White House Daily Briefing

July 25, 2024

Unidentified Speaker: COUNTRY ON HIS DECISION NOT TO SEEK REELECTION. SHE SAID SHE DID NOT WANT TO GET AHEAD OF THE PRESIDENT WHEN ASKED TO PROVIDE MORE INSIGHT INTO HIS DECISION TO WITHDRAW FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE. NATIONAL SECURITY COMMUNICATIONS ADVISOR JOHN KIRBY WAS ALSO AVAILABLE TO TAKE QUESTIONS ON ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU'S VISIT TO THE U.S. WHICH INCLUDED A MEETING WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN IN AN ADDRESS TO CONGRESS. THIS IS ALMOST ONE HOUR 15 MINUTES.
KARINE: OK, BEAR WITH ME. I HAVE A FEW THINGS AT THE TOP. I WANT TO START BY SAYING THAT WHAT THE COUNTRY WITNESSED LAST NIGHT WAS HISTORIC. WE SAW THE LEADERSHIP WE ALWAYS SEE FROM JOE BIDEN. WE SAW A MAN WHO, AS HE HAS ALWAYS DONE, PUT COUNTRY FIRST. SURROUNDED BY HIS FAMILY, YOU HEARD THE PRESIDENT SAY, I REVERE THIS OFFICE, BUT I LOVE MY COUNTRY MORE. HE WENT ON TO SAY THE DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANY TITLE. I DRAW STRENGTH AND FIND JOY IN WORKING FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. BUT THIS BUT THIS SACRED TASK OF PERFECTING OUR UNION IS NOT ABOUT ME, IT'S ABOUT YOU, YOUR FAMILIES, YOUR FUTURES, AND I HAVE DECIDED THE BEST WAY FORWARD IS TO PASS THE TORCH TO A NEW GENERATION, THAT IS NATIO. THIS IS A SELFLESS ACT, SOMETHING THAT VERY FEW POLITICIANS WOULD EVER DO. PRESIDENT BIDEN WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS ONE OF THE NATION'S GREATEST PRESIDENTS, ACCOMPLISHING MORE IN NEARLY FOUR YEARS THAN MOST PRESIDENTS DO IN EIGHT YEARS. TO QUOTE HIM AGAIN, I HAVE GIVEN MY HEART AND MY SOUL TO OUR NATION LIKE SO MANY OTHERS HAVE. AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED. A MILLION TIMES IN RETURN WITH THE LOVE AND SUPPORT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. HE MADE CLEAR LAST NIGHT THAT OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, HE WILL BE FOCUSED ON DOING HIS JOB AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND BUILDING ON HIS HISTORIC RESULTS FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THAT IS HIS FOCUS. AND I WILL END BY SAYING THAT I AM SO PROUD TO WORK FOR THIS MAN WHO HAS SERVED HIS COUNTRY FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS WITH HONOR AND DIGNITY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING -- CONTINUING TO WORK WITH HIM AGAIN AHEAD IN THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS. TODAY THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY RELEASED ADDITIONAL DATA ON THE IMPACTS OF THE EXECUTIVE ACTION PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCED ON JUNE 4. SINCE THEN, ENCOUNTERS AT THE BORDER BETWEEN PORTS OF ENTRY HAVE DROPPED MORE THAN 55%. AVERAGE DAILY ENCOUNTERS ARE NOW LOWER THAN THEY WERE AT THE END OF THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION AND LOWER THAN AT THIS POINT BACK IN 2019. BUT WE KNOW THE ONLY WAY TO BRING LASTING SOLUTIONS TO SECURE THE 2ORDER 2ND 2O 2EGIN TO 2IX THE BROKEN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM IS TO PASS THE BIPARTISAN BORDER SECURITY AGREEMENT. SADLY, CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS HAVE DECIDED TO PUT PARTISAN POLITICS AHEAD OF OUR NATIONAL SECURITY AND TWICE VOTED AGAINST THE BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT AND BADLY NEEDED RESOURCES TO HIRE ADDITIONAL BORDER PATROL AGENTS AND FENTANYL DETECTION TECHNOLOGY AT THE BORDER. IN THE ABSENCE OF LEGISLATION -- LEGISLATIVE