse to accept a future without reproductive freedom.  (Applause.)  I see it in the men who support them.  (Applause.)  I see you. 

I see it in the Republicans who never voted for a Democrat before but put the Constitution of the United States over party.  (Applause.)

And every day, I see the promise of America in all the young leaders who are voting for the first time.  (Applause.)  I do.  I do.  I — I love Gen Z.  (Laughs.)  Exactly.  Right?  Come on.  Exactly.  (Laughs.)  That’s right.  I’m telling you, I love Gen Z.  And here’s one of the reasons why.  (Applause.)  (Laughs.)  So, here’s one of the things about y’all: You are rightly impatient for change.  (Applause.)  I know that.  I know that. 

And you who have only known the climate crisis are leading the charge to protect our planet and our future.  You who grew up with active shooter drills are fighting to keep our schools safe.  (Applause.)  You who have known — you who have known fewer rights than your mothers and grandmothers are standing up for freedom. 

And for you, none of these issues is theoretical or political.  This is your lived experience.  And I see you, and I see your power.  And we must, must, must recognize how bright the future of our nation is because of you.

So, can we hear it for our first-time voters, everybody?  (Applause.)  There we go.  There we go.  There we go.  (Laughs.)  There we go.  There we go. 

All right.  Okay.  One day left.  One day left.  And we need to finish this strong and get this done.  So, let’s get out the vote.  (Applause.)  Let’s reach out to all of our folks in the next 24 hours: family and friends and classmates and neighbors and coworkers. 

And as we do, I ask: Let us please be intentional about building community.  (Applause.)  Let us be intentional about building coalitions.  (Applause.)  Because, you know, there has been so much about these last few years that has been about trying to beat people down, trying to have Americans point their fingers at each other, trying to make people feel as though they’re alone and don’t have anybody.  So —

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Not anymore!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — not anymore, because we all know — (applause) — we all know that our power includes, yes, this vote in this election but building community and coalitions and reminding folks the vast majority of us have so much more in common than what separates us.  And we are all in this together.  (Applause.)  We are all in this together.

And from the very start of our campaign, this has not been about a fight that is against something.  This is about a fight that is for something.  (Applause.)  This is for something.  This is about a future with freedom and opportunity and dignity for all Americans.

And so, in this final stretch, let us remember that we have a lot of work to do, and there is power in our work about reminding folks of their voice and the power of their vote.

So, remember: Your vote is your voice, and your voice is your power — (applause) — is your power.

So, Pennsylvania, Allentown, I then ask you: Are you ready to make your voices heard?  (Applause.)

Do we believe in freedom?  (Applause.)

Do we believe in opportunity?  (Applause.)

Do we believe in the promise of America?  (Applause.)

And are we ready to fight for it?  (Applause.)

And when we fight —

AUDIENCE:  We win!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — we win. 

God bless you.  And God bless the United States of America.  (Applause.)                    END                     4:35 P.M.

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