Speeches and Remarks

Joint Base Andrews

Prince George’s County, Maryland

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  So, many of you have been asking me about the debate.  And I’ll tell you, I’m ready to debate Donald Trump. 

I have agreed to the previously agreed upon September 10th debate.  He agreed to that previously.  Now it appears he’s backpedaling. 

But I’m ready.  And I think the voters deserve to see the split screen that exists in this race on a debate stage.

And so, I’m ready.  Let’s go.

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Vice President’s Ceremonial Office
Eisenhower Executive Office Building

6:20 P.M. EDT

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  All right.  Good afternoon, everybody.

     Q    Good afternoon.

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Okay.  So, I just had a frank and constructive meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu.  I told him that I will always ensure that Israel is able to defend itself, including from Iran and Iran-backed militias, such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

     From when I was a young girl collecting funds to plant trees for Israel to my time in the United States Senate and now at the White House, I’ve had an unwavering commitment to the existence of the state of Israel, to its security, and to the people of Israel.

     I’ve said it many times, but it bears repeating: Israel has a right to defend itself, and how it does so matters.

     Hamas is a brutal terrorist organization.  On October 7, Hamas triggered this war when it massacred 1,200 innocent people, including 44 Americans.  Hamas has committed horrific acts of sexual violence and took 250 hostages.

     There are American citizens who remain captive in Gaza: Sagui Dekel-Chen, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Edan Alexander, Keith Siegel, Omer Neutra.  And the remains of American citizens Judy Weinstein, Gad Haggai, and Itay Chen are still being held in Gaza.

     I have met with the families of these American hostages multiple times now.  And I’ve told them each time, they are not alone and I stand with them.  And President Biden and I are working every day to bring them home.

     I also expressed with the prime minister my serious concern about the scale of human suffering in Gaza, including the death of far too many innocent civilians.  And I made clear my serious concern about the dire humanitarian situation there, with over 2 million people facing high levels of food insecurity and half a million people facing catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity.

     What has happened in Gaza over the past nine months is devastating — the images of dead children and desperate, hungry people fleeing for safety, sometimes displaced for the second, third, or fourth time.  We cannot look away in the face of these tragedies.  We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the suffering.  And I will not be silent.

     Thanks to the leadership of our president, Joe Biden, there is a deal on the table for a ceasefire and a hostage deal.  And it is important that we recall what the deal involves.

     The first phase of the deal would bring about a full ceasefire, including a withdrawal of the Israeli military from population centers in Gaza.  In the second phase, the Israeli military would withdraw from Gaza entirely, and it would lead to a permanent end to the hostilities.

     It is time for this war to end and end in a way where Israel is secure, all the hostages are released, the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza ends, and the Palestinian people can exercise their right to freedom, dignity, and self-determination.

     There has been hopeful movement in the talks to secure an agreement on this deal.  And as I just told Prime Minister Netanyahu, it is time to get this deal done.

     So, to everyone who has been calling for a ceasefire and to everyone who yearns for peace, I see you and I hear you.

     Let’s get the deal done so we can get a ceasefire to end the war.  Let’s bring the hostages home.  And let’s provide much-needed relief to the Palestinian people.

     And ultimately, I remain committed to a path forward that can lead to a two-state solution.  And I know right now it is hard to conceive of that prospect, but a two-state solution is the only path that ensures Israel remains a secure, Jewish, and democratic state and one that ensures Palestinians can finally realize the freedom, security, and prosperity that they rightly deserve.

     And I will close with this, then.  It is important for the American people to remember the war in Gaza is not a binary issue.  However, too often the conversation is binary, when the reality is anything but.

     So, I ask my fellow Americans to help encourage efforts to acknowledge the complexity, the nuance, and the history of the region.

     Let us all condemn terrorism and violence.  Let us all do what we can to prevent the suffering of innocent civilians.  And let us condemn antisemitism, Islamophobia, and hate of any kind.  And let us work to unite our country.

     I thank you.

END                 6:26 P.M. EDT

# # #

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U.S. State Department
Washington, D.C.

MR. SULLIVAN: Well, thank you, Joy. I will not tell you that story tonight. I need, like, two or three drinks before I tell it. So — (laughter) —

And now I’m the one standing between you and the refreshments, so I will not try to speak for too long.

But I really did want to come over from the White House, on behalf of the President, to say: Thank you all for being here. It’s really great to be surrounded by so many longtime supporters of the U.S.-Africa partnership, from ministers to ambassadors, to colleagues from Congress who have come through over the course of the day, the private sector, and of course, civil society.

And, you know, I just want to start by taking us back to almost exactly 25 years ago. At that time, President Clinton was urging our nation to adopt AGOA, the African Growth and Opportunity Act. And his argument was powerful. It was persuasive. It was, really, pretty simple. He said, “Congress has a chance to pass a bill that can transform our relationship… for the better…based on mutual respect and mutual responsibility.”

And there was a senator at the time named Joe Biden, who seized on that chance. And as Vice President, he continued to transform and grow our partnership for the betterment of all of our people. And as President, he’s tried to ensure that that partnership is grounded not only in mutual respect and responsibility, but also in mutual values and a common vision for the world. And the impact has been considerable.

At the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, the Biden-Harris administration committed to invest over $55 billion in Africa over three years, helping to elevate our partnership beyond development and security, to address global challenges together.

And I’m proud to say, oftentimes you put out these big numbers and you kind of walk away from the summit. We are 80 percent of the way there, well ahead of schedule, and Joe Biden intends to do what he has said he was going to do — and not just hit that 80 billion [sic] — $55 billion mark over three years, but go far beyond it.

We’ve also helped close more than 500 new private sector deals, which have led to over $14 billion in two-way trade investment between the U.S. and African countries.

And with the President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience, or PREPARE, we’ve provided over $3 billion annually to help countries strengthen their resilience, especially to climate shocks. And this has had a profound impact because the lion’s share of this money is going to African countries who are suffering the worst effects of these climate shocks.

And, of course, these resources matter. But representation also matters. So we pushed, before many others did, for the African Union to become a permanent member of the G20. Got that done. We’re now pushing for African representation on the U.N. Security Council, and we intend to get that done too.

We’ve launched the first-ever President’s Advisory Council on Diaspora Engagement to ensure that we’re shaping our policies in a way that both reflects, reinforces, and leverages the deep ties that we have with the African continent.

And the President has sent an unprecedented number of leaders from his Cabinet and administration, including Vice President Harris, to visit more than 20 countries across Africa.

Earlier this summer, President Biden stood side by side with President Ruto at the White House to launch a vision document about debt relief that will be a game changer for African countries. And we will carry forward at the G20 Summit this fall — working with Brazil, South Africa, the current and next chairs of the G20 — to try to take that vision to the next level so that we have a framework for debt relief that really works and delivers for countries that have been suffering under debt for too long, compounded by the post-COVID overhang.

So when you take what we are trying to lay out, especially in this debt relief space, we know that there is so much more unfinished business that we have to do. And President Biden has told us: Run through the tape, get it done over the course of the next six months, and then continue to support Vice President Harris in her future efforts to continue delivering for the African continent.

So the opportunity that we see sitting before us to really think about the relationship between the public sector and the private sector and civil society may be best exemplified in the concept of corridors that lies at the heart of the President’s initiative, the PGI, the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment. And we’re especially proud of the Lobito Corridor.

Already, we’ve mobilized more than a billion dollars for railway lines that will extend from Angola to Zambia to the DRC and, ultimately, to the Indian Ocean, connecting the continent from east to west. It’s the biggest American rail investment in Africa ever.

And it’s not just about physical infrastructure.

On digital infrastructure, we’re building fiber optic cables across the region to connect communities and businesses.

On energy infrastructure, we’ve mobilized almost $3 billion in clean energy projects, from solar energy plants to battery energy storage — battery energy storage systems.

Now, I want to be clear: There’s more that we have to do, more partnerships to form, more challenges to overcome, more potential to seize. But over the past three and a half years, that’s just some of the progress that we’ve made together.

And that’s in no small part because of AGOA — and not the direct impact of AGOA, though it has been profound, but because AGOA has really been the platform, the foundation upon which we have built so much of our other economic partnership work.

And I want to pause here for a moment. I know you’ve heard this a few times over the last couple of days, maybe not just over the last couple of days, but the last couple of months, even the last couple of years. But it bears repeating and we mean it: The President, myself, the entire Biden-Harris administration is committed to working with our Congress to reauthorize the law.

And in line with the theme of this forum, we’re also committed to reimagining it, modernizing it, and ensuring the legislation promotes resilient supply chains, high-standard investments; ensuring that it supports our efforts to confront a range of emerging challenges and opportunities, whether it’s artificial intelligence or the clean energy transition; ensuring that it incorporates voices across industry, including small businesses and entrepreneurs; and ensuring that it reflects the dynamism of our economies and the diversity of our peoples.

Because at its core, that is what the U.S.-Africa Partnership is all about, what this forum is all about. It’s our people. The ones who stand up decade after decade, generation after generation, for the things that we hold dear: our country’s shared values of liberty, democracy, freedom, prosperity, innovation. The ones who brought our nations together in fields like technology, medicine, education, and trade. And the ones who have transformed what is a geopolitical partnership into an unbreakable friendship between peoples, because that really is what should and can define the future of the relationship between the United States and the nations of Africa.

And we’re going to keep that friendship strong by coming together in communities all across Africa and America to exchange ideas and innovations.

So I said I would be brief. I was a little longer than brief, but let me close with this.

Twenty-five years ago, when President Clinton urged Congress to enact AGOA, he ended his statement with a call to action: “Seize this opportunity.” That’s what he said. “Seize this opportunity.”

The United States will continue to answer that call to action. We will seize this opportunity now to reauthorize, modernize AGOA, and reinforce the foundation it provides to all of the other work that we do together.

We’ll continue to work with nations across Africa to build a world worthy of our people, one that is more free, more secure, and more prosperous for all.

And we will continue to stand with you, everyone in this room, in partnership and friendship, to seize all of these opportunities in the years ahead. Because as President Biden often says, there is nothing beyond our capacity if we do it together.

So, thank you for giving me the opportunity to be here tonight. I hope you have a wonderful evening. I’m
so grateful to you for all that you’ve done and contributed here so far. And let’s get to work.

Thank you very much. (Applause.)

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George R. Brown Convention Center

Houston, Texas

10:29 A.M. CDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Good morning.  (Applause.)  Good morning, everyone.  Good morning.  Good morning, AFT.  (Applause.)  Good morning. 

Oh, my goodness.  It’s so good to be with everyone.  Please have a seat.  Please have a seat.  If you have a seat, please have a seat.  (Applause.)

AUDIENCE:  Kamala!  Harris!  Kamala!  Harris!  Kamala!  Harris! 
    
THE VICE PRESIDENT:  It is good to be in the house of labor.  (Laughs.)

AUDIENCE:  Kamala!  Harris!  Kamala!  Harris!  Kamala!  Harris! 

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)  My goodness.  Thank you, everybody.  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you. 

Oh, thank you all.  Thank you so very much.  Thank y- — can we hear it for Brittany, please?  (Applause.)

Thank you all.  It’s so wonderful to be back with everyone here.  Thank you.  That means so m- — so, so much more than I can say.

Randi, thank you for your friendship — your long-standing friendship.  As we all know, Randi is a force.  And she has been an incredible friend and — and adviser to the president and me.  And I want to thank you on behalf of the president and me and our country for all that you are.  (Applause.) 

And I — I want to begin by saying a few words about our president, Joe Biden.  You know — (applause).  Right?  Yeah.  Yeah.

So, last night, our president addressed the nation.  And he showed, once again, what true leadership looks like.  (Applause.)  He really did.  His — his words were poignant.

You know, I — I’ll speak in a moment about the importance of reminding people of history, teaching America’s true history. 

He — he thinks and talks about his work and our country, understanding what it means in terms of what we do now and how that will impact the future.  He thinks about our history in the context of the importance of the work we do now.

And over the past three and a half years, and over his entire career, Joe has led with grace and strength and bold vision and deep compassion.  And as he said — (applause) — that’s right.  And as he said, in the next six months, he will continue to fight for the American people.  And I know we are all deeply, deeply grateful for his continued service to our nation.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  Thank you.  

And to the members of AFT, I thank you for your service to our nation.  (Applause.)

From the public service workers and higher education faculty to the school bus drivers — (applause) — and the custodians to the school nurses and our teachers — (applause) — you all do God’s work, educating our children — the whole ecosystem of who are AFT members.

It is you who have taken on the most noble of work, which is to concern yourself with the well-being of the children of America.  And I thank you for that.  I thank you for that.  (Applause.)  And I thank you, also, for your support over the years and for being the first union to endorse me this week.  (Applause.)

Thank you.  I thank you.  (Applause.)  I thank you.

And as you may know, I am a proud product of public education.  (Applause.)  Many of you know that my first grade teacher, Mrs. Frances Wilson, God rest her soul, taught me and educated me and encouraged me and inspired me. 

And years later, when I walked across the stage to receive my law school diploma, Mrs. Frances Wilson was in the audience.  (Applause.)  Yeah.  Yeah. 

And that’s who you are.  I know who you are.  I know who you are.  This work is personal and it is professional and it is so critically important.

And so, it is because of Mrs. Wilson and so many teachers like her that I stand before you as vice president of the United States of America — (applause) — and that I am running to be president of the United States of America.  (Applause.) 

What I know firsthand is that our teachers and all those who are here, all the members of AFT — I know that, by nature, you are visionaries.  You are focused on the future.  The work you do is about a focus on the future.  You see the potential in every child.  You foster it.  You encourage it.  And in so doing, you shape the future of our nation, which is why I say: We need you so desperately right now. 

Today, we face a choice between two very different visions for our nation: one focused on the future and the other focused on the past.  And we are fighting for the future.  (Applause.) 

And in our vision of the future, we see a place where every person has the opportunity not just to get by but to get ahead — a future where no child has to grow up in poverty, where every senior can retire with dignity, and where every worker has the freedom to join a union.  (Applause.)

We see a future with affordable health care, affordable childcare, and paid leave — not for some, but for all.  (Applause.)

We see a future where every student has the support and the resources they need to thrive and a future where no teacher has to struggle with the burden of student loan debt.  (Applause.) 

So, as an example, our administration has forgiven student loan debt for nearly 5 million Americans — (applause) — and twice as much for our public servants, including our teachers.  (Applause.) 

Teachers like Tonya Cabeza, who I met recently in Philadelphia.  Tonya was first in her family to go to college.  And she had been, like many, paying off her student loans for 20 years. 

And she told me — she was like, “Look, I — I at many times wondered: Would I have to leave this profession I love to just be able to pay my bills?  But I did it — I didn’t leave because I love what I do and I understand the importance.”  But making decisions, then, about what she could afford in terms of her daily obligations and dealing with these loans.

And after 20 years, she still owed $40,000 in student loans.  And we forgave it all.  (Applause.)

When she learned, she told me — she said when she learned that her loans had been forgiven, she said, “Well, me and my children knew our lives had changed, and we were just dancing.  Dancing.”  (Laughter.)  So, there we go.

But we are clear-eyed: As we work to build a brighter future and to move our nation forward, there are those who are really trying to take us backward. 

And you, I’m sure, have seen their agenda: Project 2025.

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Randi, can you believe they put that thing in writing?  (Laughter.)  Nine hundred pages in writing.

So, Project 2025 is a plan to return America to a dark past.  Donald Trump and his extreme allies want to take our nation back to failed trickle-down economic policies —

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — back to union busting —

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — back to tax breaks for billionaires. 

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Donald Trump and his allies want to cut Medicare and Social Security —

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — to stop student loan forgiveness for teachers and other public servants.  

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And I say to AFT: They even want to eliminate the Department of Education —

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — and end Head Start —

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — which, of course, would take away preschool from hundreds of thousands of our children. 

He intends to give tax breaks to billionaires and big corporations and make working families foot the bill. 

And he intends to end the Affordable Care Act.  Now, think about that — to take us back to a time when insurance companies had the power to deny people with preexisting conditions.  Remember what that was like?  Children with asthma, women who survived breast cancer, grandparents with diabetes.

You know, America has tried these failed economic policies before.  But we are not going back.  We are not going back.  (Applause.) 

No, we will move forward.  And one of the best ways to keep our nation moving forward is to give workers a voice: to protect the freedom to organize — (applause); to defend the freedom to collectively bargain — (applause); to end union busting.  (Applause.)

As head of the White House Labor Task Force, I have led our work to eliminate barriers to organizing in both public and private sectors, including for teachers.  But there is more that we must do. 

President Joe Biden and I promised to sign the PRO Act into law, and I promise you I will keep that promise.  (Applause.)  Because when workers join together and demand what is fair, everyone is better off. 

Understand — and I — I say this everywhere I go — understand: You may not be in a union member, but you should thank unions — and I’m looking to the cameras in the back of the room — (laughter) — not them, but the people who might be watching.  You may not be a union member, but thank unions for the five-day workweek — (applause); for the eight-hour workday.    Thank unions for sick leave and paid family leave and vacation time.  (Applause.)

Because the fact is unions helped build America’s middle class.  (Applause.)  And when unions are strong, America is strong.  (Applause.)

So, AFT, ours is a fight for the future.  And ours is a fight for freedom. 

In this moment, across our nation, we witness a full-on attack on hard-won, hard-fought freedoms. 

While you teach students about democracy and representative government, extremists attack the sacred freedom to vote. 

While you try to create safe and welcoming places where our children can learn, extremists attack our freedom to live safe from gun violence.  They have the nerve to tell teachers to strap on a gun in the classroom — 

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — while they refuse to pass commonsense gun safety laws.  (Applause.)

And while you to teach students about our nation’s past, these extremists attack the freedom to learn and acknowledge our nation’s true and full history — (applause) — including book bans.  Book bans in this year of our Lord 2024. 

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  You tell them, President Harris!  (Applause.) 

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And on these last two issues — on these a- — last two issues, just think about it.  So, we want to ban assault weapons, and they want to ban books. 

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Can you imagine?

All the while, these extremists also attack the freedom to love who you love openly and with pride.  (Applause.)  They pass so-called “Don’t Say Gay” laws. 

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Now, I have to tell you, so many of you may know, in 2004, on Valentine’s Day weekend, I was one of the first elected officials in the country to perform same-sex marriages.  (Applause.) 

So, here’s the thing: It pains me so to think 20 years later that there are some young teachers in their 20s who are afraid to put up a photograph of themselves and their partner for fear they could lose their job. 

And what is their job?  The most noble of work, teaching other people’s children.  And God knows we don’t pay you enough as it is.  (Applause.)  

In this moment, we are in a fight for our most fundamental freedoms.  And to this room of leaders, I say: Bring it on.  (Applause.)  Bring it on.  Bring it on. 

AUDIENCE:  Bring it on!  Bring it on!  Bring it on!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Bring it on.  That’s right. 

Because here is the thing.  Here is the thing.  Here is the thing.  We believe in our country, we believe in its promise of freedom, and the American people believe in the promise of freedom.  So, we are in the fight. 

We who believe in the freedom to vote will pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act.  (Applause.)  

We who believe in the freedom to live safe from gun violence will pass an assault weapons ban.  (Applause.)

We who believe that every American should be free from bigotry and hate will fight to protect our teachers and our students from discrimination — (applause) — and make sure every student can learn America’s history.  (Applause.) 

And we who believe in reproductive freedom will restore the freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body and not to have her government telling her what to do.  (Applause.)

So, AFT —

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Bring it on!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  That’s right.  Bring it on.  (Laughs.)

So, ultimately, in this moment, I know we all know, we each in our country face a question.  That question being: What kind of country do we want to live in — a country of freedom, compassion, and rule of law or a country of chaos, fear, and hate?

The beauty of our democracy is that we each have the power to answer that question when we vote.  And when we vote, we make our voices heard.  (Applause.)  

So, today I ask you, AFT: 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.)  God bless you. 

END                10:50 A.M. CDT

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Paris, France

Ambassador Bauer—Denise, you always lead with care and thought, with hope and connection at the center. We are so lucky to have you as our ambassador to France.

I know from personal experience how Ambassador O’Donnell makes every room she walks into a little brighter and every project she’s a part of a little better. Courtney—I can’t wait to see all that you will do at UNESCO.

Ambassador Maloney, you bring so much experience and vision to this work. Joe and I are so grateful to have you as part of this tri-mission.

Gene, thank you and all the members of the USOPC here for everything you do to make sure our athletes can shine on the world stage.

And it’s my honor to be here as part of our presidential delegation supporting our incredible athletes.

There’s a moment that the cameras sometimes miss during the Olympics.

It happens before the whistle blows or the bell rings or the starting gun fires, when an athlete looks—just for a moment—to the stands, eyes searching for someone: all of you.

Your athletes’ journeys to Paris likely started many years ago—at a basketball hoop in the backyard, in a community pool, on a court at school. There, a little kid fell in love with sports and the world changed—though no one really knew it yet.

And no matter when you became a part of that adventure, you—parents, siblings, spouses, kids—have believed in them through the late nights and hard days; you’ve helped them get back up when they fell down; you’ve moved across the country, all so that our world can know their greatness. 

As they leap, and sprint, and turn, America’s athletes aren’t only propelled by the years of sweat and sacrifice they’ve poured into their training.

Your love is also there, pushing them further, helping them go faster, lifting them higher as they reach for gold.

You love some pretty incredible people. Thank you for sharing them with all of us.

When Team USA glides through the opening ceremony tomorrow night, they carry more than just our flag. They carry our nation’s heart and our hopes with them too.

They show the world who we are as Americans: determined, optimistic, resilient. That our strength is found not only in our strides and swings, but in our hearts and minds. That with all our precious differences and infinite similarities, we are always one team. It’s what I love about our country: that we are united, and together we can reach for every possibility.

President Biden has led our country with that hope always in his heart. As he says: there is nothing America can’t do when we do it together.

And we see that especially now, at the Olympics. In this moment, we are more than our cities or states or backgrounds. We are more than our jobs or our political parties. We are all, first and foremost, Team USA.

That’s the gift your families give us.

The President, Vice President, Second Gentleman, and I are grateful for everything you do. So is your country. And so are your athletes.

You’re their biggest supporters—the ones who cheer even when the world isn’t watching. But over the next couple of weeks, as you peer through parted fingers or whisper prayers with closed eyes, know that the nation is by your side, cheering just as hard, adding our belief and hope to yours.