ACTION, THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION HAS TAKEN DECISIVE ACTIONS TO SECURE THE BORDER. RECENTLY THE ADMINISTRATION HAS TAKEN ACTION TO HOLD CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS ACCOUNTABLE, INCLUDING SANCTIONS AGAINST DIFFERENT GANGS AND SMUGGLING ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR VARIOUS CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES. THAT INCLUDES HUMAN SMUGGLING AND TRAFFICKING, GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND MONEY LAUNDERING. WE HAVE ALSO TAKEN CONCRETE STEPS TO MAKE OUR IMMIGRATION SYSTEM MORE FAIR AND MORE JUST AND TO KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER. THAT IS WHY IN AUGUST, ELIGIBLE SPOUSES OF U.S. CITIZENS AND THEIR CHILDREN WHO HAVE LIVED HERE FOR 10 YEARS OR MORE WILL BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR LEGAL STATUS WHILE REMAINING IN THE UNITED STATES. WITH THEIR FAMILIES. WE'RE ALSO HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN EDUCATED IN THE U.S., INCLUDING DREAMERS AND DACA RECIPIENTS, RECEIVE WORK VISAS MORE QUICKLY. THESE ACTIONS WILL HELP MORE YOUNG PEOPLE USE THEIR TALENTS TO ENRICH OUR COMMUNITIES AND STRENGTHEN OUR ECONOMY. THIS ADMINISTRATION WILL CONTINUE TAKING ACTION TO SECURE OUR BORDER AND FIX OUR BROKEN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM. NOW, WHEN PRESIDENT BIDEN TOOK OFFICE, WE WERE IN THE MIDST OF THE WORST ECONOMIC CRISIS SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION. BUT AS THE PRESIDENT SAID LAST NIGHT DURING HIS OVAL OFFICE ADDRESS, AND AS TODAY'S G.D.P. REPORT MAKES CLEAR, THE UNITED STATES HAS THE STRONGEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT. UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF PRESIDENT BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS, WE SAW THE ECONOMY GROW A STRONG 2.8% LAST QUARTER. WITH BUSINESS INVESTMENTS UP MORE THAN 5%. NEARLY 16 MILLION JOBS HAVE BEEN CREATED AND WAKES ARE UP HIGHER THAN BEFORE -- WAGES ARE UP HIGHER THAN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC. BUT AS THE PRESIDENT SAID, WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO. OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT WILL KEEP FIGHTING TO LOWER COSTS FOR HARDWORKING FAMILIES, FROM LOWERING HEALTH CARE AND HOUSING COSTS TO MAKING BILLIONAIRES PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE, AND CUTTING TAXES FOR FAMILIES WITH THE CHILD TAX CREDIT. WHILE CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS SIDE WITH SPECIAL INTERESTS AND THREATEN SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE, THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT WILL CONTINUE FIGHTING FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS. TODAY WE ARE PRAYING FOR THE THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS UNDER MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDERS OUT WEST AS WIDESPREAD WILDFIRES BURN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES ACROSS OREGON, CALIFORNIA AND ELSEWHERE. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE BRAVE FIRE FIREFIGHTERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS WHO ARE WORKING TO PROTECT PEOPLE AND SAVE LIVES. WE URGE EVERYONE IN THE AFFECTED AREAS TO REMAIN VIGILANT AND HEED THE WARNINGS OF LOCAL OFFICIALS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO EVACUATE. THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN BRIEFED ON THE FIRES AND WE ARE IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH THE GOVERNORS' OFFICES IN AFFECTED STATES TO ENSURE THEY HAVE ALL THAT THEY NEED. WHITE HOUSE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS ARE ALSO IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS ON THE FRONT LINES OF THESE FIRES AND 6800 FEDERAL PERSON EL FROM THE U.S. -- PERSONNEL FROM THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR ARE ON THE GROUND HELPING TO FIGHT THE BLAZES AND KEEP PEOPLE SAFE. THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE HAS ALSO MOBILIZED FOUR OF ITS C-130 MODULAR AIRBORNE FIREFIGHTER SYSTEMS TO SUPPRESS THE FIREFIGHTING EFFORTS. FEMA ALSO ISSUED SEVERAL FIRE MAPPINGMENT ASSISTANCE GRANTS TO HELP REIMBURSE STATES FOR FIREFIGHTING COSTS, AS ALWAYS WE STAND READY TO PROVIDE FURTHER SUPPORT AS NEEDED. AND FINALLY, ON MONDAY, IOWA'S EXTREME ABORTION BAN WILL TAKE EFFECT. BANNING CARE BEFORE A LOT OF WOMEN EVEN KNOW THAT THEY ARE PREGNANT. IOWA 2ILL 2E THE 22ND STATE WITH AN ABORTION BAN IN EFFECT. ALL OF THESE BANS IMPOSED BY THE REPUBLICAN ELECTED OFFICIALS PUT WOMEN'S HEALTH AND LIVES IN JEOPARDY. THE PRESIDENT AND THE VICE PRESIDENT HAVE BEEN CLEAR. THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN IN AMERICA. YET THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING IN STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SINCE THE SUPREME COURT OVERTURNED ROE V. WADE. AND IT'S NOT STOPPING AT THE STATE LEVEL. REPUBLICAN ELECTED OFFICIALS IN CONGRESS HAVE PROPOSED FOUR, FOUR NATIONAL ABORTION BANS WHILE REFUSING TO PROTECT NATIONWIDE ACCESS TO I.V.F. AND CONTRACEPTION. PRESIDENT BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS BELIEVE THAT WOMEN IN EVERY STATE MUST HAVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE DEEPLY PERSONAL DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR HEALTH CARE. THEY CONTINUE TO CALL ON CONGRESS TO RESTORE THE PROTECTIONS OF ROE V. WADE INTO FEDERAL LAW, AND FIGHT EFFORTS BY REPUBLICAN ELECTED OFFICIALS TO UNDERMINE OUR FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS. AND WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE ADMILLER. ADMIRAL JOHN KIRBY, WHO IS HERE TO TAKE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL'S VISIT AND MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT TODAY AND TAKE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE MIDDLE EAST. ADMIRAL KITSCH
ADMIRAL KIRBY: GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE PRESIDENT AND THE PRIME MINISTER ARE MEETING RIGHT NOW IN THE OVAL OFFICE. THERE'S A LOT ON THE AGENDA. BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST WILL BE DISCUSSING HOW DEEPLY AND HOW STRONGLY THE PRESIDENT FEELS, WE FEEL, THAT WE'VE GOT TO GET THIS HOSTAGE DEAL IN PLACE SO WE CAN GET A CEASEFIRE ALSO IN PLACE. AT LEAST FOR PHASE ONE, FOR THAT FIRST -- THOSE FIRST SIX WEEKS. THERE ARE GAPS THAT REMAIN AND OUR TEAM CONTINUES TO WORK WITH OUR COUNTERPARTS IN THE REGION TO SEE IF WE CAN'T CLOSE THOSE GAPS. WE BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE OF A NATURE WHERE THEY CAN BE CLOSED. AND THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE A DEAL. BUT IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE, AS IT ALWAYS DOES, SOME LEADERSHIP, SOME COMPROMISE AND AN EFFORT TO GET THERE. THE PRESIDENT WILL BE REAFFIRMING FOR PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU THAT HE BELIEVES WE NEED TO GET THERE AND WE NEED TO GET THERE SOON. TODAY IS THE 293RD DAY THAT THESE HOSTAGES HAVE BEEN HELD CAPTIVE BY HAMAS. AND YOU JUST HAVE TO ASSUME THAT IT IS