God bless you all, and go Team USA.

###

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8:01 P.M. EDT
 
THE PRESIDENT:  My fellow Americans, I’m speaking to you tonight from behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office. 
 
In this sacred space, I’m surrounded by portraits of extraordinary American presidents.  Thomas Jefferson, who wrote the immortal words that guide this nation.  George Washington, who showed us presidents are not kings.  Abraham Lincoln, who implored us to reject malice.  Franklin Roosevelt, who inspired us to reject fear.
 
I revere this office, but I love my country more.
 
It’s been the honor of my life to serve as your president.  But in the defense of democracy, which is at stake, I think it’s more important than any title.
 
I draw strength and I find joy in working for the American people.  But this sacred task of perfecting our Union — it’s not about me.  It’s about you, your families, your futures.  It’s about “We the People.”  We can never forget that, and I never have.
 
I’ve made it clear that I believe America is at an inflection point, one of those rare moments in history when the decisions we make now will determine our fate of our nation and the world for decades to come.  America is going to have to choose between moving forward or backward, between hope and hate, between unity and division.
 
We have to decide: Do we still believe in honesty, decency, and respect; freedom, justice, and democracy?
 
In this moment, we can see those we disagree with not as enemies or — but as frien- — as fellow Americans.  Can we do that?  Does character in public life still matter?
 
I believe I know the answer to these questions, because I know you, the American people. 
 
And I know this: We are a great nation because we are a good people.
 
When you elected me to this office, I promised to always level with you, to tell you the truth.  And the truth, the sacred cause of this country is larger than any one of us.
 
And those of us who cheri[sh] that cause — cherish it so much — the cause of American democracy itself — must unite to protect it.
 
You know, in recent weeks, it’s become clear to me that I needed to unite my party in this critical endeavor.  I believe my record as president, my leadership in the world, my vision for America’s future all merited a second term, but nothing — nothing — can come in the way of saving our democracy.  That includes personal ambition.
 
So, I’ve decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation.  That’s the best way to unite our nation.
 
I know there is a time and a place for long years of experience in public life.  But there is also a time and place for new voices, fresh voices — yes, younger voices.  And that time and place is now.
 
Over the next six months, I’ll be focused on doing my job as president.  That means I will continue to lower costs for hardworking families, grow our economy.  I’ll keep defending our personal freedoms and our civil rights, from the right to vote to the right to choose.  And I’ll keep calling out hate and extremism and make it clear there is no place — no place in America for political violence or any violence ever, period. 
 
I’m going to keep — keep speaking out to protect our kids from gun violence, our planet from the climate crisis.  It is the existential threat. 
 
And I will keep fighting my — for my Cancer Moonshot so we can end cancer as we know it, because we can do it. 
 
And I’m going to call for Supreme Court reform because this is critical to our democracy — Supreme Court reform. 
 
You know, I will keep working to ensure America remains strong and secure and the leader of the free world.
 
I’m the first president in this century to report to the American people that the United States is not at war anywhere in the world.  
 
I will keep rallying a coalition of proud nations to stop Putin from taking over Ukraine and doing more damage.
 
I will keep NATO stronger, and I’ll make it more powerful and more united than any time in all of our history.  And I’ll keep doing the same for our allies in the Pacific.
 
You know, when I came to office, the conventional wisdom was that China would inevitably — would inevitably pass the United — surpass the United States.  That’s not the case anymore.
 
And I’m going to keep working to end the war in Gaza, bring home all the hostages, and bring peace and security to the Middle East and end this war. 
 
We’re also working around the clock to bring home Americans being unjustly detained all around the world.
 
You know, we have come so far since my inauguration.  On that day, I told you as I stood in that winter — we stood in a winter of peril and a winter of possibilities — peril and possibilities.
 
We’re in the grip of the wor- — we were in the grip of the worst pandemic in a century, the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, the worst attack on our democracy since the Civil War.  But we came together as Americans and we got through it.
 
We emerged stronger, more prosperous, and more secure.
 
And today, we have the strongest economy in the world, creating nearly 16 million new jobs — a record.  Wages are up.  Inflation continues to come down.  The racial wealth gap is the lowest it’s been in 20 years.
 
We’re literally rebuilding our entire nation — urban, suburban, rural, and Tribal communities.
 
Manufacturing has come back to America.  We’re leading the world again in chips and science and innovation.
 
And we finally beat Big Pharma after all these years to lower the cost of prescription drugs for seniors.  And I’m going to keep fighting to make sure we lower the costs for everyone, not just seniors.
 
More people have health care today in America than ever before.  And I signed one of the most significant laws helping millions of veterans and their families who were exposed to toxic materials. 
 
You know, the most significant climate law ever — ever in the history of the world.  The first major gun safety law in 30 years.  And today, violent — the violent crime rate is at a 50-year low.
 
We’re also securing our border.  Border crossings are lower today than when the previous administration left office.
 
And I kept my commitment to appoint the first Black woman to the Supreme Court of the United States of America.  I also kept my commitment to have an administration that looks like America and to be a president for all Americans.  That’s what I’ve done.
 
I ran for president four years ago because I believed and still do that the soul of America was at stake.  The very nature of who we are was at stake.  And that’s still the case.
 
America is an idea — an idea stronger than any army, bigger than any ocean, more powerful than any dictator or tyrant.  It’s the most powerful idea in the history of the world.
 
That idea is that we hold these truths to be self-evident.  We’re all created equal, endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights: life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness.
 
We’ve never fully lived up to it — to this sacred idea, but we’ve never walked away from it either.  And I do not believe the American people will walk away from it now.
 
In just a few months, the American people will choose the course of America’s future.
 
I made my choice.  I have made my views known.
 
I would like to thank our great vice president, Kamala Harris.  She’s experienced.  She’s tough.  She’s capable.  She has been an incredible partner to me and a leader for our country.
 
Now the choice is up to you, the American people.
 
When you make that choice, remember the words of Benjamin Franklin, who’s hanging on my wall here in the Oval Office alongside the busts of Dr. King and Rosa Parks and Cesar Chavez.
 
When Ben Franklin was asked as he emerged from the — the con- — the — the convention going on whether the Founders had given America a monarchy or a republic, Franklin’s response was, “A republic, if you can keep it.”  “A republic, if you can keep it.”  Whether we keep our republic is now in your hands.
 
My fellow Americans, it’s been the privilege of my life to serve this nation for over 50 years.  Nowhere else on Earth could a kid with a stutter from modest beginnings in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Claymont, Delaware, one day sit behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office as president of the United States.  But here I am.
 
That’s what’s so special about America.  We are a nation of promise and possibilities, of dreamers and doers, of ordinary Americans doing extraordinary things.
 
I have given my heart and my soul to our nation, like so many others.  And I have been blessed a million times in return with the love and support of the American people.
 
I hope you have some idea how grateful I am to all of you.  The great thing about America is here kings and dictators do not rule.  The people do.
 
History is in your hands.  The power is in your hands.  The idea of America lies in your hands.
 
We just have to keep faith — keep the faith and remember who we are.  We are the United States of America, and there is simply nothing — nothing beyond our capacity when we do it together.  So, let’s act together, preserve our democracy.
 
God bless you all.  And may God protect our troops. 
 
Thank you.
 
8:13 P.M. EDT

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The Roosevelt Institute
As Prepared for Delivery

Thank you to the Roosevelt Institute and particularly Felicia Wong for hosting this important discussion on how we can work together to lift up communities across the country.

The Biden-Harris Administration’s placed-based investment strategy, alongside our efforts to invest in workforce development, are catalyzing economic opportunity in communities across the country that had been left behind.

Our placed-based approach is intentional, and it marks a sharp break from the trickle-down policies that cut taxes for those at the top and pulled back on public investment. Towns lost anchor employers while businesses chased low taxes, low wages, and non-union labor, pushing out good manufacturing jobs and lowering tax revenue that was needed for local investment. These trends were exacerbated by artificially cheap imports from China that wiped out thousands of manufacturing jobs in manufacturing communities. Too many of these communities saw a downward spiral of disinvestment.  And the previous Administration doubled down on the same failed approach by cutting taxes and public investment and promising a resurgence of manufacturing and infrastructure that never materialized.  Instead, these factory towns and other communities around the country fell further behind.

Investing in Communities

The Biden-Harris Administration took a different approach by prioritizing place-based economic development to bring back investments in communities that had been left behind and give them the tools and support to move from setback to comeback.

This approach starts with correcting for decades of disinvestment in infrastructure. By investing in high-speed internet and transportation networks, the Administration is reconnecting neighborhoods to opportunity, revitalizing small businesses, and rebuilding communities’ foundations to unlock new private investment.

This place based strategy is also focused on increasing the capacity of distressed communities. For example, the Administration has launched the Rural Partners Network sending federal staff across the country to help rural communities access a variety of federal resources, and special tax incentives are supporting the Energy Communities that have powered our nation for centuries.

Placed-based economic development means investing in innovation engines that will sustain economic development for years to come in every region of the country.  In previous decades, the majority of innovation investment was concentrated in just a few major metros.  The Department of Commerce’s Tech Hubs and the National Science Foundation’s Regional Innovation Engines are seeding innovation across the country in a range of sectors where economic opportunity is immense – from clean energy to semiconductors and biotechnology.

Because of this Administration’s approach, communities are shaping development strategies from the bottom-up; effectively putting communities back in the driver seat after being left out for too long.

And when faced with unfair practices from abroad, this Administration is taking necessary actions on behalf of American workers, businesses, and factory towns. China is flooding the market with artificially underpriced exports in areas like vehicles and solar cells, and they’re breaking the rules when it comes to technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation. That’s why the President has increased tariffs on imports from China in a targeted set of strategic sectors. A 100% tariff on Chinese electrified vehicles, for instance, is enabling auto communities to continue powering our car industry.

Investments in the Workforce

Investing in communities also means investing in people and strong workforce programs. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is putting hundreds of thousands of Americans to work rebuilding our highways and bridges. And more jobs are on the way with nearly $900 billion in announced private sector investments in clean energy and advanced manufacturing across. Factory construction is at its highest level on record– more than double the previous Administration.  We’ve heard from unions that they have never seen so much demand for their training programs.

We are working to ensure that communities are prepared for the manufacturing renaissance that is underway. And that these new investments create high-quality, good-paying jobs and pathways to careers in these communities.

That’s why the Administration has established nine Workforce Hubs in areas where clean energy, infrastructure, and semiconductor investments are creating new job opportunities. These Workforce Hubs are bringing state, local, and regional partners together to coordinate and amplify workforce training efforts.

For example, in Michigan, a coalition of government, unions, automakers, nonprofits, and community colleges are preparing workers and businesses who have led the iconic auto industry to lead the way on electric vehicles. This includes aligning on skill needs across the EV supply chain and expanding access to a new curriculum for battery manufacturing.

In the state of New York, companies have announced billions of investments in chip manufacturing catalyzed by the CHIPS and Science Act. The Administration’s Workforce Hub in Syracuse is now focused on meeting the training needs of this emerging industry, starting with an innovative partnership between Micron, AFT, and local high schools.

Supporting Communities

When we meet with the Americans that are opening small businesses in record numbers on Main Streets around the country, we often hear that it is not only the large investments that are helping unlock opportunity but also the child supports and the health insurance tax credits that enable parents to rejoin the workforce and entrepreneurs to take the leap of faith to start businesses.

These place-based investments are more effective when the tax system rewards work and promotes economic opportunity. That means enabling many more Americans to participate in the workforce by restoring the expanded Earned Income Tax Credit and the expanded Child Tax Credit and supporting access to childcare. It also means extending the Affordable Care Act Premium Tax Credit expansions that are lifting health insurance coverage rates to record highs and narrowing geographic disparities.

Republicans in Congress and the previous administration instead prioritize tax cuts at the top and deep cuts to crucial programs that advance opportunity in communities that had been left behind.

Place-Based Growth is Working

According to a recent report by the Economic Innovation Group which looked at 1,000 counties that were hit hard by economic shocks over the past two decades, “left-behind counties…experienced their strongest three-year period of job creation and business growth since the turn of the 21st century.” Since President Biden took office, jobs in those previously “left-behind” counties grew more than four times faster per year than under the previous Administration.

This Administration is proud to be working with communities all over the country who are turning setbacks into comebacks. I am dialing in today from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – home to a once-booming steel industry that began to decline in the 1980s, exacerbated by Chinese dumping of steel into the global market. Plants shuttered and job opportunities declined.

But the President and Vice President see opportunity in a city like Pittsburgh investing millions of dollars to support businesses and jobs in grid and electric vehicle manufacturing and advanced robotics. This spring, Pittsburgh’s unemployment rate hit a record low of 3.2%, and Pittsburgh has added more than 80,000 local jobs under the Biden-Harris Administration, recovering all those lost during the prior administration.

This comeback story is not just happening here in Pittsburgh – it is happening in cities and towns across the country from Milwaukee to Scranton to Dayton.

Conclusion

Last fall, I spent time in western Kentucky, part of the Illinois Basin—a region where Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky meet. Across state borders, what unites this region is a shared history of powering the industrial revolution and economic growth, a shared reality of declining demand for coal, and a shared opportunity to create a stronger and more resilient future.

At the start of this Administration, President Biden launched an all-of-government effort dedicated to energy communities like this one—an effort that put federal staff on the ground to understand the communities’ needs and strengths first, and then to identify the resources across the federal government and private sector to make the region’s vision—from infrastructure to entrepreneurship—become a reality.

During my trip to the Illinois Basin, I spoke to local leaders and workers who were coming together to re-envision the region’s economic future. The community is in the driver’s seat, and this Administration is proud to be helping the community get to where they want to go.

Since my visit, Webster and Union counties received $800,000 in federal support to develop a Regional Training Center. In collaboration with Madisonville Community College, the center will train students as utility linemen and diesel mechanics and help them obtain a Commercial Driver’s License. The administrative offices at the former Dotiki Mine will house the training center. And former mine land will be used to train new skills for new jobs.

It’s a small investment with outsized outcomes across a region. It’s a community turning setback into comeback—one of many now underway across the country.

The post Remarks by National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard on Bolstering Placed-Based Economic Development appeared first on The White House.

Indiana Convention Center

Indianapolis, Indiana

12:50 P.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon.  (Applause.)  Good afternoon, everyone.  Good afternoon.  Please have a seat.  Good afternoon.

I was just saying to your most glorious president, Stacie NC Grant, she and I talked about this visit months ago, sitting together, having a meeting in the Oval Office.  And we were tal- — and she invited me then to attend today.  And — and I just want to — I — if I can, I just want to thank you in front of all of the sisters who are here.  (Applause.) 

She has provided years of support and friendship.  And she always — like everyone here knows, she always shows up.  And I’m so, so deeply grateful.  Thank you.

And to everyone here, it is so good to be with you.

To the former presidents who are in attendance; to the International Board of Directors; and to all of the fine members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated — (laughs) — (applause) — it is my great, great honor to be with you today.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  We love you!

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

And also, I — I — on Air Force Two, joining me, is Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove.  (Applause.)  And I know here is also our dearest Mrs. Opal Lee, the grandmother of Juneteenth.  (Applause.) 

Oh, there she is.  (Laughs.)  Right there.

And to all of the distinguished ladies, I thank you so very much for this warm welcome.

And I will begin by saying a few words about our president, Joe Biden.  So, tonight — (applause).  Yes, thank you.  Yes.

So, tonight, our president will address the nation about his decision to step down as a candidate, and he will talk about not only the work — the extraordinary work that he has accomplished but about his work in the next six months.

And so, before he does and while I am here with you, I want to just share with you a little bit about him based on what I know, based on personal experience. 

Joe Biden is a leader with bold vision.  He cares about the future.  He thinks about the future.  He has extraordinary determination and profound compassion for the people of our country.  And I say that because I know that we are all deeply, deeply grateful for his service to our nation.  (Applause.)

And to the sisters of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, I thank you — (applause) — for your incredible service to our nation as well.

You know, I — I know who we all are.  I know who is here.  And I know, therefore, that we share a vision for the future of our nation — a future where every person has the opportunity not just to get by but to get ahead; a future of social justice, health justice, economic justice — just as you have laid out in this year’s theme.

Ours is a vision of a future in which we realize the promise of America.  And I deeply believe in the promise of America: a promise of freedom, opportunity, and justice not for some but for all.

And for generations, the Finer Women of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, have fought to build that brighter future. 

During the Civil Rights Movement, you marched for voting rights, economic justice, and an end to segregation.  For more than 50 years, you have worked with the March of Dimes to lift up the urgent issue of maternal health.  (Applause.)  And from the 1980s, you inaugurated Zeta Days.

And I will tell you, when I was a United States senator, I would see this group of powerful leaders walking through the halls of Congress in white and blue — (laughter) — and I always knew I was looking at some of the most powerful advocates for justice in America.  (Applause.)  Truly.

And, of course, your leadership continued in 2020, when, during the height of a pandemic, you helped elect Joe Biden president of the United States — (applause) — and me as the first woman vice president of the United States.  (Applause.)  And I thank you. 

And now, in this moment, our nation needs your leadership once again.

In this moment, I believe we face a choice between two different visions for our nation: one focused on the future, the other focused on the past.

And with your support, I am fighting for our nation’s future.

And let us be clear about what that future looks like.  I know the leaders in this room, and I know the future we believe in and we fight for.

We here believe in a future where, for example, everyone has affordable health care — (applause) — which is why our administration capped the cost of insulin for our seniors at $35 a month.  (Applause.)

We believe in a future where no child has to grow up in poverty, which is why I helped pass the Child Tax Credit, which cut child poverty in half — (applause) — and cut Black child poverty even more.  (Applause.)

We believe in a future where the economy works for working people.  That is why we forgave student loan debt for more than 5 million Americans.  (Applause.)  And if you or anyone you know benefitted from that, please testify.  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)

And we are finally making it so that medical debt can no longer be used against your credit score.  (Applause.) 

And it is because of our collective vision for the future that we continue to fight for affordable childcare, affordable elder care, and paid family leave.  (Applause.)

We here believe in a future where all women and all mothers are safe.  That is why, as vice president, I have elevated and took on the crisis of maternal mortality, knowing that women in America die at a higher rate in connection with childbirth than women in any other wealthy nation in the world and Black women are three times more likely to die in connection with childbirth.  And for too long, this has been a crisis in our country.  And it is time that we recognize the crisis it is.

In fact, when I took office, I challenged every state in our nation on this issue.  Because, you see, I said, “Look, we need to extend Medicaid postpartum coverage from a measly two months to a full year.” 

And I am proud to report, whereas when I issued the challenge only three states offered a full year of coverage, now 46 states do.  (Applause.)

So, I say, as we work to build a brighter future and to move our nation forward, we must also recognize there are those who are trying to take us backward.

You may have seen their agenda.  Part of it is called Project 2025. 

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Now, can you believe they put it in writing?  Nine hundred pages of it.

Project 2025: a plan to return America to a dark past.

They intend to cut Medicare; to repeal our $35 cap on insulin; to eliminate the Department of Education; to end programs like Head Start, which would take away pre-school for hundreds of thousands of children in our communities.

Let’s be clear: This represents an outright attack on our children, our families, and our future.

These extremists want to take us back.  But we are not going back.  We are not going back.  (Applause.)

Ours is a fight for the future.  And ours is a fight for freedom.

Across our nation, we are witnessing a full-on assault on hard-fought, hard-won freedoms and rights: the freedom to vote, the freedom to be safe from gun violence, the freedom to live without fear of bigotry and hate, the freedom to love who you love openly and with pride, the freedom to learn and acknowledge our true and full history, and the freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body and not have her government telling her what to do.  (Applause.)

And in the face of these attacks, we must continue to stand together in defense of freedom.

We who believe in the sacred freedom to vote will make sure, then, that every American has the ability to cast their ballot and have it counted.

We who believe that every person in our nation should be free from gun violence will finally pass universal background checks, red flag laws, and an assault weapons ban.  (Applause.)

We who believe that every person in our nation should be free from bigotry, discrimination, and hate will continue to fight for equality and justice for all.

And we who believe in reproductive freedom will fight for a woman’s right to choose, because one does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs to agree the government should not be telling her what to do.  (Applause.)

You know, when he was president, Donald Trump, the former president, hand-picked three members of the United States Supreme Court because he intended for them to overturn Roe v. Wade — the United States Supreme Court — previously the court of Thurgood and RBG.  And as he intended, they did.

Well, let me tell you something.  When I am president of the United States — (applause) — and when Congress passes a law to restore those freedoms, I will sign it into law.  (Applause.)

We are not playing around.  (Laughter and applause.) 

So, in conclusion, to the incredible members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, I say: There is so much at stake in this moment.  There’s so much at stake.

And again, then, in this moment, our nation, as it always has, is counting on you to energize, to organize, and to mobilize; to register folks to vote, to get them to the polls; and to continue to fight for the future our nation and her people deserve. 

And we know when we organize, mountains move.  (Applause.)  When we mobilize, nations change.  (Applause.)  And when we vote, we make history.  (Applause.)

So let continue to fight with optimism, with faith, and with hope.  Because when we fight, we win.

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

Thank you.

                             END                1:05 P.M. EDT

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West Allis Central High School

West Allis, Wisconsin

1:33 P.M. CDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon.  (Applause.)  Good after- — hi, Wisconsin.  (Applause.)

AUDIENCE:  Kamala!  Kamala!  Kamala!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you all.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  Tha- — (laughs) — thank you.  Thank you, thank you.  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you all.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  Thank you, everyone.  Thank you.  Tha- — good afternoon, Wisconsin!  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)

Good afternoon, everyone.  Thank you.  It is good to be back.  Thank you all very much.  (Applause.) 

Can we please hear it for Leia and her extraordinary story and leadership?  (Applause.)  Thank you.

And I do believe our teachers do God’s work.  They teach other people’s children, and God knows we don’t pay them enough.  Let’s thank her.  (Applause.)

And it is so good to be here and be back with so many extraordinary leaders, including my friend, the great governor of Wisconsin, Tony Evers.  (Applause.)  He’s here somewhere. 

My dear friend, Senator Tammy Baldwin.  (Applause.)  And, you know, I had the privilege of serving with Tammy when I was in the United States Senate, and she is always fighting for the people of this state.  And I know that the folks that are here are going to make sure you return her to Washington, D.C., in November.  (Applause.)  Yes, we are going to elect her back to Washington, D.C.

It is so good to be here also with Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez — (applause); Attorney General Josh Kaul — (applause); Wisconsin Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski — (applause); County Executive David — David Crowley — (applause); Mayor Cavalier Johnson — (applause); and the great state party chair, Ben Wikler — (applause) — who I have worked with — Ben, you and I have been working together for years.  And I can attest, he knows how to build the infrastructure that delivers wins up and down the ballot.  Thank you, Ben.  (Applause.)

So, it is good to be back in Wisconsin, and it is great to be in Milwaukee.  (Applause.) 

As many of you know, our state campaign headquarters are in this city.  (Applause.)  Yes.  And th- — there’s a reason for that: The path to the White House goes through Wisconsin.  (Applause.)  Yes, it does.  And to win in Wisconsin, we are counting on you, right here in Milwaukee.  (Applause.)

And you all helped us win in 2020.  (Applause.)  And in 2024, we will win again.  (Applause.)  Yes, we will.

So, Milwaukee, I want to start by saying a few words — and I could really speak at length — but a few words about our incredible president, Joe Biden.  (Applause.)

It has truly been one of the greatest honors of my life to serve as vice president to our president, Joe Biden.  (Applause.)
    
Joe’s legacy of accomplishment over his entire career and over the past three and a half years is unmatched in modern history.  (Applause.)

In one term — think about it.  In one term as president, he has already surpassed the legacy of most presidents who served two terms in office.  (Applause.)

And I know we are all deeply, deeply grateful for his continuing service to our nation.  (Applause.)  And it is my great honor to have Joe Biden’s endorsement in this race.  (Applause.) 

So — so, Wisconsin, I am told, as of this morning, that we have earned the support of enough delegates to secure the Democratic nomination.  (Applause.)  And I am so very honored.  And I pledge to you I will spend the coming weeks continuing to unite our party so that we are ready to win in November.  (Applause.)

So, friends, we have 105 days until Election Day.  And in that time, we’ve got some work to do.  But we’re not afraid of hard work.  We like hard work, don’t we?  (Applause.)  And we will win this election.  (Applause.)  Yes, we will.

So, as Leia told you, before I was elected vice president,  before I was elected a United States senator, I was elected attorney general of the state of California.  And I was a courtroom prosecutor before then.  (Applause.) 

And in those roles, I took on perpetrators of all kinds — (laughter) — predators who abused women, fraudsters who ripped off consumers, cheaters who broke the rules for their own gain.  So, hear me when I say: I know Donald Trump’s type.  (Applause.)  (Laughs.)

AUDIENCE:  Kamala!  Kamala!  Kamala!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And in this campaign, I promise you I will proudly put my record against his any day of the week.  (Applause.) 

As attorney general of California, I took on one of our country’s largest for-profit colleges that was scamming students.  Donald Trump ran a for-profit college that scammed students.

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  As a prosecutor, I specialized in cases involving sexual abuse.  Well, Trump was found liable for committing sexual abuse.

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  As attorney general of California, I took on the big Wall Street banks and held them accountable for fraud.  (Applause.)  Donald Trump was just found guilty of fraud on 34 counts.  (Applause.)

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Lock him up!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  But let’s also make no mistake: This campaign is not just about us versus Donald Trump.  This campaign is about who we fight for.  (Applause.)  This is about who we fight for.

Just look at how we are running our campaigns.  So, Donald Trump is relying on support from billionaires and big corporations, and he is trading access in exchange for campaign contributions. 

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  A couple of months ago — y’all saw that? — a couple months ago at Mar-a-Lago, he literally promised Big Oil companies — Big Oil lobbyists he would do their bidding for $1 billion in campaign donations.

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  On the other hand, we are running a people-powered campaign.  (Applause.)  And we just had — some breaking news: We just had the best 24 hours — (applause) — of grassroot fundraising in presidential campaign history.  (Applause.)  All right?

And because we are a people-powered campaign, that is how you know we will be a people-first presidency.  (Applause.) 

And, Wisconsin, this campaign is also about two different visions for our nation: one where we are focused on the future, the other focused on the past. 

We believe in a future where every person has the opportunity not just to get by but to get ahead — (applause); a future where no child has to grow up in poverty — (applause); where every worker has the freedom to join a union — (applause); where every person has affordable health care — (applause) — affordable childcare — (applause) — and paid family leave.  (Applause.)  We believe in a future where every senior can retire with dignity.  (Applause.)

So, all of this is to say: Building up the middle class will be a defining goal of my presidency.  (Applause.)  Because here’s the thing we all here, Wisconsin, know: When our middle class is strong, American is strong.  (Applause.)

But Donald Trump wants to take our country backward. He and his extreme Project 2025 agenda —

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — will weaken the middle class. 

Like, we know we got to take this seriously.  And can you believe they put that thing in writing?  (Laughter.)  Read it.  It’s 900 pages.

But here’s the thing: You — when you read it, you will see Donald Trump intends to cut Social Security and Medicare.

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  He intends to give tax breaks to billionaires and big corporations and make working families foot the bill.

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  They intend to end the Affordable Care Act —

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — and take us back, then, to a time when insurance companies had the power to deny people with preexisting conditions.

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Remember what that was like?

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Children with asthma, women who survived breast cancer, grandparents with diabetes.

America has tried these failed economic policies before, but we are not going back.  (Applause.)  We are not going back.  We’re not going back. 

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

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  We’re not going back.

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

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  We are not going back.

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

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  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 I’ll tell you why we’re not going back: because ours is a fight for the future.  (Applause.)  And it is a fight for freedom.  (Applause.)

Generations of Americas b- — generations — and we have to remember this: the shoulders on which we stand.  Generations of Americans before us led the fight for freedom.  And now, Wisconsin, the baton is in our hands.  (Applause.)

We who believe in the sacred freedom to vote — (applause) — will make sure every American has the ability to cast their ballot and have it counted.  (Applause.)

We who believe that every person in our nation sh- — who should have the freedom to live safe from the terror of gun violence — (applause) — will finally pass red flag laws, universal background checks, and an assault weapons ban.  (Applause.)

And we who believe in reproductive freedom — (applause) — will stop Donald Trump’s extreme abortion bans because we trust women to make decisions about their own body and not have their government tell them what to do.  (Applause.)

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

So, Wisconsin, ultimately, in this election, we each face a question: What kind of country do we want to live in? 

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  (Inaudible.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  A country — (laughter and applause).  And to your point — (laughter) — do we want to live in a country of freedom, compassion, and rule of law — (applause) — or a country of chaos, fear, and hate?

AUDIENCE:  No!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And here’s the beauty of this moment: We each have the power to answer that question.  The power is with the people.  (Applause.)  We each have the power to answer that question.

And in the next 105 days, then, we have work to do.  (Applause.)  We have doors to knock on, we have phone calls to make, we have voters to register, and we have an election to win.  (Applause.)

So, Wisconsin, today I ask you: Are you ready to get to work?  (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                 1:52 P.M. CDT

The post Remarks by Vice President Harris at a Political Event appeared first on The White House.

5:46 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  (Via teleconference.)  Julie, if I didn’t have COVID, I’d be sitting there with you — standing there with you.  I — I’m so proud of what you’ve all done.  (Applause.)  And — but this COVID has been keeping me out of — out of people’s hair for the next three or four days. 

But I’m going to be on the road, and I’m not going anywhere.  I’m going — it’s going — it’s kept me away a little bit, but, you know, I want people to remember that what we have done has been incredible, and we get — so much more we’re going to get done.

And so, I want to say hello to Kamala if she can hear me.  I know she’s going to be speaking shortly.  And I want to say to the team: Embrace her.  She’s the best.  I wanted to call today to thank everybody — (applause) — everybody in this effort. 

I know yesterday’s news is surprising and it’s hard for you to hear, but it was the right thing to do.  It’s — I know it’s hard because you’ve poured your heart and soul into me to help us win this thing, help me get this nomination, help me win the nomination and then go on to win the — win the — the presidency.

But, you know, you’re an amazing team.  But we’ve got a great, great — I think we made the right decision.  I know how hard you’ve worked, how many sacrifices you’ve made.  And so many of you — so many of you uprooted your lives for me and the kind of commitment few people make for anything these days, but you made it. 

And I’ve been honored and humbled.  I mean this sinc- — from the bottom of my heart — my word as a Biden — that for all you’ve done for me and my family. 

And you — we built the best campaign and organ- — organization in history.  I’ve been doing this — I ki- — I  always kid and say I know I’m only 40, but — (laughter) — I’ve been around a long time.  I don’t know of a better campaign organization, grassroots campaign.

You know, we have over 230 offices opened, we have over 2,000 paid staff, and we have literally several thousand volunteers on a regular basis — thousands of them.  And they’ve been relentless and tireless in reaching out and contacting voters. 

The leadership of this campaign has been amazing: Jen O’Malley Dillon, Julie, Quentin, Michael Tyler, Rob Flaherty, Rufus on raising money, and so many more.  You built this team, you brought them togeth- — you brought us together, you’ve inspired them, and — and you’ve done what leaders do.

Now — now we got to — you know, the name has changed at the top of the ticket, but the mission hasn’t changed at all.  (Applause.)  And, by the way, I’m not going anywhere.  I’m going to be out there on the campaign with her, with Kamala.  I’m going to be working like hell both as a sitting president, getting legislation passed, as well as in campaigning.

You know, what — we still need to save this democracy.  And Strump — Trump is still a danger to the community, he’s a danger to the nation.  And just — just ask my foreign policy colleagues, my counterparts, and other people around the world and at home.

Look, so I’m hoping you’ll give every bit of your heart and soul that you gave to me to Kamala.  And — and I want you to know: I won’t be on the ticket, but I’m still going to be fully, fully engaged.  I’ve got six months left of my presidency, and I’m determined to get as much done as I possibly can, both foreign policy and domestic policy; keep lowering costs for families; continue to speak out on guns and childcare, eldercare, prescription drugs, and climate. 

Climate still is the existential threat that we face, and we have — if we don’t — if we don’t win this thing, it’s all in jeopardy. 

And we got to keep working for an end to the war in Gaza.  I’ll be working very closely with the — with the Israelis and with the Palestinians to try to work out how we can get the Gaza war to end and the Middle East peace and get all those hostages home.  I think we’re on a verge of being able to do that.

And we got to keep our alliances together.  It’s critically important.  It took a while for me to build these alliances.  Most of these are — my colleagues have acknowledged that.  But it’s critically, critically important for our safety and security.

And I know I’ll be doing whatever Kamala wants me or needs me to do in addition. 

So, let me be real clear.  We’re still fighting in this fight together.  I’m not going anywhere.  And I want you to know I’ve always — you’ve always had my back, and I promise you I will always have your back.  And I’m anxious to — for you all to hear from Kamala.

So, thank you, thank you, thank you.  Julie, you’re the best.  (Applause.)

MS. CHÁVEZ RODRÍGUEZ:  Well, thank you so much, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  I — I’m sticking around.  I’m going to listen.

MS. CHÁVEZ RODRÍGUEZ:  All right.  Thank you so much, Mr. President, again, for taking time to join our call today. 

And, you know, as the president said, we are full steam ahead in supporting the vice president, and we are seeing incredible enthusiasm already from our supporters.  From Democratic governors to senators to House members to mayors to folks across the country, you know, our Democratic Party is really uniting around our nominee.

And we just announced that we raised $81 million in 24 hours.  (Applause.) 

So, now I am incredibly honored to bring up the second gentleman to be able to mark a historic day with us today. 

With that, I’d like to introduce Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff.  (Applause.)

AUDIENCE:  Doug!  Doug!  Doug!

THE SECOND GENTLEMAN:  Wow. 

Julie, thank you so much.  I’ve known Julie a long, long time, going back to her days working in Kamala’s Senate office.  And we put a lot of time together out on the road on the last campaign, and I can’t think of anyone better to be leading this campaign.  So, thank you so much.  You’re the best.  (Applause.)

I was just very emotional listening to President Biden just then.  I was emotional before I heard that because of — of who he is and what he represents — the dignity, the empathy. 

He’s had my back personally.  Some of my toughest moments as second gentleman.  One, leaving the career that I loved, it was always the president who came up to me and said, “Look, I know — I know, kid.  You’re a great lawyer.  I know this must have been tough.”  (Laughter.)  “But wh- — what better way to — to leave that than to support your wife, who you love so much, and your country that you love so much.”  (Applause.)

And it’s hard to believe it was about four years ago — the first time I came to Wilmington is when she got the call from — from President — then-candidate Biden to be on the ticket.  And we came here the next day.  We went to their home.  And he said with Dr. Biden, “Welcome to the family.  You’re now Bidens.” 

And they made us cookies.  And they called our kids.  And they called my parents.  This was day one four years ago.  And now look where we are now.

To have been able to serve as second gentleman with him as our president, Dr. Biden as our first lady — unbelievable.  (Applause.) 

And now — now I get to support my wife, Kamala Harris, running for president of the United States.  (Applause.) 

And let me tell you something: We are going to win this election.  (Applause.)  We’re on the right side of every single issue, and we have this team right here and thousands of others all around the country.

How do I know?  Because I’ve been traveling all around the country — (laughter) — and I’ve met them.  (Applause.)  We have an amazing team, you have done an amazing job, and you’re going to continue to do that so we can elect Kamala Harris as the next president of the United States of America.  (Applause.) 

So, let’s hear it for Kamala Harris.  (Applause.)

Thank you.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  The first second gentleman of the United States.  (Applause.)

Hi, every- — hey, Delaware.  (Laughs.)

AUDIENCE:  Kamala!  Kamala!  Kamala! 

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, guys.  Thank you.  Thank you, thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you all.  Thank you.

Can we just give it up again for my husband?  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)

It is so good to hear our president’s voice.  Joe, I know you’re still on the re- — on the call.  And we’ve been talking every day.  You probably — you guys heard it from Doug’s voice.  We love Joe and Jill.  We really do.  They truly are like family to us. 

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  So do we.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And we d- — everybody here does.  (Applause.)  Everybody —

THE PRESIDENT:  It’s mutual.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  (Laughter.)  I knew you were still there.  You’re not going anywhere, Joe. 

THE PRESIDENT:  I’m watching you, kid.  I’m watching you, kid.  (Laughter.)  I love you.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I love you, Joe.  Oh.  (Applause.)

So, Joe, I’m going to recognize some of the electeds who are here, and then I’m going to get back to you.  Hold on a second.  (Laughter.)

So, let me do, please, acknowledge some extraordinary national leaders who are also dear friends both to the president and to me. 

Governor John Carney, where are you?  (Applause.)  There you are.  And his wife, they are here. 

Senator Tom Carper, my former colleague — (applause) — and his wife is here. 

Chris Coons, my dear friend.  (Applause.) 

Attorney General Kathy Jennings.  (Applause.) 

The mayor is here.  Purzycki, where are you?  (Applause.)  There. 

And the next United States senator from the great state of Delaware is here, Lisa Blunt Rochester.  (Applause.)

And I know everyone here has seen these elected leaders in this very campaign office on a regular basis.  And I know Joe is so thankful to them for their lifelong friendship, but I want to thank them also because you guys have really been carrying some heavy water from the first days of our campaign.  So, thank you all.  This truly is a Delaware family.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

I want to thank Jen O’Malley Dillon.  Where is she, Jen?  (Applause.)  Jen — I’m going to talk about her in a minute.  Julie Chávez Rodríguez — (applause); Sheila Nix, there you are — (applause); and the entire team that is here.  I want to thank all of you and those who are joining from offices across our nation.

So, Doug and I wanted to stop by today to thank everybody and — and to express just what we know to be true: You all have been working so hard.  The people in this office have been working so hard.  And you have given so much of yourselves: long days and nights, what you are sacrificing in terms of the time you could be spending with other friends and other family, and you’re giving yourselves to our country because you love our country and you love Joe and you love me, and we know that.

And so, today, just right after Joe made his announcement, it was important for me to continue with his role of leadership in this office of, like him, who has said for many, many, many months, and I say it today: Thank you all so very much for what you are doing and what you will continue to do.  

So, let’s applaud the team here.  (Applause.)

And I know it’s been a roller coaster, and we’re all filled with so many mixed emotions about this.  I just have to say, I love Joe Biden.  I love Joe Biden, and I know we all do.  And we have so many darn good reasons for loving Joe Biden.  (Laughter.)  And I have full faith that this team is the team, will be the reason we win in November, you all who are here. 

And as Julie always says, and I will quote the great Julie, “We are one team, one fight” — “one team, one fight.”  And she’s been an extraordinary campaign manager.  She’s going to continue in this role and see us to victory in November.

And we are all here because we love our country — right? — and we believe in our foundational principles.  We believe in freedom and opportunity and justice, not for some but for all.  (Applause.) 

And so, we have 106 days until Election Day, and in that time, we have some hard work to do.  And as J.O.D. always reminds us, we can do hard things.  J.O.D. has been such an incredible leader of this team, and that is why I have just asked her to run my campaign, and she has accepted.  (Applause.)

And so, over the next 160 days, we are going to take our case to the American people, and we are going to win.  (Applause.)  We are going to win.

And so, now I’m getting back to you, Joe.  I will tell you all, it has been one of the greatest honors of my life, truly, to serve as vice president to our president, Joe Biden.  Joe’s legacy of accomplishment just over — a lifetime but just over the last three and a half years is unmatched in modern history.   In one term, he has already surpassed the legacy of most presidents who served two terms in office. 

Think about it.  And I know everyone here in the campaign, we have — we know — (laughter) — but — if we don’t know, we got a problem.  (Laughter.)  But I’m going to repeat some for those who might be guests at the moment.  (Laughter.)

Joe got the COVID-19 pandemic under control.  Remember those days?  He has created more than 15 million new jobs.  He brought together Republicans and Democrats and passed historic legislation. 

And I’m going to tell you, I’m a firsthand witness to all this work.  I would sit with Joe in the Oval Office while he would bring members of both sides to — of the aisle and talk and listen and help them see what they may have in common and how we can actually work towards solutions.  And because of their confidence in Joe, these accomplishments occurred.

Joe has stood up for democracy at home, and he has stood up for democracy abroad, and he has always stood up for what he believes is right. 

And many of you may know I first came to know Joe through his son Beau.  Beau and I worked together as state attorneys general.  And back then, Beau would often tell me stories about his dad, and he would talk about the kind of father and the kind of man that Joe Biden is.  And he would talk about the qualities of his father.  And the qualities that — that Beau revered the most are the same qualities that I see every day in our president: his honesty; his integrity; his commitment to his faith and his family; his big, big heart; and his deep love of our country.

And I don’t need to tell you all.  You know Joe’s background, right?  I mean, he grew up in a middle-class family in Scranton.  And he has never forgotten where he comes from. 

And so, again, I am a firsthand witness from being with him in the Oval Office to the Situation Room and seeing him on the global stage with world leaders.  President Joe Biden fights for the American people, and we are deeply, deeply grateful for his service to our nation.  (Applause.)

Joe, are you watching?  Do you hear this clapping?  (Laughs.)  Can you see it?

THE PRESIDENT:  I’m watching.  (Laughter.)  I’m watching. 

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I knew it.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Thank you, Joe!

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  We love you, Joe!  (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT:  You — you’re the best, kid.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And let us be very clear, Joe is not done — far from it.  (Applause.)  He knows there is still more work to do, and our nation will continue to praise his bold and visionary leadership as president. 

Thank you, Joe.  (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And it is my great honor to have Joe’s endorsement in this race.  (Applause.) 

THE PRESIDENT:  You sure do.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And it is my intention to go out and earn this nomination and to win.  (Applause.)

So, in the days and weeks ahead, I, together with you, will do everything in my power to unite our Democratic Party, to unite our nation, and to win this election. 

You know, as many of you know, before I was elected as vice president, before I was elected as United States senator, I was the elected attorney general, as I’ve mentioned, of California.  And before that, I was a courtroom prosecutor.

In those roles, I took on perpetrators of all kinds — (laughter and applause) — predators who abused women, fraudsters who ripped off consumers, cheaters who broke the rules for their own gain.  So, hear me when I say: I know Donald Trump’s type.  (Applause.) 

And in this campaign, I will proudly — I will proudly put my record against his.  (Applause.) 

As a young prosecutor, when I was in the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office in California, I specialized in cases involving sexual abuse.  Donald Trump was found liable by a jury for committing sexual abuse.

As attorney general of California, I took on one of our country’s largest for-profit colleges and put it out of business.  Donald Trump ran a for-profit college, Trump University, that was forced to pay $25 million to the students it scammed.  (Applause.)

As district attorney, to go after polluters, I created one of the first environmental justice units in our nation.  (Applause.)  Donald Trump stood in Mar-a-Lago and told Big Oil lobbyists he would do their bidding for a $1 billion campaign contribution. 

AUDIENCE:  Booo — 

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  During — during the foreclosure crisis, I took on the big Wall Street banks and won $20 billion for California families — (applause) — holding those banks accountable for fraud.  Donald Trump was just found guilty of 34 counts of fraud. 

But make no mistake, all of that being said, this campaign is not just about us versus Donald Trump.  There is more to this campaign than that. 

Our campaign has always been about two different versions of what we see as the future of our country — two different visions for the future of our country: one focused on the future, the other focused on the past.

Donald Trump wants to take our country backward to a time before many of our fellow Americans had full freedoms and rights. 

But we believe in a brighter future that makes room for all Americans.  (Applause.) 

We believe in a future where every person has the opportunity not just to get by but to get ahead.  (Applause.) 

We believe in a future where no child has to grow up in poverty; where every person can buy a home, start a family, and build wealth; and where every person has access to paid family leave and affordable childcare.  (Applause.) 

That’s the future we see.

Together, we fight to build a nation where every person has affordable health care — (applause); where every worker is paid fairly; and where every senior can retire with dignity. 

All of this is to say building up the middle class will be a defining goal of my presidency.  (Applause.)  Because we here know, when our middle class is strong, America is strong. 

And we know that’s not the future Donald Trump is fighting for.  He and his —

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  (Inaudible.)  (Laughter.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  He and his extreme Project 2025 will weaken the middle class and bring us backward — please do note that — back to the failed trickle-down policies that gave huge  tax breaks to billionaires and big corporations and made working families pay the cost; back to policies that put Social Security and Medicare on the chopping block; back to policies that treat health care as only a privilege for the wealthy, instead of what we all know it should be, which is a right for every American.