THE MOST HORRIFIC OF CIRCUMSTANCES. SADLY, WE KNOW THAT NOT ALL OF THEM ARE ALIVE. STILL HOSTAGES, STILL NEED TO GET HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES. 293 DAYS, THERE OUGHT NOT TO BE A 294TH. AND WE'RE GOING TO KEEP WORKING ON THAT. I DO ANTICIPATE THAT THE TWO LEADERS WILL ALSO HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES IN TERMS OF THE BLUE LINE UP AT THE NORTH AND MAKING SURE WE DON'T SEE AN ESCALATION OF THE CONFLICT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND LEBANON AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOTH ISRAELI AND LEBANESE CITIZENS TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES. AS WELL AS OF COURSE THE NEED, THE CRITICAL NEED FOR STABILITY IN THE WEST BANK. WE'RE STILL SEEING VIOLENCE IN THE WEST BANK THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY STEADFAST, CALL OUTING AS UNACCEPTABLE -- CALLING OUT AS UNACCEPTABLE. THE UNITED STATES' IRONCLAD COMMITMENT TO ISRAEL'S SECURITY, INCLUDING COUNTERING THE VERY SERIOUS THREATS THAT IRAN AND ITS PROXY GROUPS CONTINUE TO DEMONSTRATE THROUGHOUT THE REGION. THE PRESIDENT AND THE PRIME MINISTER OF COURSE AFTER THEIR MEETING TODAY IN THE OVAL WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO MEET WITH FAMILIES OF THE AMERICANS THAT ARE BEING HELD HOSTAGE BY HAMAS. THIS WILL BE THE PRESIDENT'S SECOND IN-PERSON MEETING WITH THESE FAMILIES, BUT AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE HAVE KEPT UP WITH A REGULAR DRUMBEAT OF INTERACTION WITH THEM, SINCE THE SEVENTH OF OCTOBER, JAKE SULLIVAN'S MET WITH THEM 10, 12 TIMES, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE TEAM HAVE ALSO KEPT IN TOUCH WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING TO GET THEIR LOVED ONES HOME. JUST QUICKLY BEFORE WE GO TO QUESTIONS, A QUICK WORD ON VENEZUELA. WE SUPPORT THE PEACEFUL ELECTIONS THAT WE EXPECT AND HOPE WILL COME ON SUNDAY. ELECTIONS THAT WILL REFLECT THE WILL AND IT'S AS OPERATIONS OF THE VENEZUELAN PEOPLE FOR A MORE DEMOCRATIC, STABLE AND PROSPEROUS FUTURE. ANY POLITICAL REPRESSION AND VIOLENCE IS UNACCEPTABLE. AND OF COURSE REGARDLESS OF WHO WINS, WE ENCOURAGE BOTH CANDIDATES TO COMMIT TO A PEACEFUL OUTCOME AND TO WORK TOGETHER 2OR 2HE 2OOD OF ALL VENEZUELANS WITH THAT, I'LL TAKE QUESTIONS.
REPORTER: DOES THE THE PRESIDENT BELIEVE THAT PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU WANTS TO GET A HOSTAGE DEAL, GIVEN HIS POLITICAL CONSIDERATION AT HOME AND IN ISRAEL, THAT HE'S ACTUALLY CAPABLE AND WILLING TO REACH THOSE CAN -- BRIDGE THOSE GAPS THAT YOU SAY REMAIN? ADMIRAL
KIRBY: YES, YES, AND YES. HE SAYS HE WANTS TO GET THE HOSTAGES HOME. THE ISRAELI, PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU, HAS BEEN WORKING WITH US TO TRY TO GET THAT DEAL OVER THE FINISH LINE. THAT'S IT. AS I MENTIONED AT THE TOP, THERE'S STILL SOME GAPS THAT REMAIN AND WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING TO THE PRIME MINISTER TODAY ABOUT CLOSING THOSE GAPS.
REPORTER: THE PRESIDENT MENTIONED LAST NIGHT THAT HE PLANS TO SPEND THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, HIS TIME IN OFFICE, FOCUSED ON FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES. HOW DOES THE PRESIDENT'S ANNOUNCEMENT CHANGE WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE HAS PLANNED FOR THE BALANCE OF THE YEAR FOR JANUARY 20 IN TERMS OF THE PRESIDENT TRAVELING, WILL HE GET TO AFRICA, AND TO THE-DO LIST OF THINGS THAT MAYBE HAD BEEN PLANNED FOR THE SECOND TERM THAT HE NOW HAS LESS THAN SIX MONTHS TO GET DONE?