America has tried these economic policies before.  They do not lead to prosperity.  They lead to inequity and economic injustice, and we are not going back.  We are not going back.  (Applause.)  They’re not taking us back.

Our fight for the future is also a fight for freedom.  Generations of Americans before us have led the fight for freedom, from our founders to our framers, to the abolitionists and the suffragettes, to the Freedom Riders and farmworkers. 

And now I say, team, the baton is in our hands.  We who believe in the sacred freedom to vote.  We who are committed to fight to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act.  (Applause.)

We who believe in the freedom to live safe from gun violence, and that’s why we will work to pass universal background checks, red flag laws, and an assault weapons ban.  (Applause.)

We who will fight for reproductive freedom, knowing if Trump gets the chance, he will sign a national abortion ban to outlaw abortion in every single state.  But we are not going to let that happen.  (Applause.)

It is this team here that is going to help in this November to elect a majority of members of the United States Congress who agree the government should not be telling a woman what to do with her body.  (Applause.)

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

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  We the people!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Indeed.  We the people.  (Laughter.)

So, ultimately, to all the friends here, I say: In this election, we know we each face a question.  What kind of country do we want to live in: a country of freedom, compassion, and rule of law —

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Yes!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — or a country of chaos, fear, and hate?

AUDIENCE:  No!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  You all are here because you, as leaders, know we each — including our neighbors and our friends and our family, we each, as Americans, have the power to answer that question.  That’s the beauty of it — the power of the people.  We each have the ability to answer that question.

So, in the next 106 days, we have work to do.  We have doors to knock on.  (Applause.)  We have people to talk to, we have phone calls to make, and we have an election to win.  (Applause.)

So, are you ready to get to work?  (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 willing to fight for it?

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And when we fight —

AUDIENCE:  We win!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — we win.  (Applause.)

God bless you all.  And God bless the United States of America and Joe Biden.  (Applause.)

6:14 P.M. EDT

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South Lawn

11:46 A.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Greetings, everyone.  Greetings.

And, Lynda, I want to thank you for all you do to support these extraordinary student athletes.  And it is good to be here with so many leaders, including, of course, members of Congress, members of our administration, and our extraordinary athletes.  

Our president, Joe Biden, wanted to be here today.  He is feeling much better and recovering fast, and he looks forward to getting back on the road.  And I wanted to say a few words about our president.

Joe Biden’s legacy of accomplishment over the past three years is unmatched in modern history.  In one term — (applause) — he has already — yes, you may clap.  (Laughter and applause).  In one term, he has already surpassed the legacy of most presidents who have served two terms in office. 

And I first came to know President Biden through his son, Beau.  We worked together as attorneys general in our states.  And back then, Beau would often tell me stories about his dad.  He would talk about the kind of father and the kind of man that Joe Biden is. 

The qualities that Beau revered in his father are the same qualities that I have seen every day in our president: his honesty, his integrity, his commitment to his faith and his family, his big heart, and his love — deep love — of our country. 

And I am firsthand witness that every day our president, Joe Biden, fights for the American people.  And we are deeply, deeply grateful for his service to our nation.  (Applause.)

And so, with that, on behalf of our president and Dr. Biden, I am honored to welcome all of you to the White House to celebrate the achievements of these great athletes.  Every one of them is a national champion — a national champion.

In America, tens of millions of people play a sport as a child, and the best of the best grow up to become national champions.

Here today, we have 7 undefeated teams, 11 repeat champions, and 20 first-time winners.  (Applause.)  (Inaudible.)

Some of you have represented our nation on the international stage, in world cups and world championships.  And, later this month, six of you will represent our nation at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.  (Applause.)

As members of Team USA, you are ambassadors for our nation.  And with pride, we will cheer you on.  And we look forward to congratulating you when you bring home the gold.  (Applause.)

So, to all our athletes, I know it was not easy to make it to this moment.  Each of you has faced challenges and obstacles, and you have endured.  You have fought back and fought through. 

By doing so, you demonstrated that true greatness requires more than skill.  It requires grit and determination.  You all know what it means to commit and to persevere.  And you know what it means to count on teammates. 

During the course of a long season, sports teams become a family.  You rely on each other.  You develop relationships that will last a lifetime.  And you make the people around you better in every way.  And when you play, you inspire people across our nation.  You remind all of us what can be achieved with hard work and ambition. 

And, of course, none of you made it here alone.  Today, you are surrounded by the people who stood by you every step of this journey, the folks who support you on and off the field: your friends, your family members, your coaches, your trainers and teachers, who for years have cheered you on.  So, today, again, let us give them a round of applause.  (Applause.)

And in conclusion, I say to our athletes: Congratulations, again, on all you have accomplished, and good luck on all that is to come.  Wherever you all go from here, you will always — and know this — you always be champions and we will always be so proud of you.  

And so, now it is my honor to welcome to the stage Jordynn Dudley, who plays on the Florida State University women’s soccer team and our U-20 Women’s National Team. 

Please welcome Jordynn.  (Applause.)

END            11:52 A.M. EDT

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Aspen, Colorado

MR. SEVASTOPULO:  Good afternoon, everyone.  Jake, great to see you.  How do you feel being out of Washington?  Is it a good feeling?

MR. SULLIVAN:  It’s a very good feeling.  (Laughter.)

MR. SEVASTOPULO:  So would you forgive me if I bring you back there just for two minutes?  (Laughs.)

MR. SULLIVAN:  I guess that comes with the territory.

MR. SEVASTOPULO:  You know, it’s no secret that President Biden is under a lot of pressure from Democrats and Democratic donors to drop out of the race.  I know you can’t talk about the campaign, so I won’t ask you that.  But what I would like to know is: Are you seeing any impact on how U.S. adversaries are viewing the U.S.?  Any sign that they might be about to do something because of all the distraction in Washington?

MR. SULLIVAN:  Well, first of all, you know, we had the NATO Summit last week.  Anja was kind enough to talk about what we tried to do with respect to U.S. allies. 

And if you look at the outcome of that summit, it was a display of unity and purpose and dynamism, and yes, burden sharing, the likes of which we have not seen in a long time.  And it was unity around Ukraine.  It was unity about the threat from Russia.  And it was unity around the threat from China, where there was a very important statement in that communiqué about the ways in which China represents a challenge to the transatlantic community. 

And I think what our adversaries saw from that was the United States, under President Biden’s leadership, pulling together and mobilizing the most powerful alliance in the history of the world.  And not just celebrating 75 years, but really setting up the Alliance for the future in a profound way. 

And so, we are going to continue day in, day out driving towards a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza, continuing to support Ukraine on the battlefield, and working on the full range of initiatives that we have underway while sending a message to our adversaries that if they want to mess with the United States and our allies, they’re going to have a very rude awakening about what’s in store for them.

MR. SEVASTOPULO:  And just to be clear, U.S. intelligence hasn’t picked up any signs that some of these adversaries may be about to mess with America?

MR. SULLIVAN:  Well, look, it’s an election year.  And what we all know very well and what has been discussed here at the forum this year and in years past is that our adversaries do look at American elections as points to try to influence, to try to undermine confidence in our democracy, to try to put their thumb on the scale. 

And the Director of National Intelligence released a report last week indicating they’re back at that this year too.  And we’re clear-eyed about that.  And we are doing a lot to push back against it, to ensure the sanctity of our elections, to ensure the safety of our voting system.  So we will keep doing that. 

But in terms of some other special kind of threat from countries for this moment, we don’t see anything like that.  But we do see our adversaries, in many different respects, challenging American interests, undermining American partners and allies.  And, you know, we have a full suite of activities underway, in coordination with those allies, to push back on that. 

MR. SEVASTOPULO:  Let’s talk about the Middle East and Gaza.  Prime Minister Netanyahu is coming to Washington, I believe on Monday.  It’s also no secret that his relationship with President Biden could be better.  So what message is President Biden going to deliver to Bibi when they meet on Monday?

MR. SULLIVAN:  The overriding focus of the meeting between President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu is going to be about the ceasefire and hostage deal.  Several weeks ago, the President went out and said to the world: There is a blueprint, a pathway to get the hostages home, a ceasefire in place, humanitarian assistance surged into Gaza, and then a platform to build greater peace and stability across the Middle East.  That was at the end of May. 

Over the course of June, he built global support for that, getting U.N. Security Council endorsement, getting G7 endorsement, getting the countries of the region to speak out on it, and securing Israel’s commitment to it. 

We now also have Hamas’s commitment to the broad framework the President laid out.  But there are details to be worked through, because this is a complicated piece of business to try to execute a ceasefire in a circumstance like this, with respect to Israel’s military presence, with respect to humanitarian assistance flows, and with respect to what the long-term disposition of the Gaza Strip is going to be. 

So the President will focus his energy, with Prime Minister Netanyahu, on what it is going to take working together, the U.S. and Israel, and then the U.S. working with the other guarantors, the other mediators in this process, to get this deal done in the coming weeks. 

And as you heard from Secretary Blinken earlier today, we believe there is an opportunity to get it done.  We are mindful that there remain obstacles in the way.  And let’s use next week to try to clear through those obstacles and get to a deal. 

MR. SEVASTOPULO:  So, Tony Blinken said you’re at the 10-yard line, which as an Irishman, I had to try and work out what that meant.  (Laughter.)  But I think I’m there. 

The question I have is: Have you reached agreement so far in terms of a transition from a, kind of, interim, temporary ceasefire to a permanent ceasefire?  Or is that something that will have to be ironed out once you get into the first ceasefire?

MR. SULLIVAN:  Well, President Biden laid this out in pretty clear terms when he spoke about the deal publicly.  This is a deal that proceeds in three phases.  To go from phase one to phase two requires a discussion — indirect discussion between Israel and Hamas over the conditions for phase two.  One of the central conditions would be how you do the remaining hostage and prisoner swap as part of phase two, but other conditions as well. 

And as President Biden said, those are going to be difficult talks.  They’re going to require a lot of give and take, a lot of back and forth.  And while the initial phase is six weeks, the President said that one of the terms of this framework is that if the parties are at the table with the mediators, continuing to make progress, that that first phase could be extended until they do reach agreement and move into phase two. 

So, most of that is understood by both Israel and Hamas.  There are some technical details to be worked out about the phase one to phase two sequence.  That’s one of the issues that we have to work through in the end game.  And it’s one of the things that President Biden will have the chance to talk to the Prime Minister about next week.

MR. SEVASTOPULO:  How optimistic are you that you’ll get there?

MR. SULLIVAN:  You know, I have learned the hard way never to use the word “optimism” in the same sentence as “the Middle East.”  (Laughter.)  And so, what I will say is that I think we have our best opportunity now that we have had, since the last brief hostage deal in November, to get to an outcome.  It is there for the taking.  The broad framework is well understood and broadly agreed. 

And so, the real issue is: Can we work through the politics on both sides, the psychology on both sides, and frankly, the practicalities of executing something as complex as a ceasefire in a circumstance like this.  I believe the answer to those questions is yes.  And we are determined to make it yes.  So, we’re not going to rest until we have this thing in place, and sooner rather than later.

MR. SEVASTOPULO:  When the President meets Bibi on Monday, is he going to see a copy or get a readout on what Bibi intends to say to Congress in his speech on Wednesday? 

And as you will remember better than me, the last time Bibi spoke to Congress, it wasn’t very flattering towards the Obama-Biden administration.  How concerned are you that Bibi will say something on Wednesday that would disrupt the progress towards getting over that finishing line?

MR. SULLIVAN:  Well, last week we had two senior Israeli officials in town for discussions on Lebanon and Iran.  We had Ron Dermer and Tzachi Hanegbi, the Minister of Strategic Affairs and the National Security Advisor for Israel.  And they gave us a broad preview of what the Prime Minister is intending to say in his speech.  They said he’s intending to reinforce a set of themes and arguments that are not at odds or in contradiction to our policy, American policy. 

But they’re going to keep working that speech until the very last minute, just like we do on our side.  I doubt we will see an actual copy of the remarks right before he goes up.  But I do expect the Prime Minister will lay out for the President in pretty specific terms what he intends to say. 

And politics and speeches are always unpredictable.  But our expectation is that his speech will be one that doesn’t look like 2015, it looks like what it should in the circumstances of today — and that is how the U.S. and Israel are trying together to face down a terrorist threat, to coordinate together on the regional challenges that both of our countries are facing, and how we’re continuing to work towards a ceasefire and hostage deal. 

Whether that happens or not, I’ll stay tuned, you’ll stay tuned.  We’ll see.  But I expect to have constructive conversations with the Israeli government in the days leading up to the speech. 

MR. SEVASTOPULO:  So you’re not going to give us a detailed preview yourself today?

MR. SULLIVAN:  I will definitely leave that to the Israelis. 

MR. SEVASTOPULO:  All right. 

I want to ask you about Evan Gershkovich.  The President issued a statement this morning condemning his 16-year prison sentence for the crime of committing journalism.  Does the fact that he’s been sentenced, does that actually make it easier to get a prisoner swap deal?

MR. SULLIVAN:  Look, one of the President’s highest priorities — not just since Evan was taken, but even before Evan was taken, when Paul Whelan, you know, was in prison and has been for five and a half years, stretching back to the previous administration — has been to get all of our American citizens home, not just from Russia, but from countries around the world. 

And the record of this administration, I have to say, is quite remarkable.  You had Roger Carstens out here a couple of days ago at the forum.  Close to 50 Americans that we have brought home, either hostages or unjustly detained people.  And we have done that through difficult decisions, through hard diplomacy, and through the President making this a relentless priority.  And that goes for Evan Gershkovich.  And uniquely in his case — because as you said, he has been taken into prison and convicted for the crime of committing journalism for something that we care passionately about in this country — this is something the President will not rest until we get him home.

To your specific question, we are going to make every effort we can to get to the point where Russia agrees to release Evan and Paul, that we get them home and we get them home safe.  And we would like to see that happen today or tomorrow or the next day. 

But I can’t handicap right now, sitting here on stage, what is likely to happen or what the psychology of the Russian mind is on the question of the conviction and how it plays into any negotiations. 

All I can tell you is we are laser-focused on this; we are determined to make it happen.  And I will consider it one of the most important things between now and the end of the year, and especially now at the end of the month, for us to try to get something done where we can get him home.  (Applause.)

MR. SEVASTOPULO:  Let’s shift to Ukraine, if we might.

You know, the White House and the administration had to work incredibly hard to get Congress to provide the big funding package a few months ago.  If Donald Trump and J.D. Vance are elected, Ukraine is going to face a much tougher audience in Washington.  How do you — notwithstanding the very successful NATO Summit, how do you convince American allies and partners around the world that the U.S. has staying power for Ukraine?

And then, just as a follow-on, do the Europeans need to do way more than even what they’re doing now?  Because as someone said earlier this week — I think it was the Estonian head of the foreign service in Europe — the “house is on fire.” 

MR. SULLIVAN:  Well, first of all, the Europeans are doing a lot more than I think Americans give them credit for.  When you calculate their contribution to Ukraine in terms of military assistance, economic assistance, humanitarian assistance, and other forms, they are combined doing considerably more than the United States. 

Now, the United States is vital to this war effort.  Our munitions, our capabilities, the sheer magnitude of what we can supply is essential.  But I do think we have to give a hat tip to Europe for having stepped up in this conflict in a way that we have not seen from Europe since the end of the Cold War.  And that is because of a recognition of what a vital interest it is for Ukraine to succeed here for European security.  And you heard that in the earlier panel from my Estonian colleague, my German colleague, and others. 

Now, I can’t predict the future, and I certainly can’t speak for the policy of anyone else other than the administration that I currently serve. 

What I can say, and you’ve heard it from bipartisan — from senators of both parties — is there is strong bipartisan support in this country, Democrats and Republicans, to the tune of more than 70 votes in the Senate, to the tune of more than 300 votes in the House for continued support for Ukraine. 

And so, all I can say is that that reservoir of support, which actually reflects a deep and abiding support among the American people — I’ve sat here in conversations in Aspen over the last two years when people said, “Oh, America is going to get tired of this thing.  The American people going to stop paying attention.”  Poll after poll shows the American people still care, still support funding Ukraine, still support the notion that it is our duty-bound obligation to continue to help Ukraine fight for its freedom and its sovereignty and its territorial integrity. 

And what I would advocate is just that all of that underlying groundswell, that reservoir of support for Ukraine is going to endure no matter what happens in our politics.  And I hope that that shines through in continued American support for Ukraine going forward. 

What we can do right now is make sure we’re putting the architecture in place for that support to continue effectively. 

President Biden stood with President Zelenskyy in Italy, at the G7, and signed a bilateral security agreement, which said we are going to help Ukraine in the current fight, and we are also going to help ensure that, in the future, Ukraine can defend itself and deter any future aggression. 

And then, at the NATO Summit, he brought 20 leaders together up on stage, who had also signed these bilateral security agreements, and said, “We are going to do this together.”  And NATO, institutionally, is going to play a critical role in helping be the backbone of that support on a long-term, enduring basis. 

I can’t predict what happens this fall, next year.  What I can tell you is putting that architecture in place, I think, gives us the best possibility of ensuring that Ukraine has the support that it doesn’t just need, but fundamentally deserves from its partners in the West.  And I’m going to do everything I can to see to it that that remains enduring. 

MR. SEVASTOPULO:  But just to press a little bit, do you think they need some — in Europe — some kind of an insurance policy?  You said American leadership is vital.  Let’s say American leadership recedes a little bit.  What do they start to — what do they need to start doing now to prepare for that potential outcome?

MR. SULLIVAN:  Well, first of all, I mean, it’s what they are doing.  They’re building up their domestic capacity — something we are helping them with.  And if you look at Ukraine’s ingenuity, its manufacturing prowess as a significant defense manufacturer over decades, and the actual efforts it’s undertaken, its ability to grow native capacity to help defend itself is real, and it is growing month on month. 

Secondly, as we were just talking about with the Europeans, you now have 18 European countries, heading up towards 30 — that have signed these bilateral security agreements to themselves — make long-term commitments.  And then you have the NATO institutional role that was defined at the most recent summit, which will carry through for years into the future, through multiple administrations. 

So you put those pieces together, and then you add to that the fact that a country fighting for its freedom, for its territory, for its sovereignty also will carry with it a motivation and a morale that has them standing up to say, “We are going to make sure that the end game of this is one in which we prevail and we do not fail.” 

I think that, for me, this is the combination of factors that Ukraine needs to pull off.  That’s what I can do.  That’s what we can do day in, day out.  That’s what we’re trying to do every day we have the opportunity to do it. 

And I’m grateful to have the partnership of European countries who have stepped up.  And I’m grateful to be working hand in hand with Ukrainians who are thinking about their long-term security as something that’s about a partnership with the West but is also about investing in their own core sources of strength and growing those over time.

MR. SEVASTOPULO:  One last question on Ukraine.  Right now, there are extreme limitations on how Ukraine can use U.S. weapons to fire into Russia.  Over the course of the war, you know, the U.S. position has changed on F-16s, ATACMS, and other weapons where, initially, you weren’t pushing them for Ukraine, but ultimately came around to that idea or decided the timing was appropriate. 

Are there circumstances under which the U.S. would say to Ukraine, “You can use U.S. weapons towards a much deeper part of Russia?”  Or is that totally off the cards because of potential escalation?

MR. SULLIVAN:  Well, the President was asked this question at the NATO Summit, in the press conference following it.  And what he basically said is: We constantly look at the situation — what Ukraine needs, what we can offer — and we make our judgments accordingly. 

And as the war has evolved, our support has evolved, the capacities we provided have evolved, and the parameters under which we provided them have evolved. 

And so, I can’t give you a definitive answer to that question for the future.  What I can tell you is that the President’s current position is that circumstances changed.  Russia actually launched a new offensive directly across the border towards Kharkiv.  And common sense dictated that Ukraine had to be able to fire back against that offensive.  And so, the President said, “Yes, of course, go ahead.”  But thus far, his policy on long-range strike into Russia has not changed.

MR. SEVASTOPULO:  I want to segue from that into Ukraine, Russia, and China.  Have you seen any evidence that China has dialed back the supply of dual-use items that while they in themselves may not be lethal weapons, they’re being used in lethal ways on the battlefield?

So any evidence that they’re reducing that?  And if not, when is the U.S. going to go to the next level in terms of sanctions and do something, like sanction Chinese banks, that would have real teeth?

MR. SULLIVAN:  We have seen them respond when we go to them to say, “Here’s a bank that’s facilitating a transaction.  That is of concern to us.”  We have seen them respond to that. 

But writ large, the picture is not pretty.  China continues to be a major supplier of dual-use items to Russia’s war machine.  And dual-use items is kind of an abstract term; it’s a good Washington term.  What it means: It’s the implements, it’s the instruments that go into the weapons that are killing Ukrainians and oppressing Ukraine.  And we think China should stop because we think it is profoundly outside of the bounds of decent conduct by nation-states.  And China should not be on team Russia when it comes to the war in Ukraine. 

So there are targeted ways in which they are responsive.  But the larger picture continues to travel in the wrong direction, from my perspective, and we have made no bones about that; we’ve been quite public and transparent about it.  And we, of course, say that directly to them in dialogue as well, and so do our European partners.  And the NATO Summit made a very strong statement on this issue publicly, which I would reinforce here. 

In terms of next steps, what we have shown over time is that we have been prepared to tighten the screws, to apply sanctions against specific entities and individuals, including in China, as well as in other countries.  And that pattern will continue as we go forward.  I don’t have any announcements to make sitting here, but I think you can expect to see additional sanctions measures as we watch this picture continue to evolve in the coming weeks.

MR. SEVASTOPULO:  But you’ve been naming and shaming them for quite some time now, you know, probably more than a year, if not more.  If they haven’t changed course by now, aren’t you getting very close to a point where you need to ratchet up the sanctions — again, not just targeting Chinese defense entities, but actually financial institutions or something where it would really hurt in Beijing?

MR. SULLIVAN:  Well, first of all, Demetri, the President authorized a nearly unprecedented power for the Secretary of the Treasury, working with the rest of the administration, to sanction banks, Chinese banks, as well as banks from any other country that are facilitating these transactions for Russia’s war machine.  We have put that in place.  We didn’t put that in place so that it could just sit there.  We put that in place so that when we find a bank that we feel falls within that sanctions regime, we can do something about it. 

So, again, I don’t have a prediction today, but I will just tell you that we have over time put the tools together to be able to respond to this kind of behavior, and we will respond to this kind of behavior.

MR. SEVASTOPULO:  Let’s switch to, kind of, China proper.  I mean, over the last three years, until this year, before San Francisco when President Biden met Xi Jinping, your allies and some partners in Europe and the Indo-Pacific were quietly and privately concerned that the U.S. and China were potentially on a course towards conflict over Taiwan.  How much did you worry about that possibility during the first three years?  And how do you assess that risk today?

MR. SULLIVAN:  I mean, war over Taiwan, war across the Taiwan Strait would be absolutely calamitous for the world — for Taiwan, for China, for the United States, for everyone. 

So, yes, I have worried about it.  And I believe that it has to be a fundamental object of American policy to ensure that never happens; that we deter China and dissuade China from ever launching an aggressive war against Taiwan to try to take the island. 

And so, we have methodically worked over the course of the past three years to make clear that we would like to see the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and that we do not want to see unilateral changes to the status quo from either side.  And when we have seen the undermining of peace and stability and actions China has taken, we have taken responsive actions for our part, and we will continue to do that. 

So this remains a paramount priority of U.S. policy.  The maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is essential to the maintenance of peace and stability in the world. 

MR. SEVASTOPULO:  So, I mean, if you look at what you’ve done with alliances, I mean, you’ve had incredible success in the Indo-Pacific, getting the Europeans to realize that the Indo-Pacific theater and the Euro-Atlantic theater are linked, getting allies to work with each other — you know, Philippines, Australia, Japan, et cetera.  Japan and South Korea. 

But when you look at Chinese military assets in the western Pacific and in the theater where a conflict over Taiwan will be fought, China way surpasses the U.S. 

So my question is — and this is kind of getting back to that old pivot question, which I know nobody likes: Does the U.S. really need to ramp up its military presence in the western Pacific and, you know, around the South China Sea, et cetera, just to boost deterrence, to avoid that conflict that, as you say, would be a catastrophe for the world?

MR. SULLIVAN:  Well, if you actually look at what we’ve done with respect to our alliance system, our alliance infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific, we’re not trying to create an Asian NATO.  But what we have done is created links among our allies in a way that has not really been a historical feature of U.S. policy towards Asia.  It’s been very much a bilateral alliance-driven mentality. 

Here, we are looking to strengthen the bilateral alliances but also to strengthen the partnerships between allies — U.S., Japan, Korea; U.S., Japan, Philippines; U.S., Australia, UK; U.S., Australia, Japan, et cetera.  That feature has a diplomatic component.  It has a technology component.  It has an economic component.  And yes, Demetri, it absolutely has a military capability component. 

So, our presence and capabilities on Japan, our work through the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with the Philippines, our work through the Camp David trilat, the provision of nuclear submarines to Australia through AUKUS — the combination of these activities will have a material impact on the physical presence and distribution of force of the United States and our allies across the region, not to start a war but to prevent a war. 

You are already seeing some of that.  You will see more of that in the years ahead.  And I consider that, honestly, one of the great successes of this administration, and it is one that we can build strength from strength in the years ahead.

MR. SEVASTOPULO:  I mean, obviously in the Indo-Pacific, Taiwan, North Korea, you have some really dangerous potential flashpoints.  But arguably right now, the most dangerous place is the Second Thomas Shoal.  You’ve got this rusty World War Two-era ship, the Sierra Madre, sitting there.  You’ve got some Filipino troops stationed on that ship.  And the Chinese are trying to — and sometimes successfully — blocking resupply missions. 

The Philippines is your oldest mutual defense treaty ally in the Indo-Pacific.  Short of invoking that treaty, which no one has talked about so far, are there more things the U.S. can do?  Within the administration, I hear some people saying, “Actually, the U.S. should start providing naval escorts for the Philippine supply ships.”  What do you think about that?  Is that going too far?

MR. SULLIVAN:  Well, first of all, just on the point of the mutual defense treaty, we’d made clear that it applies to public vessels in the South China Sea.  And so, China well understands our view of the application of the mutual defense treaty, should that line get crossed.  That’s an important point.  We believe it is a stabilizing point.  It is one we have reinforced publicly and very much reinforced directly to the PRC.  And the Philippines understands and appreciates that. 

Secondly, we have tried to consult very closely with the Philippines, because these are decisions they should lead on: how to most effectively reprovision this ship so that the sailors on board have the food and water and other provisions they need to continue to fulfill their mission.  And we will do what is necessary with the Philippines to see to it that that happens. 

But in terms of specific concepts of operations or the exact way in which the United States would be engaged, our preference is to have the maintenance of the status quo there, the capacity of the Philippines to do these resupplies.  We will continue to support the Philippines and stand behind them as they take steps to be able to ensure that. 

And I will be very cautious about speaking about hypotheticals should we have to get to it, because the most important thing right now is to see de-escalation and to see the ability of the Philippines to do resupplies.  We believe that is achievable, and we’re going to drive to make that happen.

MR. SEVASTOPULO:  About a year and a half ago, a little bit north of here, a Chinese spy balloon crossed the U.S.  You remember that?

MR. SULLIVAN:  Sorry you had to remind me of that.  (Laughter.)  It was like a month of balloons.

MR. SEVASTOPULO:  A month of balloons.  And I was desperately looking forward to writing a story about the FBI report about what you found when you salvaged the pieces of balloon off the coast of South Carolina.  Why was a report never put out?

MR. SULLIVAN:  So, first of all, the ability of the United States, because of the way we took the balloon down — which was over water, rather than over land — to exploit it, to actually be able to take critical components off the ocean floor, look at the technology, look at the capabilities, and learn from that, learn about basically what is China up to with this thing, what capabilities do they have — that was a pretty good opportunity for the United States.  And that’s pretty sensitive too. 

And so, this was not a White House-directed decision.  But the intelligence community, the FBI made a judgment that the best way forward would be for us to take those lessons, apply them, share them as necessary with others, but not make a big public show of it.

MR. SEVASTOPULO:  When you saw what it was and when you examined and analyzed everything, was it more sensitive than you had thought it would be?

MR. SULLIVAN:  It was interesting.  (Laughter.)

MR. SEVASTOPULO:  Someone buy Jake beers in the bar tonight, please.  (Laughter.)

I want to pivot to India.  I know you’ve put a huge amount of effort in deepening U.S. relations with India.  India is not going to abandon its relationship with Russia.  We know that.  But how concerned were you when Prime Minister Modi met President Putin, essentially at the same time that President Biden was hosting the NATO leaders in Washington?

MR. SULLIVAN:  I think the biggest question for me is: Do we see tangible evidence that India is deepening its military and technology relationship with Russia or not.  And I did not see out of that visit tangible evidence that it was, in fact, deepening; that I didn’t see deliverables in that space.

MR. SEVASTOPULO:  So you didn’t think the bear hug was significant then?

MR. SULLIVAN:  Well, Modi has a certain way, of course, of greeting world leaders.  I’ve seen it up close and personal, actually. 

Look, we never want to see countries that we care about, who are partners and friends of ours, show up in Moscow and hug Putin.  Of course, we don’t.  I’m not going to sit here and tell people otherwise. 

But in terms of our relationship with India, you know, we see enormous opportunity on technology, on economics, and in the statecraft and geopolitics of the wider Indo-Pacific region.  And we want to deepen that relationship as equals, as two sovereign countries who also have relationships with other countries.  And India has a historic relationship with Russia that they’re not going to cut off. 

But we do believe that we want to continue to have a deep dialogue with India about the specifics and the nature of that relationship and whether it evolves over time, particularly, Demetri, because Russia is getting closer and closer to China, and as the junior partner to China, is not necessarily going to be a great and reliable friend to India in a future contingency or crisis.  That’s not something India needs to hear from Jake Sullivan, but it is a fact in the world.  And it’s something that we take into account as we have our strategic dialogue with India. 

MR. SEVASTOPULO:  About a year ago, CIA Director Bill Burns and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines went to India and raised concerns with the Indian government about suspicions that the Indian government may have been involved in the assassination of a Sikh activist in Vancouver and what turned out to be a thwarted assassination plot in New York, also against a Sikh activist.

Have you received — you know, we’re a year on — have you received satisfactory explanations from India about what happened or didn’t happen?

MR. SULLIVAN:  So, first of all, we were very transparent about this publicly with the Congress, with others.  And obviously, that was a carefully executed plan.  I sat down with Bill and Avril.  I said we are going to go in the following order and actually talk to the Indians about what our expectations are in light of what we have learned, and we are going to work through until we see an outcome that we think is satisfactory. 

I don’t think that there’s a lot of value in talking about the nature of that conversation publicly.  It is sensitive.  It is something we are working through.  The story in my view has not yet been completely written; we need to keep working through it.  But we have had a constructive dialogue with India on this issue.  And we have made very clear where we stand on it and what we would like to see.  And it’s been respectful, and it has been effective, in my view, mostly because it is taking place behind closed doors. 

MR. SEVASTOPULO:  We’re just about out of time.  I’d love to ask you things about how you’ve maintained your boyish looks with such a hard job.  But I’m not going to do that.

I’m going to ask one of the Rising Leaders if they have a question for you, and then we will end on that. 

Who would like to — the gentleman over there on the left.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Thanks so much.  My name is Philip Davis (ph), and I’m with the Department of State, and I’m a Rising Leader.

I was wondering if you can talk a little bit about increasing partnerships and alliances with the African continent as well as South America, as well.  We talked a little bit yesterday at a panel that there should be more visitation and such like that from the government to South America.  So just wondering if you can talk about increasing those ties as well.  Thank you.

MR. SULLIVAN:  So, just taking a step back — first of all, fantastic question.  Thank you for it. 

When we think about the nature of geopolitics in the world today, we have two strategic facts: one, intense competition with other great powers; two, massive challenges that require the mobilization of a significant number of partners from across the world to meet them.  And both of those things are true at the same time.  And sometimes those very competitors have to be part of the cooperative solution to a challenge; take China and climate change as an example. 

But another major feature of the international system right now is that the rest of the world is saying to the United States, to China, to Europe, to others: What is your value proposition to us?  Where do we fit into the picture?  And how is it that we can work together in partnership to address the needs of our people and to solve these problems that afflict us all?

And so, a central feature of the Biden administration’s strategy has been to redefine the American and the Western value proposition to the developing world to meet the priorities that they care about, not just our list of interests in those countries.

So what do they care about?  They care about infrastructure, infrastructure, infrastructure.  Health, digital, physical, energy infrastructure. 

We have been out of the game in a substantial way on that for a long time.  The President put together the Partnership for Global Infrastructure with the G7.  A lot of people kind of rolled their eyes and said, “Where’s this going to go?” 

We just met at the G7 in Italy last year.  We have mobilized an enormous amount of money and have a lot of wins on the board.  And we are adding to those wins year in, year out.  And that’s particularly focused on Africa and the Americas. 

Second, the mobilization of investment of private capital, leveraged by political risk insurance or currency risk, or small amounts of public dollars that can just bring capital in off the sidelines to do so much for economic growth, for a climate transition, and for technology. 

And here, just this week, I met with the foreign ministers of multiple countries in the Americas through something called the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity.  Sounds like another one of those things.  We now have a billion-dollar angel investor network for small entrepreneurs in the Americas to be able to unlock their potential.  And that’s just one of a number of other initiatives we have underway.  These do not make the headlines.  They don’t really get asked about at the Aspen Strategy Forum. 

But to me, they’re not just central to a better, safer world and to who we are as the United States of America trying to help leave that world.  They’re also central to geopolitical competition.  Because our ability not to treat other countries as proxy battlegrounds, but as partners, rests on our ability to bring something to that partnership. 

And I could go on all day.  The panel before us on technology — the United States has an enormous opportunity right now when it comes to the deployment of artificial intelligence and advanced technology to help solve problems and to help give other countries the tools they need to deliver for their people.  Huge opportunity. 

And one of the things that I want to put in a plug for at the end is for the people in the audience who work in finance or who work on Capitol Hill.  Because we need two things.  We need Capitol Hill to say: Yeah, we have an $880 billion defense budget.  And that may not even be enough, but we’re not putting enough just raw dollars into this aspect of American statecraft.  And it is profoundly in our interest. 

And we’re not talking hundreds of billions.  We’re talking about relatively small amounts of money that can unlock huge amounts of money.  And that’s my message to the finance community. 

It is imperative that our private sector see and partner with us in the opportunity to deliver high-standard, high-quality investment in the developing world, in the Global South, in Africa, in Latin America, and Southeast Asia.  It’s profoundly in their interest and it’s profoundly in ours.  And there’s a patriotic element to this as well. 

I think we were supposed to end a while ago, and now I’m on a sermon.  I apologize.  But I really do feel passionately about this issue.  And I thank you for giving me the opportunity to talk about it.  (Applause.)

MR. SEVASTOPULO:  By going long, you’ve just proved that you have Irish heritage. 

But I’d like everyone to please join me in thanking Jake Sullivan for sitting with us today.  (Applause.)  Thank you, Jake.

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Westover High School

Fayetteville, North Carolina

2:12 P.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Can we hear it for Kelly?  (Applause.)

Good afternoon, North Carolina.  (Applause.)  Oh, it’s good to be back.  It’s good to be back.  And I want to thank Kelly for your work and for your family and all that you have given to our country in service. 

And it is so good to be back with so many incredible leaders — (applause) — including my dear friend, Roy Cooper.  (Applause.)  You know, Roy and I served together when I was attorney general of California and he was attorney general of North Carolina.  I’ve known him for almost two decades.  And he is an extraordinary leader. 

And I want to also thank the extraordinary leaders who are service members and their families who are here with us this afternoon.  Thank you all.  (Applause.)

You know, one of my greatest honors as vice president is to meet with our service members around the world.  I have met with our service members from NATO’s eastern flank to the Korean DMZ, and from Arizona to Florida.  And I will tell you what everybody here knows: All our service members possess an extraordinary skill, discipline, dedication, and love of country.  (Applause.)  And I know their families serve with equal dedication, and I thank you also.  (Applause.)

And I say everywhere I go around the world: We are so proud that the United States military is the greatest fighting force the world has ever seen.  (Applause.)

Which is why President Biden and I are proud to have passed the PACT Act — (applause) — the largest expansion of health care and benefits for veterans and military families and survivors — the largest benefit in decades.  So, thank you, again, everyone here and, in particular, our military members and your families for the service and the dedication that you have shown. 

So, today, we are 110 days out from the election.  (Applause.)  And while many of us have been involved with these elections for every four years, practically, nearly every time we will say, “This is the one.”  Well, this here is the one — the most existential, consequential, and important election of our lifetime.  And there is so much at stake. 

Last night was the latest example.  So, some of you may have heard Donald Trump’s running mate deliver remarks at the Republican National Convention. 

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  He talked about his life story about growing up in southwest Ohio, and it was compelling.  It’s a compelling story.  And it was not the full story.  (Laughter.) 

Frankly, what is very telling is what he did not talk about on that stage.  He did not talk about Project 2025 — 

AUDIENCE:  No.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — their 900-page blueprint for a second Trump term.  He did not talk about it because their plans are extreme and they are divisive. 

In recent days, they’ve been trying to portray themselves as the party of unity.  But here’s the thing — here’s the thing.  If you claim to stand for unity, you need to do more than just use the word.  (Applause.)  You cannot claim you stand for unity if you are pushing an agenda that deprives whole groups of Americans of basic freedoms, opportunity, and dignity.  (Applause.)

You cannot claim you stand for unity if you are intent on taking reproductive freedoms from the people of America and the women of America — (applause) — trying to ban abortion nationwide, as they do, and restrict access to IVF and contraception, as their plan calls for. 

You cannot claim to be for unity if you try to overturn a free and fair election — (applause) — and threaten — and threaten to terminate the United States Constitution.  (Applause.) 

And you cannot claim to be for unity when your entire economic agenda is designed to prioritize billionaires and big corporations over the middle class.  (Applause.)

We’re too busy watching what you’re doing to hear what you’re saying. 

And let us unpack that last point about the economy.  This race can be boiled down to a single question: Who fights for you?  Now we know whose side our president, Joe Biden, is on.  (Applause.) 

He grew up in a middle-class family in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and he has never forgotten where he came from.  With — and I have been a firsthand witness.  With every decision he makes in the Oval Office, he thinks about how it will impact working Americans.  He understands.  (Applause.)  He understands everyday struggles because he has actually lived them. 

So, friends, I say the contrast between Joe Biden and Donald Trump is like night and day.  But with the selection of his running mate this week, Donald Trump is also trying to distract people.  He wants to direct attention away from his record and his Project 2025 plan to suggest that he and his running mate are going to prioritize the middle class.  But we are not buying it.  (Applause.)  We are not falling for the okeydoke. 

As many of you know, I am a former prosecutor.  So, I say let’s look at the facts, shall we?  (Applause.)  (Laughs.)

So, Donald Trump tries to claim he brought back American manufacturing.  The fact is, under Donald Trump, America lost tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs, and more than 1,000 factories closed under his watch.  The facts.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden and I have created nearly 800,000 new manufacturing jobs — (applause) — so much so, it’s been described as a “manufacturing boom.” 

Last night, we heard claims that Donald Trump is for fighting for our seniors.  Well, how the heck can you claim you fight for seniors when you intend to cut Social Security and Medicare — (applause) — which we all know is a lifeline for so many of our seniors? 

Let me be very clear: President Joe Biden and I will always protect Social Security and we will always protect Medicare — (applause) — all while we continue to fight to lower the cost of s- — prescription drugs for our seniors.  (Applause.)  It is President Biden and I that took on Big Pharma and finally capped the cost of insulin for our seniors at $35 a month.  (Applause.)

Who here has a family member with diabetes to know what that means?  (Applause.)  Right. 

But Donald Trump and his running mate intend to get rid of our $35 cap on insulin.  They will side with Big Pharma and let them make prescription drugs more expensive. 

Not only that, on the issue of health care, they intend to get rid of the Affordable Care Act. 

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Donald Trump and his allies tried more than 60 times to end the Affordable Care Act — 60 times — to give insurance companies back the power to deny people with preexisting conditions.  You all remember what that was like?

AUDIENCE:  Yeah!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Children with asthma, women who had survived breast cancer, grandparents with diabetes. 

President Biden and I, on the other hand, have made the Affordable Care Act more strong — (applause) — because, you see, we believe health care should be a right and not just a privilege of those who can afford it.  (Applause.)

Pull up the split screen.  Whereas the last administration gave tax cuts to billionaires —

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — we gave tax cuts to families through the Child Tax Credit, which cut child poverty in America by half.  (Applause.)

And please do note: Their Project 2025 agenda would even end Head Start —

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — to take away preschool from hundreds of thousands of our children. 

On the issue of the cost of living, Donald Trump says he will implement a 10 percent tariff on all imported goods.  Well, understand: Independent economists agree his tariffs would increase the cost of everyday expenses for families — the cost of gas, groceries, and clothing. 

We, on the other hand, have taken on Big Pharma, the big banks, and big corporations to bring down costs.  (Applause.)

It is we who have canceled debt, including student loan debt.  In fact — (applause).  Testify if you have received it.  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)  Indeed.

In fact, so far, we have forgiven student loan debt for nearly 5 million Americans — (applause) — and twice as much for our public servants, including our teachers, our nurses, and our firefighters.  (Applause.)

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  (Inaudible.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  You’re welcome.  (Laughter.)

We are also fighting to lower energy costs.  (Applause.)  We made historic investments in clean energy.  Today, America has record energy production and we are energy independent.  (Applause.)  But Trump wants to roll back our progress. 

Check this out: In fundraisers with Big Oil lobbyists, he wanted to trade clean energy investments that we made for you for a $1 billion campaign contribution he could get for himself.

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Understand motivation. 

So, North Carolina, I think it is clear: If Donald Tremp — Donald Trump were to win in November, he will continue to sell out working families, he will continue to attack reproductive freedom, and he will continue to undermine our democracy.

Ultimately, in this election, we each face a question.  And this herein lies our power.  The question we face is: What kind of country do we want to live in? 

Do we want to live in a country of freedom —

AUDIENCE:  Yes!  (Applause.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — compassion —

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — and rule of law?

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Or a country of chaos —

AUDIENCE:  No!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — fear —

AUDIENCE:  No!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — and hate?

AUDIENCE:  No!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  We each have the power to answer this question. 

So, today, then, I ask, North Carolina: Are you ready to make your voices heard?  (Applause.)

Do we believe in freedom?  (Applause.)

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Do we believe in opportunity?  

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  DO we believe in the promise of America? 

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And are we ready to fight for it?

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And when we fight —

AUDIENCE:  We win!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — we win.

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

God bless you.  (Applause.)

END                 2:27 P.M. EDT

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Via Teleconference

10:34 A.M. EDT

MODERATOR:  Hey.  Good morning, everyone.  Thanks so much for joining today’s News of the Day Gaggle with White House National Security Comms Advisor John Kirby.  I’ll turn it over to him for a topper, and then we’ll take some of your questions.

MR. KIRBY:  Good morning, everybody.  So, just right off the top, since I know many of you are closely tracking the events out of Nairobi, we hope you can understand that this is an evolving situation and we’re working to obtain and to help you get as much information as quickly as possible. 

We’ve all seen the reporting, and I just want to stress again that the United States is deeply concerned about and we condemn the reported violence in all its forms.  We offer our deepest condolences, of course, to the families who have been impacted by this violence.  And we continue to urge restraint so that no further Kenyans are put in harm’s way while exercising their right to peaceful public assembly.  That right is protected by the Kenyan constitution, and we believe it must be respected. 

The United States has been in touch with the Kenyan government to urge appropriate use of force by the police, to respect human rights, and quite frankly, to respect due process for those that have been detained.  And we will continue to push for calm to prevail. 

And now, yesterday — switching to Haiti — the Multinational Security Support Mission, that will grow eventually to 2,500 multinational personnel, arrived in Haiti.  As you know, this effort is being led by Kenya and with strong support from the United States.  The mission includes personnel, financial support from over a dozen countries that will support the Haitian National Police as they increase their anti-gang operations, build their capacity to maintain public safety, and to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches everybody in need.

The United States is this particular mission’s largest financial contributor and the largest donor to Haiti in general, providing more than $300 million and up to $60 million in equipment.  And we’re going to continue our diplomatic outreach to encourage others to join that effort as well. 

We’ve also worked with Kenya and other partners to integrate critically important accountability and oversight measures into the mission. 

Now, I want to be clear right at the top here: This mission is not going to solve all of Haiti’s problems, but it is a good, positive first step and to provide the best chance for Haiti to get on a path toward democratic governance and rule of law.  It is about making the Haitian National Police better — better resourced, better led, better trained, better capable.  That’s what this is about, and we’re going into it with that in mind. 

Shifting topics, if I could: Today, we also welcomed the announcement that Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will serve as the next Secretary General of NATO.  President Biden and Prime Minister Rutte have worked very closely together over the past decade when Joe Biden was Vice President and, of course, now that he’s Commander-in-Chief.  And they work together on a variety of issues, including our shared strong support for Ukraine, on safeguarding advanced technologies, and strengthening the transatlantic alliance.  President Biden strongly believes that Mark Rutte will make an excellent Secretary General.  And he’s grateful for his willingness to serve in that capacity. 

We’d also like to thank, of course, Jens Stoltenberg for a decade of service to the Alliance during the most consequential period of European security since World War Two.  Under his leadership, the NATO Alliance has become larger and stronger, and Allied unity is at an all-time high, which has been an important priority for President Biden. 

And that takes us right — I mean, his leadership has really guided us right toward next month’s 75th anniversary summit for NATO, here in Washington, D.C., which will be followed by the leadership transition, of course, in the fall when President — I’m sorry, when Secretary General Stoltenberg steps down and the new Secretary General, Mark Rutte, steps into the job. 

Finally, as you all know, Evan Gershkovich appeared in court today for the start of what we view as nothing more than a sham trial.  I’ll state it again: Evan has never been employed by the United States government.  Evan is not a spy.  Journalism is not a crime.  And Evan should never have been detained in the first place. 

Russia has failed to justify Evan’s continued detention.  He, like fellow American Paul Whelan, is simply being used as a bargaining chip.  Embassy Moscow was granted brief access to the courtroom before the proceedings began today.  They were not permitted to speak with Evan.  So, obviously, we’re going to follow this closely.  And of course, our embassy in Moscow will continue to seek to attend any and all future hearings. 

Now, look, I think this goes without saying too, but all of us — all of us admire Evan’s resilience.  I’ve seen a reporting that his friends say he continues to be in good spirits, which is just incredible given what he’s going through.  While he shouldn’t be going through these proceedings at all, it’s always reassuring to see his smile and to hear reports of his morale. 

We want both Evan and Paul to know that we all care deeply about their wellbeing and that this administration will continue to do everything it can to bring them home, and that includes, right now, the effort to try to find a way to get these guys released back to their families, where they belong, is ongoing.  It’s alive, and we’re keeping at it. 

And with that, I can start taking some questions. 

MODERATOR:  Thanks.  First up, we’ll go to Aamer Madhani.

Q    Hey there, John.  Is Israel’s launch — is an Israeli launch, cross-border offensive, Lebanon (inaudible) Hezbollah — if that were to happen, will the U.S. back Israel militarily?

And then secondly, on the Assange case, was the White House involved in helping forge the agreement that led to Assange’s release?  And has the President discussed the matter with the prime minister or any other Australian government officials ahead of the announcement?  Thank you.

MR. KIRBY:  Yeah, the White House was not involved in any way whatsoever in Julian Assange’s case, and the decisions pursuant to that, to his sentencing and his repatriation back to Israel.  That was a DOJ matter, and they’re the only ones that can speak to it. 

I don’t have any conversations to read out to you from the President with respect to this.  The White House was not involved in any way. 

On your first question — look, first and foremost, we don’t want to see a second front opened up, period.  And that’s why we’ve been working so hard on diplomacy and trying to find a way diplomatically to prevent that from happening.  We don’t believe that it’s going to be in anybody’s interest, quite frankly, least of all the Israeli people.  So we’re working diplomatically to prevent that outcome from happening.  That’s where our focus is on. 

But as we have said repeatedly, and as we will continue to say: We stand with Israel.  We’re going to continue to make sure Israel has what it needs to defend itself.  And as the President has proven in the past, if there’s a way we can prevent further attacks on Israel, we’ll do that.  And certainly, we’re going to continue to help Israel defend itself; that’s not going to change. 

But as for a hypothetical, specifically with respect to the northern border line, the Blue Line there with Lebanon, again, we want to see no second front opened, and we want to see if we can’t resolve the tensions out there through diplomatic processes. 

MODERATOR:  Next up, we’ll go to Jeff Mason.

Q    Thank you very much.  John, Jake Sullivan has a meeting today with Mr. Gallant of Israel.  Could you give us a sense of what you expect the two of them to discuss and also what time that is and whether or not we should expect a readout?

MR. KIRBY:  Hey, Jeff.  You broke up a little bit, but I think I got the gist of the question.  This was about Jake’s meeting with Defense Minister Gallant. 

Q    Yes.

MR. KIRBY:  He’s meeting with him as we speak, Jeff.  That meeting started a little bit after nine o’clock.  And as far as I know, sitting here, it’s still ongoing.  And we absolutely will have a readout of it. 

Broadly speaking, I don’t think you should expect any major surprises coming out of this discussion.  I mean, Jake is looking forward to sitting down with Defense Minister Gallant to talk about what’s going on in Gaza; to talk about — to get a sense of Israeli operations, not only what they look like now, but what they’re going to look like in the future; to talk about how we’re going to continue to defend Israel and make sure that they have what they need. 

And obviously, they will talk about the — what Aamer just asked me about — the tensions up near Lebanon and that border, and what the path forward could look like for a diplomatic solution to this, to prevent a second front from opening up. 

I have every expectation that they will talk about the broader concerns of Iran in the region and their destabilizing behavior and the manner in which they, Iran, continue to resource, to fund, to support, to train groups that are now attacking Israel but also are supporting such attacks. 

So I think the full range of topics will be discussed.  I think, also, I would have every expectation that the humanitarian situation will be front and center for Jake, for sure.  He’ll want to talk to the Israelis about what more we can do to get more trucks in and not only get them in, but get them to the people that most need that aid and assistance. 

As you know, though Kerem Shalom is open and trucks are queued up outside, not a lot of them are getting in, and it’s not because of the Israelis; it’s largely because just criminal gangs now are looting these trucks.  And the World Food Program and the U.N. drivers are obviously concerned about getting attacked.  And so, we’re going have to continue to work with the Israelis to try to address that problem as well. 

So, again, I think a broad, big agenda, lots to talk about, but we’ll have a readout when it’s over.

MODERATOR:  Next up, we’ll go to Kellie Meyer.  You should be able to unmute yourself.

Q    Hi, John.  Thanks for doing this.  A couple quick questions just on the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs warning of a threat to U.S. troops in the region — as we’ve been discussing, the tensions between Hezbollah and Israel.  Any more precautions that are being taken that you can speak to right now?

MR. KIRBY:  One of the things I’m very careful to do is not talk about the specifics on force protection and what we do to ensure force protection.  I would refer you to the Chairman to speak to that more.  I don’t know how much more he’d get into that. 

We’re certainly mindful of the risk to our troops and our facilities throughout the region.  And that risk has certainly not mitigated in recent months, obviously, with what’s going on.  So it’s something we’re watching very closely.  We continue to monitor it.  We also modify force protection procedures and protocols as the threat changes, and it does change.  But I think I need to leave it there. 

MODERATOR:  Next up, we’ll go to Aurelia.

Q    Hi.  Thanks so much for taking my question.  A follow-up on Kenya.  Not that long ago, President Ruto was at the White House, and President Biden said Kenya and the United States share democratic values.  Would you say that this is maybe — this is still the case after the response to the protests?  And more generally, does the administration condemn the use of force against the protesters?  Otherwise, how would you qualify what Kenyan police did in Nairobi?

MR. KIRBY:  I’ll tell you, you know, as a democracy, the Kenyan constitution does allow for the use of defense forces to augment police, particularly like in protecting critical infrastructure.  At the same time, that same constitution includes freedom of assembly and the right to protest peacefully, and calls for the government of Kenya to respect the rights of all its citizens. 

So, again, we remain deeply concerned about the violence that we’ve seen, and we absolutely condemn the violence.  We don’t want to see anybody hurt.  And that includes violence that’s perpetrated on innocent, peaceful protesters. 

So we’re going to be in touch.  We have been in touch.  We’re going to stay in touch with our Kenyan colleagues as appropriate.

MODERATOR:  Next up, we’ll go to Alex Ward.

Q    John, I know — thanks for doing this.  I know, you know, the administration has responded a thousand times to the stuff about, you know, the weapons delays or — reported weapons delays, et cetera.  But there’s been reporting today that, basically, it seems like there’s been a — because the U.S. has sent so many weapons ahead of time, there’s just been sort of a lower amount headed now, and wondering if you think that might be the issue. 

And then, sort of number two here, relatedly is: Is Netanyahu someone the administration really feels they can work with now?  Obviously, he is the prime minister, and he is — but he is the interlocutor, but is he someone you guys feel you can have good-faith conversations with about this conflict now?  Thanks.

MR. KIRBY:  Alex, on your first question, I just want to make a couple of points, because I’m not going to — I can’t speak to the State Department process here.  They run this process by which foreign military sales and provisions of weapons and assistance, you know, get to Israel.  So I’ll let them speak to sequencing and timing.  You know, we don’t have perfect visibility on that here to speak to that reporting and that process. 

I would just tell you, number one: Aid and assistance, military assistance, continues to flow to Israel; that we are in constant touch with our Israeli counterparts about what they need and doing everything we can to get them what they need.  I mean, my goodness, you have the defense minister here today.  Actually, you know, this week he’s been here having meetings; met with Blinken, met with Austin, and now he’s meeting with Jake today.  I mean, nobody can say that we’re not attune to and staying in touch with the Israelis about what they need. 

Number two, as you and I speak here, Alex, there remains only one shipment of high-density, low-precision munitions that has been paused.  Everything else continues to flow.  Again, on the timeline, you know, I’d have to — and the sequencing — I’d have to refer you to State.  But Israel continues to get arms and ammunition.  It continues to flow.  We want to make sure that they have what they need.  And that will — that commitment will not waver. 

On your second question, at the risk of sounding repetitive, I would just tell you that these are two leaders who have known each other a long, long time — decades.  And they come from different political traditions.  They have differing views on a number of issues that are germane not only to the region, but certainly specific to Israel.  And they are absolutely competent and capable of being honest with one another.  He is the elected prime minister of the State of Israel, and he, therefore, is the leader that we will work with and we have worked with him. 

I’m not saying that it’s all been smooth in every single instance, including in recent days, but we are not going to get into — we’re not going to respond to every one of the Prime Minister’s political statements and his public pronouncements.  What we’re focused on is making sure, again, that they have what they need.  And we believe we’re fully capable of doing that with Prime Minister Netanyahu and with this government. 

And that’s what we’re focused on.  It’s head down — it’s making sure that Israel can defend itself, but just as critically, as I said earlier, that we continue to get humanitarian assistance in to the people who are in need and that we get this ceasefire deal in place. 

It’s one of the things that — we haven’t talked about it this morning, but we’re still working with the Prime Minister and his team to try to get the ceasefire deal in place so that we can potentially end this conflict.  And that’s what we’re focused on.  And that means we’re going to stay focused on that effort with the Prime Minister and his team because he’s the government in place. 

MODERATOR:  Next up, we’ll go to Brad Dress.

Q    Yeah, thank you.  Just one question.  So, despite U.S. efforts, the Houthis are continuing to attack merchant ships.  And now they appear to be getting more successful.  Why are efforts not working?  And do you think the U.S. needs a new strategy to deter that?  Thank you.

MR. KIRBY:  I think a couple of things are germane here.  There’s a religious fervor that the Houthi leadership have instilled into this effort.  As I went to the podium a while ago — a week or so ago — and laid out for everybody, this isn’t about standing up for the people of Gaza.  It’s not about — it’s not some popular movement to assist people in the region, because the ships that they’re hitting, sometimes, in one case in particular, was meant to go to a Yemeni port to bring in grain to hungry people in Yemen.  They have instilled this sort of religious fervor to this and made it some sort of cause célèbre here.  And when you do that, it becomes even more difficult to, as you put it, deter and dissuade.  We’re mindful of that. 

So what we’re focused on is taking away their capability to conduct the attacks.  And that is why we continue to hit targets inside Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen where we think an attack is imminent and about to occur.  We’re going to continue to do that.  That’s why we still have a coalition of 20-some-odd nations operating in the Red Sea and beyond to try to defend against these attacks. 

And while, yes, they have had a couple of successful strikes in most recent days — and I know one vessel in particular sank as a result of the attack — by and large, most of their attacks are not successful.  You don’t see press releases about it; you don’t necessarily see video of it.  But they miss a whole hell of a lot more than they hit, and that’s because we’re out there working hard to make sure that that’s the outcome, at the same time making sure that we’re doing everything we can to try to degrade their capabilities. 

But they’re still getting supplied; they’re still getting resourced by Iran.  And as I said earlier, I have no doubt that that will be a topic of discussion when Jake and Defense Minister Gallant speak today, about what we can do together to try to take away some of those capabilities.  And that’s what we’re focused on. 

MODERATOR:  Next up, we’ll go to Nadia Charters.

Q    Thank you, Eduardo.  Hi, John.  A couple of questions.  Canada has called its citizens to leave Lebanon.  What is the U.S. assessment regarding a similar call?  I know you have not done something similar to that.  Do you believe that the situation is safe for U.S. citizens to stay in Lebanon?

And second, any update — I know you mentioned the negotiation with Hamas.  Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think Hamas is insisting that they will accept the deal if phase three clearly calls for the end of the war.  And this is the sticking point with the Israelis.  Israelis said we’re happy to go along, but phase three does not mean end of the war.  Can you just give us your perspective on that?  Thank you.

MR. KIRBY:  On your first question, I’m going to refer you to the State Department.  Obviously, we want all Americans in Lebanon who are still there, either on business or other travel, to be as careful as possible to make sure that they have registered with the State Department system so that the State Department can stay in regular touch with them and that they do everything they can to be — to watch out for their own safety. 

But as for any announcements or pronouncements, that’s really a State Department call, and I’d have to refer you to them. 

Clearly, nothing is more important to President Biden than the safety and security of Americans wherever they are.  And that includes overseas, and that certainly includes a place like Lebanon.

What we’re trying to do is prevent a second front from opening up.  We’re trying to prevent an escalation of this conflict that certainly would put the people of Israel and of Lebanon at greater physical risk than the risk that is already being incurred by them, particularly those that live near the Blue Line.  We want to prevent that outcome, which is why we have been working so hard diplomatically and intensely, thus so, to prevent a second front from opening up and an expansion of this conflict. 

But we will, as appropriate, of course, stay in touch with all Americans in Lebanon.  Those that sign up to be informed, we’ll make sure that they have the latest and greatest information. 

But as for any particular pronouncements, that would be a State Department call. 

On your second question, the President laid this out really, really well at the end of May.  He laid out the entire, sort of, phasing of this process.  And it is advancing that phasing and that process that we’re focused on, where you want to get to phase one.  Phase one gives you six weeks of a ceasefire; it gives you more humanitarian assistance, up to 600 trucks a day; and obviously, critically, it gets a first rendering of hostages — women, children, the elderly, sick — out quickly, back to their families. 

And then as the President laid out, Nadia, while phase one is ongoing, the two sides then begin to negotiate phase two.  So, I understand.  I’ve seen public pronouncements and comments of people, you know, on either side, where they want to sort of leapfrog over the process.  But the process as we’ve laid out, the process that Israel itself proposed and has endorsed calls for phase two negotiations to begin when phase one is agreed to and underway, that’s the process that we still believe is the right one and the appropriate one.  And that’s the one that we’re going to continue to talk to both sides about. 

And we still believe that discussions about it are valuable and warranted.  And we’re going to do everything we can to see if we can’t get phase one implemented and started so that the rest of the process can take place. 

Then last thing I’ll say is, as the President said in his speech on the 31st of May, that you get to phase two — if you can get phase two negotiated and complete, well, that potentially — you know, that gives you a potential cessation to the hostilities itself.

MODERATOR:  Next up, we’ll go to Marek.

Q    Thank you, Eduardo.  Hi, John.  One question.  According to Reuters, two close advisors to Donald Trump have presented him with a plan to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, in essence by forcing Ukraine to the negotiating table and the ceasefire based on so-called prevailing battle lines.  From what we know about the plan right now, which side would this plan benefit if it’s implemented?  And does it make sense, this framework?  Does it make sense to you?

MR. KIRBY:  Look, I think you all know — I think I missed the beginning of your question.  But is this a proposal put forth by folks on the Trump team?  Is that what you were saying?

Q    Yes.  General Kellogg and — they say that they have positive feedback from former president.

MR. KIRBY:  Yeah.  Yeah, yeah.  Okay.  I thought that’s what you said. 

Look, I would just — I would just say a couple of things here.  First of all, in our view, I’m not going to comment about the 2024 election.  I’m not going to get, you know, into a public debate here with respect to what former President Trump’s advisors may or may not be talking to him about it. 

So, with that as a caveat, the President’s commitment to supporting Ukraine has been manifestly steady and strident and consistent.  We built a global coalition now — more than 50 countries that are supporting Ukraine as they defend themselves.  He just signed at the G7 in Italy, a week or so ago, a historic bilateral security agreement with Ukraine.  And he understands — he understands that the stronger Ukraine’s position is on the battlefield, the stronger they will be at the negotiating table when that time comes, Marek.  And you know who gets to decide when that time comes?  President Zelenskyy.  And nobody else. 

And what we’ve said is: Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.  And we’re standing strong to make sure that President Zelenskyy has everything he needs so that if and when he’s ready to go to the table, he can do it from a position of strength and that he knows he’s got our backing and the backing of those some 50-some-odd countries. 

Unlike some folks, President Biden believes that any decisions about negotiations, quite frankly, have got to be up to President Zelenskyy and Ukraine.  We’re not going to force Ukraine to surrender any of its territory, because we understand that if Putin is allowed to conquer Ukraine and subjugate its people, any of its people, the consequences would be severe.  He and dictators all around the world would just be emboldened, and we think the world would be a much more dangerous place. 

I think that pretty much sums up our views.

MODERATOR:  Next up, we’ll go to Laura Kelly.

Q    Hi.  Thank you for taking my question.  Just going back to the distribution of aid in Gaza, what is the White House position on where responsibility for distribution rests?  There’s this blame game going on between Israel and the international aid organizations with security inside Gaza for distribution being seen — I think is one of the major impediments.  So who’s responsible for security at this point?  What does the White House want to see happen?

MR. KIRBY:  We want to see the ceasefire deal in place.  We want to get that ceasefire deal in place — 

Q    But, like, while you’re working on the ceasefire deal.

MR. KIRBY:  No, but — let me finish.

We want to see the ceasefire deal in place.  Because if you get that ceasefire deal in place, you get six weeks of calm; you get six weeks of calm, you can maybe get up to several hundred trucks a day.  And the goal of phase one is 600 trucks a day.  So you ask me what we want to see.  We want to see this deal put in place, which is why we —

Q    So the challenge of getting — the challenge of not distributing humanitarian aid is pressure on Hamas to go to the ceasefire deal?

MR. KIRBY:  No.  Look, there’s a lot of reasons why aid and assistance is being held up.  One of the principal reasons right now is criminal gangs that are operating particularly at Kerem Shalom.  That’s not the Israelis’ fault.  And as far as we know, these gangs have no connection to Hamas specifically. 

So we’re going to continue to work with the U.N.  We’ve been talking to the U.N. about seeing if we can’t help get them personal protective gear and equipment, communications, radio communication, so that their truck drivers can feel a little bit more safe, which you can’t very well blame these guys for being a little bit nervous about driving a truck into Gaza when their convoys and their trucks could be attacked by these criminal gangs and thugs.  And we — so we’re going to obviously work with them and the IDF to see what can be done about that. 

But, yes, look, security of these convoys is a live issue.  And I’m not trying to pull — take Hamas off the hook here, because Hamas has, in fact, allowed some of this activity to go on and don’t have the best interests of the people of Gaza forefront in their minds.  In fact, we’ve all seen Sinwar’s comments about how civilian casualties and civilian suffering actually works — he believes works to his advantage.  So, Hamas is absolutely partly responsible here for this as well. 

But there’s — you know, it’s a combat zone.  And combat operations and combat areas certainly make the delivery of humanitarian assistance a lot more challenging.  So we’re going to continue to talk to the U.N., we’re going to talk to the IDF about what we can do to make it safer and to make it more palatable for these drivers to take this aid in.  But the way to get to that, the real answer to this is to get to phase one of this ceasefire deal.  You get hostages home to their families.  You get six weeks of a sustainable calm that will allow the comfort level for aid organizations to increase to a degree where they can move freely about Gaza.  If you have a six-week ceasefire in place, then nobody is shooting at anybody, and it should be a lot easier to move humanitarian assistance.

MODERATOR:  Thanks.  Next up, we’ll go to Paris Wong.

Q    Hello.  Thank you, John.  I’m going to focus to Indo-Pacific region.  So, in an interview on Tuesday, Philippines ambassador to the U.S. said if there’s a conflict between Taiwan and China that would affect the Philippines, that it would most likely agree to the U.S. using its military bases in the defense of Taiwan.  So does the Biden administration welcome Philippines’ willingness to work with the U.S. on Taiwan safety? And also, does this mean the United States has successfully mobilized from North Asia to Southeast Asia, from Japan to Philippines, to form a security network in the Indo-Pacific?  Thank you.

MR. KIRBY:  I think you know I’m not going to get into hypotheticals or speculate about the conflict across the Taiwan Strait.  Nothing has changed about our One China policy.  We don’t want to see the status quo changed or altered unilaterally.  We certainly don’t want to see it changed or altered by force. 

And everything the President has been doing — in our conversations with the PRC, in our work with allies like South Korea, Japan, and the Philippines — has been designed to prevent that outcome from happening.  And that’s what we’re focused on. 

The Philippines is a treaty ally.  We take our alliance commitments seriously with the Philippines, as we have demonstrated certainly in recent weeks and months.  And it was terrific to have President Marcos here to participate in the first-ever trilat between the United States, Japan, and the Philippines when we were hosting Prime Minister Kishida for the state visit as well.

So, an awful lot of work has been done by President Biden and this team in terms of shoring up our alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific.  And the reason you do that is to make it clear that we don’t want to see a conflict, that we do have the capabilities in place to defend ourselves and defend our allies, and that there should be no reason for any of these tensions to erupt into conflict whatsoever.

MODERATOR:  Thanks, everyone.  That’s all the time we have for today.  If you have any follow-up questions, feel free to reach out to our team.  Thanks again.

11:09 A.M. EDT

The post On-the-Record Press Gaggle by White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby appeared first on The White House.

Air Zoo Aerospace and Science Museum

Portage, Michigan

2:27 P.M. EDT

MS. TROYE:  All right.  I get to kick this off.  It’s an honor. 

I’m here as a conservative, pro-choice woman.  And I don’t think 10, 5, or even maybe 2 years ago, we would have been talking about reproductive rights in elections, because it was seen as too controversial, not a winning issue, and, frankly, it seems like settled law. 

Clearly, the landscape has shifted 180 degrees.  How do you see this moment and how we got here?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  So, first, I want to thank the two of you for your extraordinary courage and leadership on this issue, the voice that you each have carried and continue to carry is the voice of so many people who may not have the ability to do what the two of you have done so courageously, and I thank you for that.  (Applause.)

And we should applaud that courage.  It takes a lot of courage to do what you two are doing.  Extraordinary courage. 

So, just over two years ago, the highest court in our land — you know, I think about it — the court of Thurgood Marshall and RBG — took a constitutional right that had been recognized from the people of America, from the women of America. 

And thereafter, in state after state, extremists proposed and passed laws that would punish health care providers.  I mean, in a state like Texas, you know they — their law provides for life in prison for a doctor who administers care.  Laws that would punish women — criminalize doctors, punish women.  Laws that make no exception even for rape and incest. 

You know, many of you know, I started my career as a prosecutor.  You may not know one of the reasons why.  When I was in high school, I learned that my best friend was being molested by her stepfather. 

And I said to her, “You have to come stay with us.  You have to come live with us.”  I called my mother.  My mother said, “Of course, she does.”  And she did. 

So, I decided I wanted to take on a career that was about protecting, in particular, women and children from violence. 

And the notion that these extremists would say to a survivor of such a crime of violence and a violation of someone’s body — and to say to that survivor, “And you have no right or authority to decide what happens to your body next”?  That’s immoral. 

What has been happening in our state is that — you know, I’ve talked with so many women who have a similar story to what you have shared — women who want to have children and have gone through the horrible experience of a miscarriage and need care — need medical care, and denied — denied access to an emergency room because the — the health care providers there believed they would be exposed to a criminal case if they helped.

The number of stories that I’ve heard about women sil- — and their — their partners, their spouses, their families silently suffering. 

Think about what’s happening in our country when you know that the majority of women who receive abortion care are mothers.  Okay?  Well, God help her if she’s in a state with a ban.  God help her if she has paid family leave or affordable childcare.

Think about — you know, I say to my — my staff and my team for years, I say, “You know, in public policy, always ask how does this impact a real human being.”  (Applause.)  Right?

So, think about — think about what we’re saying to her, that she’s going to — God help her if she’s got extra money to buy a plane ticket and for a hotel room.  And then what does that mean?  She has to go to the airport, stand in line at TSA, get on a plane, sit next to a perfect stranger, go to a city where she’s never been to receive this care to only get back as soon as she can because she got to take care of those kids.  Her best friend is not with her because her best friend taking care of the kids.  Think about what we’re putting people through.

The other thing, though, the — that I have experienced in these two years as I travel around our country — and I’ve — I’ve taken almost 100 trips in connection with this issue.  It’s six- — it’s my sixth time since the Dobbs decision coming to Michigan. 

And one of the things I’ve found also are the stories of people who tell me about themselves.  “You know, I — I once felt very strongly about this — didn’t believe in abortion, didn’t believe in it.  But I –“

MS. TROYE:  That was me.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Right?  And — and they are saying, “But I didn’t expect this would happen.”

MS. TROYE:  That was — that was the household I grew up in.  That was me —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Right.

MS. TROYE:  — and my mom.  We’re conservatives.  We grew up in a conservative Catholic household in Texas, very Republican family.  That was me.  But we’ve evolved.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yeah, because I think that, first of all, on this issue, most people believe that one does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs to agree the government should not be telling her what to do with her body.  (Applause.)  Right? 

If she chooses, she will talk with her priest or her pastor or her rabbi or her imam, but it shouldn’t be the government telling her what to do. 

And I do believe the majority of us, as Americans, have empathy and don’t will upon another suffering.  I — I do believe that.  And — and I — and that’s what I’m finding, to your point, about people who felt strongly before the decision came down and now they’re seeing how it’s playing out, and — and they don’t intend that people would have that experience.  So —

MS. STRATTON:  All right.  As I mentioned earlier, I have personally navigated the challenges of miscarriage and secondary infertility, which has deepened my understanding of the importance of having the right to make informed decisions about your own reproductive health.

Miscarriage is extremely common, with one in four pregnancies ending and loss, yet it remains a topic that’s rarely discussed openly.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.

MS. STRATTON:  My experience highlights the critical need for women to have access to safe and — safe medical care.

Like this conversation today, you’ve been intentional about speaking to folks across the political spectrum about what is at stake on this issue.  You have traveled all across the country, including to tradit- — traditionally conservative areas —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.

MS. STRATTON:  — to speak about the importance of reproductive freedom and have shown up at the places where freedom is under attack.  And now this is your seventh visit to Michigan as vice president and the second trip this year to — to Michigan to talk about reproductive rights.

Why is it important for you to show up and bring this message?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Again, I thank you and — both of you for being here. 

I think we — I’ll repeat the point that I made earlier.  I think that most of us agree that we shouldn’t allow supposed leaders to do things that hurt people.

You know, there is something very basic about this.  I think that there is something that is very basic about this in terms of who we are as Americans and our founding principles, which include a founding principle that we believe in freedom.  We believe in freedom — freedom from the government telling us what to do about matters of heart and home.  We believe in the right of — of people to make basic decisions like when and if they will start a family and how.

I — you know, in — in traveling the country, part of what I — I point out, which is what we all know, regardless of your gender — think about this: If we, in this year of our Lord, 2024, have a state of being where the government can tell you what to do with your body — I mean, the most basic of things you should have control over — everybody better watch out about what other freedoms you’re taking for granted.  (Applause.)  Right?

And you are right that this is something that, in my experience traveling the country, going to so-called red and so-called blue and so-called purple states, is that — you know, you look at when this issue was on the ballot from, you know, Montana to — to, I don’t know, Virginia — I mean, look at so-called red and blue states: Whenever it was on the ballot, the American people voted for freedom.  The American people voted for freedom.  (Applause.)

So, I think it’s — it’s basic — it’s — it’s something that should also in this moment in our country, where for the last few years we’ve seen such division and attempts to divide us —  this is a very, very serious, pivotal, foundational issue.  But what we have seen is when the American people are presented with this issue, regardless of what party they’re registered to vote with, they stand for freedom.  Yeah.

MS. TROYE:  In that vein — and thank you, by the way, for traveling — for all the travel that you’ve done to reach —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.

MS. TROYE:  — the more conservative areas.  I think this is an incredibly important conversation and moment to have. 

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.

MS. TROYE:  The extremists — the extremists are not — not done.  For me — and I think Amanda would probably say the same — this isn’t — this isn’t the Republican Party I grew up with.  This isn’t the party that I supported (inaudible) about the things that I’m seeing that Donald Trump has implemented along the way, and I have greater concerns about what’s to come.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.

MS. TROYE:  What do you think is next? 

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  We have 111 days to determine that.  (Laughs.)  (Applause.) 

Because therein, also, in the — in the midst of those who are trying to take individual freedoms, including the power to make basic decisions about your own life, we should remember the power of the people to make a decision about who sits in these offices.  (Applause.)  And that power rests with us, each one of us. 

And in these moments, we should not become dispirited.  This is not a time to throw up our hands.  This is a time to roll up our sleeves.  (Applause.)

But you’re right.  I mean, so, the former president, first of all, listen, he hand-selected three members of the United States Supreme Court with the intention that they would do exactly what they did.  And he’s told us over and over again who he is on this subject.  And then now — well, you know, there’s a bit of a gaslight going — gaslighting going on where, “Oh, well, no, I just believe it should go to the states.” 

Okay, so, first of all, any of the historians here will know what that means when we start pushing states’ rights, but let’s put that aside.  (Laughter.) 

Okay, so you believe it should go to the states?  Well, the way I look at it is then let’s look at all the — I think it’s now 21 or 22 Trump abortion bans in those 21, 22 states, which again make no exception, some, for rape or incest; which have contributed to — to IVF clinics and care being stifled; which have contributed to women having, I mean, awful experiences around miscarriage; which have contributed to people who are doctors and nurses and health care providers being afraid they might go to jail for administering care.

And, you know — and then, recently, the former president selected his running mate, the senator, Vance — J.D. Vance.  Understand, this is a fellow who in the United States Senate participated in blocking protections for IVF.  This is an individual who has said he is for a national — and has made every indication that he has for national abortion ban. 

And so, again, this is where the power is with the people.  We have an election coming up. 

Don- — you — listen and in contrast to the former president, Joe Biden has been very clear — has been very clear: If there were any attempt at a national abortion ban, he would veto it.  And if we have the right people in Congress, people like Debbie Stabenow and others, and they put back in law the protections of Roe v. Wade, our President Joe Biden will sign it into law.  (Applause.)

MS. TROYE:  So, pivoting a little bit.  This is an issue that I personally very much care about.  I’ve worked on a lot, especially having a family member that experienced gun violence.

As you mentioned in your opening remarks, gun violence in America is top of mind for so many people right now.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.

MS. TROYE:  And there is no place for political violence or gun violence in our nation. 

Last year, I was proud to advocate for new laws that were passed here in Michigan.  I advocated as a gun owner — a responsible gun owner — (applause) — including red flag law, universal background checks and expanding them, and a safe storage law.  But we know that we still need additional reasonable gun safety laws at the federal level. 

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.

MS. TROYE:  How are you and President Biden working to address gun violence in America?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  So, Olivia, you’ve been a great leader on this.  And I’m sorry for the personal tragedies that you’ve experienced. 

Gun violence in America today is the number-one cause of the death of children in America.  Think about that.  The number-one cause of the death of children in America is gun violence — not car accidents, not some form of cancer, gun violence. 

Today in our country, one in five Americans has a relative, a family member who was killed by gun violence.  And it doesn’t have to be this way. 

And it’s a false choice for people to say, “Well, you’re either in favor of the Second Amendment or you want to take everyone’s guns away.”  I’m in favor of the Second Amendment.  I’m also in favor of the assault weapons ban, of universal background checks, red flag laws. (Applause.)  Right? 

And to your point, the leadership here in Michigan has been extraordinary on this.  And we need people in Washington, D.C., to watch what you all have done and how you’ve done it because you’ve also pulled together coalitions of people, Democrats and Republicans and independents.  That bullet doesn’t care who you are registered to vote with.  Think about this, and then think about it in terms of the trauma.

So, last fall, I started a college tour.  I — by the way, I love Gen Z.  I — I d- — you know, I — (laughter) — if you have Gen Z in your life, maybe it’s complicated for you, but they’re really great.  (Laughs.)  They’re really great.  (Applause.)

And among the many things that I would ask, you know, these auditoriums full of these young leaders — I would ask them: Raise your hand if at any time between kindergarten and 12th grade you had to endure an active shooter drill.  It was bone-chilling.  Almost every hand went up. 

Think about that.  You know, when — when I was growing up — I’ll speak for some of us here, I think — we had fire drills.  (Laughter.)  But this is a whole other thing. 

And our young people — think: they should be in the classroom experiencing the wonders of the world, and some part of their brain is concerned that someone will bust through that classroom door.  And think about the trauma that gun violence has exacted not only on our young people who are afraid of what might happen in the context of a mass shooting, think of the trauma in terms of everyday gun violence that happens in places around our country — that trauma being undiagnosed and untreated.  There are so many permeations and ramifications of this gun violence. 

In fact, we just announced a couple days ago — under the president and our administration, we created 988.  In fact, I’d — I’d encourage everyone here to know about it and pass it on.  And it’s basically a crisis line where people who are in crisis — it’s not — it’s not only a talk line, but there are mental health professionals who answer it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, anonymously.  So, people can text or call when they’re experiencing crisis to bring it down and also to know where to get help.

But these are all the ramifications of this.  And the solutions don’t really require that much creativity. 

What they do require is people in the United States Congress to have courage to act and do what we know is the right thing to do and not cower based on special interest and powerful lobbyists who are encouraging them to do something and actually is contrary to what is the health and well-being of our nation on such a specific issue.  Yeah.

MS. STRATTON:  I’ve been sharing my personal story with the hope of encouraging women across the country to vote for candidates who support the right to choose because I firmly believe that politicians have no place in family planning, especially when it doesn’t go as planned. 

Here in Michigan, we worked hard two years ago to pass Prop 3 to protect reproductive freedoms, refe- — reflecting the belief of 57 percent of Michiganders that every person has the fundamental right to reproductive freedom.  However, with the upcoming presidential election, there’s still so much at stake if Republicans gain control and are allowed to implement a nationwide abortion ban. 

With the election just four months away and the potential implications for reproductive rights, how are you planning to engage and mobilize voters?  And what strategies do you think will be most effective in reaching and inspiring people to take action?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, Amanda, for that.

One piece of this is to really remind people that they’re not alone.  I think there is something that has happened — I mentioned it earlier — that is making people feel like, you know, “Are people there for me?”  And we have to remind people we’re all in this together. 

I think this is a moment that we have to be very intentional about building community, about reaching out to the folks we know — relatives, neighbors, coworkers — and reminding them that we’re all in this together and that we can make sense of it if we try. 

And part of making sense of it is reminding everyone, in an election year, their power to determine very important issues through their vote.  And so, that means, you know, reminding people to register to vote, reminding people to go online — there’s IWillVote.org — and — and to make sure you know where you’re registered, because, sadly, in so many states in our country right now, they’re intentionally passing laws to make it more difficult for people to vote.  They’re passing laws that allow, you know, for political reasons, that they’ll reduce the number of polling sites so that people won’t know where to go vote or, because there are reduced polling sites, the lines will be longer, which will deter people from standing in line, especially if they’re working two and three jobs; they don’t have the time. 

So, let’s remind people about the connection between their lives and their vote, between their power and the outcome of this election. 

Let’s organize people building coalitions.  You know, again, we’re — there are forces trying to divide us.  We got to remember in our hearts and — and help people remember: The vast majority of us have so much more in common than what separates us.  We’ve got to remember that, right?  (Applause.)  I think that’s critically important. 

You know, sometimes these kinds of moments have a tendency, if not an intention, to make people feel small and make them feel alone and disempower people. 

I was saying to — to — we had a brief conversation earlier.  You know, I think it’s — there’s this perversity that has taken place over the last several years to suggest the measure of the strength of a leader is based on who you beat down, when, in fact, the true measure of the strength of a leader, I think we all agree, is based on who you lift up —  right? — (applause) — that — that the — the character — the character and the strength, therefore, of a real leader this — I’m looking at a room full of leaders; you wouldn’t be here if you weren’t — the character is — is such that that individual has some level of concern and care about the well-being of other people and then does something about it to lift them up.

So, let’s remind people of all of that.  And — and let’s organize and let’s energize and let’s mobilize.  Let’s, I mean, literally, call up and text and email the folks you know and just bug them.  Just bug them.  It’s okay.  It’s election time.  They’ll expect it coming from you.  (Applause.)  (Laughs.)  They’ll still invite you over for Thanksgiving and Christmas; it’s okay.  (Laughter.)

But let’s just stay on people and — and in that way let, them know that — that they matter and that we’re all in it together.  So —

MS. TROYE:  Well, speaking of elevating people, as we come to the close of the program, though, I — I think what you’re doing is incredible.  I think this is exactly the way forward.  I think extending the grace that you have to have Amanda and I on stage, as two Republicans — or recovering Republicans, as I said earlier — I think this is an example of how we come together —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.

MS. TROYE — and how we build this coalition.  Like you said, I think it’s about empowering each other, and I also think it’s a sign of — that women are going to support women.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  That’s right.  That’s exactly right. 

MS. TROYE:   We’re going to stand by other women.  (Applause.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  That’s exactly right.  That’s right.  Well said.

MS. TROYE:  So, I hope that that’s the message that carries forward.  And thank you for providing that avenue —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.

MS. TROYE:  — for us to come together.  I — I do think that this is a big moment in time for our political system and what’s at stake.  And so, I think that thi- — I hope that this serves as an example for others to have these types of conversations with each other —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.

MS. TROYE:  — and to extend that grace and understand that —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  That’s right.

MS. TROYE:  — we’re going to stand by each other. 

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  That’s right.

MS. TROYE:  They don’t get to win when we’re together.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  That’s exactly right.  (Applause.)

MS. TROYE:  Thank you.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And with that, thank you all.  (Laughs.)  (Applause.) 

MS. STRATTON:  Thank you.

END                     2:53 P.M. CDT

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Air Zoo Aerospace and Science Museum

Portage, Michigan

2:23 P.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Hello.  Hi, everyone.  (Applause.)  Oh, good afternoon.  Good afternoon.  Good afternoon.  Please have a seat, everyone. Please have a seat. 

It’s really good to be back in Michigan.  I want to thank you all for the work you’re doing.  I want to thank Debbie Stabenow.  Where are you?  She — that extraordinary senator of yours.  (Applause.)  She’s over there somewhere.  There she is.  Thank you, Senator.  (Applause.)  Every time, I think, I’ve come to the state, she’s met me on the tarmac, including today.  Thank you for your leadership always.  Thank you. 

Before we begin our conversation today with these two extraordinary leaders, I do want to discuss briefly what happened on Saturday.  I’ve not had a chance yet to — to publicly talk about it, but I will say a few words about the attempt on the life of former President Trump over the weekend. 

As we all know, it was a heinous, horrible, and cowardly act.  My husband, Doug, and I are thankful he was not seriously injured.  That day, as soon as we saw what was happening, we said a prayer for his well-being.  And our thoughts immediately turned to Melania, who we have met, and their family. 

The bottom line is no one should have to fear for the safety of a loved one because they serve in public office. 

Our heart goes out to the family of Corey Comperatore, a true hero who died protecting his family.  And Doug and I, of course, are holding them close to in our hearts. 

We are also wishing those who were critically injured that day a swift and full recovery. 

And we are thankful to the United States Secret Service, the first responders, and local authorities.  The United States of America, I believe, is the greatest democracy the world has ever known.  (Applause.)  Yes. 

But in the aftermath of this weekend’s shootings and — shooting, excuse me — one of the questions we now confront the — one of the questions we now confront is about the way we should engage with one another in this campaign. 

On Sunday evening, our President, Joe Biden, issued a call for unity.  And there must be unity around the idea that while our nation’s history has been scarred by political violence, violence is never acceptable.  There can be no equivocation about that.  (Applause.)

At the same time, the hallmark of American democracy, the hallmark of any democracy is a strong competition of ideas, policies, and a vision for the future.  And just as we must reject political violence, we must also embrace a robust discussion about what is at stake in this election. 

The surest way to reaffirm the strength of our democracy is by engaging in a vigorous and civil exchange of ideas.  And one of the ideas and one of the principles that is at stake in this election is the issue of reproductive freedom.  And that is why I’m here today to discuss that topic, and I look forward to our conversation.  (Applause.)

Thank you all very much.  (Applause.)

END                2:27 P.M. EDT

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College of Southern Nevada
North Las Vegas, Nevada

4:19 P.M. PDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, hello, hello.  (Applause.)

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

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

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

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, Steven, for hosting this summit.  You’re a good friend, and I’m always grateful for your leadership.  And I mean that sincerely.

And thanks to all of you for being here.  You’re part of an economy that I’ve always believed in and we’re finally building. 

The days of failed trickle-down economics are over.  We’re building an economy from the middle out and the bottom up so that when that happens, the middle class does well, the poor have a shot, and the wealthy still do very well. 

We’re also providing and proving that Wall Street didn’t build America.  The middle class built America, and unions built the middle class.  (Applause.)

And our plan is working.  For example, my administration has announced today that Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority and the City of Las Vegas will receive, as pointed out, a $50 million grant, allowing the city to renovate and build hundreds of affordable housing units; invest in early learning, which studies show increase the prospects that three and four and five years old being able to finish high school and go all the way on to community college — (applause); to continue to support small businesses that are really the — small business makes up half the economy, not just the Fortune 500.  Small businesses makes up half the economic growth in America.

And I want to thank Steven for his leadership on all of this.

You know, it grows the economy.  It’s what we’ve been doing from the start.

We inherited a pandemic and a historic economic crisis.  As soon I came into office, I signed the American Rescue Plan to turn things around. 

For example, it funded $1 billion for Nevada to help boost affordable housing; help 8 million families avoid foreclosure and eviction — (applause) — stay in their home when they had little or no income in the depths of the pandemic.  And now, 8,000 new homes are being built across Clark County for families, seniors, and veterans. 

This grows the economy.  It grows the economy.  But that’s not all.

We’re continuing to take corporate greed — take it on, getting our rents down.

On my watch, America has been building more houses and apartments than at any time during the Trump presidency. 

And Steven’s help, a few months ago, I came here to Nevada and announced the boldest housing plan in a generation to make housing more affordable for working families.  That includes building 2 million more homes, providing $10,000 tax credit for middle-class families buying their first home with incomes under $200,000 a year. 

It’ going to help lower housing costs.  It’s going to help people start to build wealth. 

And today, my administration is sending a very clear message to the corporate landlords: We are going to cap rent increases at no more than 5 percent a year.  Period.  (Applause.)  And we’re letting them know, if they abuse the system, you’ll lose valuable federal tax breaks.  

And we also just announced a new initiative to re- — repurpose federal lands that we no longer need to build affordable housing.  Here in Nevada, that would support 15,000 or more affordable homes. 

It matters.  This matters.  

As soon as we came to office, we also changed the way the Pay- — Paycheck — Paycheck Protection Act worked under my predecessor, when he favored big businesses to qualify over mom-and-pop businesses.  We moved women- and minority-owned business and the small businesses to the front of the line instead of keeping them at the back of the line, as my predecessor did.  This grows the economy.  

We increased funding for Minority Business and Development Agency, which my predecessor tried to eliminate.  By increasing funding, we can help even more entrepreneurs from underserved communities grow and expand their businesses. 

We’re increasing the share of federal contract dollars going to small or disadvantaged businesses from 10 percent to 15 percent of all the funding that’s available, and this grows the economy.  

In addition, we’re relieving student debt for borrowers across Nevada.  The Supreme Court blocked my original plan to help more than 40 million working- and middle-class American students get relief, but they couldn’t stop me.  (Applause.)

For example, I took the existing loan forgiveness program for public servants — teachers, nurses, firefighters, police, et cetera — and made it work, which says that if you’ve worked for 10 years in those professions and you paid your — what you owed for your student loan, at the end of 10 years, it’s wiped out.  This is good for the economy because it helps folks who are doing the right thing and — finally be able to start businesses, start families, start homes, build generational (inaudible).  

Don’t know how many letters I’ve gotten from — in to the White House.  “Dear Mr. President, my student debt hung over me like a — like a — like a lead balloon.  It kept me from being able to get married.  It kept us from being able to have a child.  I wasn’t able to even begin to buy a home.  And this has all changed.”  People just want a shot. 

But take a close look at what Trump and the MAGA Republicans are proposing in Trump’s Project 2025.

They’d cut off funding for all Hispanic-saving institutions — ser- — all Hispanic-serving institutions, including community colleges like the College of Southern Nevada, where we are here today. 

They would repeal my Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that’s already invested $3.7 billion for Nevada, right here in this state, like America first high-speed rail line that’s going to take you from Las Vegas to Los Angeles in two hours; create over thre- — three hun- — 30,000 jobs; and — guess what? — save billions of tons of — because of — of pollution, because people have — when they — all the studies show, when you can get from point A to point B in a train or a veh- — vehicle at the same distance, you take the train.

The law also invested $90 million to replace poisonous lead pipes here in Nevada so every child can turn on a faucet and drink clean water without fear of getting brain damage because of what’s going on. 

We’re doing the same thing by delivering affordable high-speed broadband to every Nevadan. 

Remember how Trump promised “Infrastructure Week” every week for four years?  He didn’t build a damn thing — (laughter) — nothing.

Now his Project 2025 repeals all we’re doing.  That’s what he wants to do. 

The bottom of the line is this: Because Trump — because Trump failed in handling the pandemic, lives were lost and our economy tanked. 

And now we’ve back.  Jobs are up.  Wages are up.  Tourism is back.  The economy is growing.  Inflation is down and continues to go down. 

And 16 Nobel laureates, last week, put out a pa- — paper saying that America economy is going to grow under me and inflation will continue to go down.  But they say, under Trump’s plan, these same economists say, we’ll fall into recession and inflation will be — badly damage hard-working Americans.

In fact, Trump is calling for a 10 percent tariff on everything imported into America, including basic necessities like fruits, vegetables, coffee, and more.  The economists tell us his plan would cost working families a new tax of $2,500 a year.  We can’t let that happen. 

And, by the way, these aren’t liberal economists.  These are Wall Street Journal econom- — these are economists from the major institutions in America.

We have more to do.  That’s why I’m determined to finish this job. 

Look, let me tell you my 100-day agenda.  And I’m not going to keep you real long.

We’re going to make sure you own more and you owe less.  That means going to — (applause) — it means we’re going to keep relusing — relieving student debt. 

We’re going to end medical debt.  (Applause.)  We already made sure medical debt can no longer be put on a credit report.  We also work with states to wipe out medical debt for pennies on the dollar.

We’re going to raise the fe- — the federal minimum wage.

We’re going to pass the PRO Act and end union busting once and for all.  (Applause.)

As was mentioned, we capped the cost of insulin for seniors at $35 a month and total drug costs beginning in next Sept- — in Septem- — excuse me, in January, the total drug costs at $2,000 a year, no matter how much they spend, because a lot of them now need cancer drugs, need heart medicines that range from anywhere from 2,000 bucks a year to fifteen thou- — to 4,000 bucks a year, to 10,000 bucks, to 12.

The second term, we’re going to make sure that’s — not only exists, but for every single American — every American.  Folks, and that’s not going to cost the government money.  It saves the government money.

By the way, these reforms save the lives of taxpayers, but they also save the government — just what we’ve done so far — $160 billion.  Savings.  And — and people don’t focus on it. 

But here’s the deal.  Instead of Medicare having to pay out $400 for insulin, the — Medicare only has to pay out $35.  It just is a giant savings.

This year, Medicare is negotiating lower prices for some of the costliest drugs on the market that treat everything from heart disease to arthritis. 

In a next term, we want to go further and give Medicare the power to negotiate lower prices for 50 drugs a year for the next 10 years.   That will not only save lives; it will save the taxpayers another estimated $200 billion. 

But get this, Trump would give the power back to Big Pharma to charge whatever they want. 

He also wants to “terminate” — I love his phrasing — terminate the Affordable Care Act, which means the average family would pay $13,000 more a year for health care.  Because guess what?  They can’t get coverage if they don’t have the Affordable Care Act because they may have a preexisting condition.  That means 3 million Black Americans, 4 million Latinos, 1 million Asian Americans will be — will be robbed of their health care coverage. 

Look, I’m taking the most significant action ever on climate.  That includes bringing relief to millions of — suffering from the biggest weather killer of all in America: extreme heat. 

This — I must tell you, this surprised me when I learned it about si- — no, about eight months ago.  If you add up hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes — everything, more people die from extreme heat than all those other natural events combined.

And look what it costs.  It costs money for people to have air conditioning.  It costs money for people to have the ability to turn on what they need.

Meanwhile, Trump says he doesn’t believe climate change is real.  Maybe he should step out here in Vegas — (laughter) — when it’s 120 degrees in his bare feet.  (Applause.)

Look, we’re going to end Trump’s — (laughs) — I don’t want to get going here.  We’re going to end Trump’s tax cuts for the very wealthy and big corporations so they start paying their fair share. 

I kept my commitment so no one could say I was going after people with money.  I kept my commitment that no one making less than $400,000 a year would pay a single penny more in federal taxes. 

There are 1,000 billionaires in America.  Right now, you know what their average cost of their — how much they pay in federal taxes?  8.2 percent.  8.2 percent. 

I’m going to make sure billionaires have to pay a minimum of 25 percent — (applause) — which isn’t even in the highest [b]racket. 

No billionaire should pay a tax rate lower than a teacher, a firefighter, or a nurse — someone working like a (inaudible).  (Applause.)

You know what that one thing will do when we get it done?  It will generate $500 billion in revenues over the next 10 years, allowing — allowing us to do more for childcare, eldercare, bring down the federal deficit, and so much more.

And, by the way, what happens when people don’t have to worry about what’s going to happen to their child if they go to work and they have childcare?  The economy grows.  It grows.  It grows.

I signed the American Rescue Plan into law within months of coming to office.  I put $1,400 checks into pockets; expanded the Child Tax Credit, sending $300 checks per child per family per month into the pockets to help them get through this pandemic.  I cut child poverty in half for Black families, Latinos, and Asian, and Tribal communities. 

The Republicans let it expire.  I want to reinstate the — I want to reinstate and make the Child Care Tax Credit permanent — permanent.  (Applause.)

There’s so much more I want to say to you, but I’m resisting.  I’m told I should be — shorten this up a little bit. 

Let me close with this.  I look at all of you and I see your talent, your dedication.  Most of all, I see the dignity of your work. 

That’s why I can honestly say — honest to God, I’ve never been more optimistic about America’s prospects than I am now — never.

We just have to remember who we are.  We’re the United States of America.  (Applause.)  There is nothing — nothing beyond our capacity when we do it together and work together, and that’s what we’re going to do.

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

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

We can do this, folks.  We’re the Democratic Party; we can do it.  (Applause.)

4:34 P.M. PDT

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Oval Office

8:02 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  My fellow Americans, I want to speak to you tonight about the need for us to lower the temperature in our politics and to remember, while we may disagree, we are not enemies.  We’re neighbors.  We’re friends, coworkers, citizens.  And, most importantly, we are fellow Americans.  And we must stand together. 

Yesterday’s shooting at Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania calls on all of us to take a step back, take stock of where we are, how we go forward from here. 

Thankfully, former [President] Trump is not seriously linjured [injured].  I spoke with him last night.  I’m grateful he’s doing well.  And Jill and I keep him and his family in our prayers. 

We also extend our deepest condolences to the family of the victim who was killed.  Corey was a husband, a father, a volunteer firefighter, a hero, sheltering his family from those bullets.  We should all hold his family and all those injured in our prayers.

Earlier today, I spoke about an ongoing investigation.  We do not know the motive of the shooter yet.  We don’t know his opinions or affiliations.  We don’t know whether he had help or support or if he communicated with anyone else.  Law enforcement professionals, as I speak, are investigating those questions. 

Tonight, I want to speak to what we do know: A former president was shot.  An American citizen killed while simply exercising his freedom to support the candidate of his choosing. 

We cannot — we must not go down this road in America.  We’ve traveled it before throughout our history.  Violence has never been the answer, whether it’s with members of Congress in both parties being targeted in the shot, or a violent mob attacking the Capitol on January 6th, or a brutal attack on the spouse of former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, or information and intimidation on election officials, or the kidnapping plot against a sitting governor, or an attempted assassination on Donald Trump.

There is no place in America for this kind of violence or for any violence ever.  Period.  No exceptions.  We can’t allow this violence to be normalized. 

You know, the political rhetoric in this country has gotten very heated.  It’s time to cool it down.  And we all have a responsibility to do that. 

Yes, we have deeply felt, strong disagreements.  The stakes in this election are enormously high. 

I’ve said it many times that the choice in this elect- — that we make in this election is going to shape the future of America and the world for decades to come.  I believe that with all my soul.  I know that millions of my fellow Americans believe it as well.

And some have a different view as to the direction our country should take.  Disagreement is inevitable in American democracy.  It’s part of human nature.  But politics must never be a literal battlefield and, God forbid, a killing field.

I believe politics ought to be an arena for peaceful debate, to pursue justice, to make decisions guided by the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution.  We stand for an America not of extremism and fury but of decency and grace. 

All of us now face a time of testing as the election approaches.  And the higher the stakes, the more fervent the passions become.  This places an added burden on each of us to ensure that no matter how strong our convictions, we must never descend into violence. 

The Republican convention will start tomorrow.  I have no doubt they’ll criticize my record and offer their own vision for this country.  I’ll be traveling this week, making the case for our record and the vision — my vision of the country — our vision. 

I’ll continue to speak out strongly for our democracy, stand up for our Constitution and the rule of law, to call for action at the ballot box, no violence on our streets.  That’s how democracy should work. 

We debate and disagree.  We compare and contrast the character of the candidates, the records, the issues, the agenda, the vision for America. 

But in America, we resolve our differences at the battol [ballot] box.  You know, that’s how we do it, at the battol [ballot] box, not with bullets.  The power to change America should always rest in the hands of the people, not in the hands of a would-be assassin.

You know, the path forward through competing visions of the campaign should always be resolved peacefully, not through acts of violence.

You know, we’re blessed to live in the greatest country on Earth.  And I believe that with every soul — every power of my being.  So, tonight, I’m asking every American to recommit to make America so — make America what it i- — think about it.  What’s made America so special? 

Here in America, everyone wants to be treated with dignity and respect, and hate must have no safe harbor. 

Here in America, we need to get out of our silos, where we only listen to those with whom we agree, where misinformation is rampant, where foreign actors fan the flames of our division to shape the outcomes consistent with their interests, not ours.

Let’s remember, here in America, while unity is the most elusive of gol- — goals right now, nothing is more — more important for us now than standing together.  We can do this. 

You know, from the beginning, our founders understood the power of passion, and so they created a democracy that gave reason and balance a chance to prevail over brute force.  That’s the America we must be, an American democracy where arguments are made in good faith, an American democracy where the rule of law is respected, an American democracy where decency, dignity, fair play aren’t just quaint notions, but living, breathing realities.

We owe that to those who come before us, to those who gave their lives for this country.  We that — we owe that to ourselves.  We owe it to our children and our grandchildren. 

Look, let’s never lose sight of who we are.  Let’s remember we are the United States of America.  There is nothing, nothing, nothing beyond our capacity when we do it together.

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

8:08 P.M. EDT

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Roosevelt Room

2:05 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:   Good afternoon.  Last night, I spoke with Donald Trump.  I’m sincerely grateful that he’s doing well and recovering.  And we had a short but good conversation.

Jill and I are keeping him and his family in our prayers. 

We also extend our deepest condolences to the family of the victim who was killed.  He was a father.  He was protecting his family from the bullets that were being fired, and he lost his life.  God love him. 

We’re also praying for the full recovery of those who were injured.  And we’re grateful to the Secret Service agents and other law enforcement agencies who — and individuals who risked their lives, literally, for our nation.

As I said last night, there is no place in America for this kind of violence or for any violence for that matter.

An assassination attempt is contrary to everything we stand for as a na- — as a nation.  Everything.  It’s not who we are as a nation.  It’s not America, and we cannot allow this to happen.

Unity is the most elusive goal of all, but nothing is important than that right now — unity.

We’ll debate, and we’ll disagree.  That’s not — that’s not going to change.  But it’s going to — we’re going to not lose sight of the fact of who we are as Americans.

Look, Vice President Harris and I were just briefed in the Situation Room by my homeland security team, including the director of the FBI, the secretary of Homeland Security, the attorney general, the director of the Secret Service, my homeland security advisor, the national security advisor.  And we’re going to continue to be briefed.

The FBI is leading this investigation, which is still in its early stages.  We don’t yet have any information about the motive of the shooter.  We know who he is.  I urge everyone — everyone, please, don’t make assumptions about his motives or his affiliations.

Let the FBI do their job, and their partner agencies do their job.  I’ve instructed that this investigation be thorough and swift.  And the investigators will have every resource they need to get this done.

Look, as this investigation continues, here’s what we’re going to do.

First, Mr. Trump, as a former president and nominee of the Republican Party already receives a heightened level of security, and I have been consistent in my direction to the Secret Service to provide him with every resource, capability, and protective measure necessary to ensure his continued safety.

Second, I’ve directed the head of the Secret Service to review all security measures for the — all security measures for the Republican National Convention, which is scheduled to start tomorrow.

And third, I’ve directed an independent review of the national security at yesterday’s rally to assess exactly what happened.  And we’ll share the results of that independent review with the American people as well.

And, finally, I’ll be speaking more about this tonight at greater length from the Oval Office: We must unite as one nation.  We must unite as one nation to demonstrate who we are. 

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

Thank you very much.

2:08 P.M. EDT

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Philadelphia Convention Center

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

3:48 P.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Can we hear it for Judy Chu?  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.

Good afternoon, everyone.  Please have a seat.  Good afternoon.  Good afternoon. 

I wanted — let me thank Representative Chu before she leaves the stage entirely.  I want to thank you, Judy.  She talked about when I was in her district.  And many of us have worked with her over the years.  She’s an extraordinary leader and a powerful leader, a compassionate leader, and extraordinarily effective.  And I’ve seen her in the halls of Congress when the cameras are on and when the cameras are off, and she is always fighting for the people.

So, Judy, thank you for that beautiful introduction.  Can we please applaud Judy Chu?  (Applause.)  Thank you.

And greetings to all of the members of the United States Congress who are here and the members of CAPAC.  As Judy said, I am a former and very proud former member of CAPAC.  And I know the leaders who are a part of that incredible organization are a force for progress always in our country.

And to all of the other leaders who are assembled here, I thank you.

In 2020, it was the leaders here who helped to energize, organize, and mobilize.  It is you who helped elect Joe Biden to become president of the United States and me to become vice president of the United States.  (Applause.)

And in 2024, we are counting on your leadership once again.  President Biden and I know this is a community that is a force and must always be recognized and must always be recognized for the leadership that has provided for so much progress throughout the history of our country.  And your work is essential to our victory in November.

In fact, earlier this week, I was in Las Vegas to launch the AANHPI Voters for Biden-Harris.  (Applause.)  And I will tell you, folks are fired up and ready to fight. 

Today, we are 115 days out from the election.  And while many of us have been involved with these elections every four years, and, nearly every time, we say, “This is the one,” well, this here is the one.  (Laughter.)  This is the one — the most existential, consequential, and important election of our lifetime.

And we always knew this election would be tough.  And the past few days have been a reminder that running for president of the United States is never easy, nor should it be.  But one thing we know about our president, Joe Biden: He is a fighter.  And he is the first to say: When you get knocked down, you get right back up. 

So — (applause) — we will continue to fight.  We will continue to organize.  And in November, we will win.  We will win.  (Applause.)

Fundamentally, this election will come down to this.  President Biden and I fight for the American people.  Donald Trump does not. 

I have discussed a few examples of our fight with some of the leaders here today.  It’s an ongoing discussion we’ve been having.  Let’s start, for example, with the issue of affordable health care.  When he was in the White House, Donald Trump tried more than 60 times to end the Affordable Care Act — more than 60 times — and give insurance companies, then, back the power to deny people with preexisting conditions.

Remember what that was like?  Remember, before our successful fight to pass the Affordable Care Act, what that meant for people with preexisting conditions, children with asthma, women who survived breast cancer, grandparents with diabetes?  We cannot forget what that was like and the fact that he is trying to roll us backward.

President Biden and I, on the other hand, have defended the Affordable Care Act and made it stronger because we believe health care should be a right and not just a privilege for those who can afford it.  (Applause.)

And today, more AANHPI Americans have health insurance than ever before.  We also took on Big Pharma and lowered the cost of prescription drugs.  And we capped the cost of insulin at $35 a month for our seniors to the benefit of more than 2 million AANHPI seniors.  (Applause.)

We are also finally making it so that medical debt — medical debt, which is most often the result of a medical emergency — you don’t plan for that — that medical debt can no longer be used against your credit score.  (Applause.)  This is going to have a direct impact on so many people — a credit score being the determining factor on whether you can get a small business loan, a car loan, or even a lease for an apartment.

To create opportunity, President Biden and I have also addressed many long-standing inequities, including inequities like the lasting effect of so-called urban renewal projects, including right here in Philadelphia, the Vine Street Expressway.  Decades ago, that expressway was built to cut right through Chinatown.  It displaced families and devastated neighborhoods, and it continues to cut off residents of Chinatown from jobs and opportunities in other communities.

So, to address this inequity, President Biden and I have invested nearly $160 million to build parks, bike paths, and walking paths over the Vine Street Expressway, which will make the neighborhood — (applause) — will make the neighborhood, then, more beautiful, more walkable, more bikeable, and, most importantly, make it easier for the residents of that community to get to work, to get to school, to get to church.

And we are doing the same kind of work that we are doing here in places from Detroit to Atlanta to Birmingham, dealing with long-standing inequities.

Whereas the former president incites hate, we are working to combat hate.  With the support of CAPAC, as Judy mentioned, we passed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, making it easier for members of the AANHPI community to report acts of hate. 

And while I will not repeat the vile, vile language that Trump has used, I will say, someone who vilifies immigrants, who promotes xenophobia, who stokes hate, and who incites fear should never again have the chance to stand behind a microphone — (applause) — and never again have the chance to stand behind the seal of the president of the United States of America.

There is so much at stake in this moment.  And last week, we were again reminded of that fact when —

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  (Inaudible.)

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

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And we will have those four more years.  And we will have those four more years.  (Applause.)

And, of course, we respect everyone’s right to voice their concerns.  I am speaking right now, however, and I’m going to continue with the topic at hand.  (Applause.)

So, last week —

AUDIENCE MEMBERS:  Free, free Palestine!  Free, free Palestine!  Free, free Palestine! 

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  We are fighting for a democracy and democratic values, which includes the right of everyone to speak.  And I will then — (applause).  We are going to have four more years also.

So, listen, there is so much at stake in this moment.  And last week, we were again reminded of that fact.  Let us please take note when the Supreme Court recently basically told this individual, who has been convicted of fraud, that, going forward, he will be immune for activity we know he is prepared to engage in if he gets back into the White House.

Consider: Donald Trump openly vowed, if reelected, that he will be a dictator on day one, that he will weaponize the Department of Justice against his political enemies, that he will round up peaceful protesters and throw them out of our country, and even, quote, “terminate” the United States Constitution.

Well, not on our watch.  President Biden and I will always fight to protect our Constitution.  (Applause.)

And Trump’s advisors have created a 900-page blueprint of their agenda for a second term.  They call it “Project 2025.”   And it includes a plan —

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  It includes a plan to cut Social Security, to repeal our $35 cap on insulin, to eliminate the Department of Education and end programs like Head Start.

And if Donald Trump wins a second term, he will continue his full-on assault on reproductive freedom.  Remember, then-President Donald Trump handpicked three members of the United States Supreme Court because he intended for them to undo the protections of Roe v. Wade.  And as he intended, they did.

Now, over 20 states have an abortion ban — a Trump abortion ban.  Today, in America, one in three women of reproductive age lives in a state with a Trump abortion ban, many with no exception even for rape and incest.  And Trump says he is, quote, “proudly” the person responsible for overturning Roe. 

We all know one does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs to agree the government should not be telling her what to do with her body.  (Applause.)

And make no mistake, if he gets the chance, he will sign a national abortion ban to outlaw abortion in every single state.  But we are not going to let that happen.  We have worked — we have all together worked too hard and fought too long to see our daughters grow up in a world with fewer rights than our mothers.  (Applause.)

We trust women.  And when Congress passes a law that restores the reproductive freedoms of Roe, our president, Joe Biden, will sign it.  Yes.  (Applause.)

So, ultimately, in this election, we each face a question: What kind of country do we want to live in?  And here’s the beauty of this moment.  We have the power to answer that question, each one of us, and the question being: Do we want to live in a country of freedom, compassion, and rule of law or a country of chaos, fear, and hate?  We each have the power to answer this question.

If the Supreme Court says the laws do not apply to Donald Trump, if extremists in Congress continue to bow down to him, if people like Mike Pence are not around to stand up to him, our last line of defense is the ballot box, your vote, your voice.

So, today, I ask the leaders here: 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, we win!

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

END                     4:04 P.M. EDT

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