ADM. KIRBY: NOW THAT HE'S NOT RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION, YOU CAN EXPECT THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES ON THE CALENDAR THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN BEFORE. SO WE'RE ALL EXPLORING WHAT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES CAN LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF ADVANCING HIS FOREIGN POLICY AGENDA AND NATIONAL SECURITY OPPORTUNITIES. STILL GOT A WAR IN UKRAINE AND GAZA AND STILL GOT CLIMATE CHANGE TO DEAL WITH, STILL GOT A VERY RESTLESS INDO-PACIFIC. THERE'S PLENTY OF THINGS FOR THE NATIONAL SECURITY TEAM TO TRY TO CONTINUE TO GET DONE.
REPORTER: WE HEARD FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT EARLIER WITH COMMENTS, STRONG COMMENTS RELATED TO THE VANDALISM AND THE PROTESTS THAT WE SAW YESTERDAY. WE HAVEN'T HEARD YET FROM THE PRESIDENT, FROM THE WHITE HOUSE AT LARGE. DO YOU CONDEMN WHAT YOU SAW YESTERDAY, HOW DO YOU CHARACTERIZE THE PROTESTS, INCLUDING WHAT WE SAW AT UNION STATION?
ADMIRAL KIRBY: WE DID PUT OUT A STATEMENT LAST NIGHT FROM THE WHITE HOUSE BUT ABSOLUTELY CONDEMN ANY VIOLENCE IN PROTEST ACTIVITY. IT'S A FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO PEACEFULLY PROTEST. WE FULLY SUPPORT THAT. WE KNOW THERE ARE STRONG VIEWS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN GAZA AND SOME OF THOSE VIEWS ARE IN OPPOSITION TO SOME OF THE POLICIES THAT WE'RE PURSUING. WE GET IT. THAT'S DEMOCRACY. BUT WHEN IT TURNS VIOLENT AND WHEN YOU BURN AN AMERICAN FLAG AND PULL IT DOWN OFF A U.S. GOVERNMENT SITE, THAT'S JUST ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE. AND OBVIOUSLY WE CONDEMN ALL OF THAT.
REPORTER: ARE THESE PROTESTS PRO-PALESTINIAN, PRO-HAMAS, ANTI-ISRAEL? HOW DO YOU CHARACTERIZE WHAT WE'RE SEEING?
ADMIRAL KIRBY: I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF ALL THOSE THINGS. I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE PROTEST,ERS, OBVIOUSLY I DON'T SHARE THEIR VIEW, BUT OBVIOUSLY THEY TOOK GREAT EXCEPTION TO THE PRIME MINISTER SPEAKING ON CAPITOL HILL AND AS I SAID, MANY OF THEM HAVE TAKEN EXCEPTION WITH OUR POLICIES WITH RESPECT TO GAZA.
REPORTER: TODAY WE HEARD FROM ONE OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO IS GOING TO BE MEETING WITH BOTH THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE PRESIDENT A SHORT TIME FROM NOW. SHE WAS A FORMER HOSTAGE OF HAMAS. SHE SAYS I WANT TO ASK PRESIDENT BIDEN IF BIBI IS NOT WILLING OR ABLE TO AGREE TO THE CEASEFIRE AND HOSTAGE DEAL, TO BRING THE AMERICANS HOME. IS THERE ANYTHING MORE THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN IS PREPARED TO DO UNILATERALLY TO TRY TO BRING THOSE HOSTAGES HOME?
ADMIRAL KIRBY: I WOULDN'T GET INTO HIGH POGT SIZING AND SPECULATING ABOUT OPTION ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. WE WANT TO GET ALL THE HOSTAGES HOME, KHRAOERLG THE AMERICANS IN PARTICULAR -- CLEARLY THE AMERICANS IN PARTICULAR. THAT'S WHY THIS DEAL IS SO IMPORTANT. AND WE ARE CLOSE. WE ARE CLOSER NOW. WE BELIEVE THAN WE'VE BEEN BEFORE. THE GAPS ARE CLOSEABLE. NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT. AND WE BELIEVE, THE PRESIDENT BELIEVES THAT GETTING THAT HOSTAGE DEAL IN PLACE, GETTING THAT SIX-WEEK CEASEFIRE, THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO GET ALL THESE LOVED ONES BACK WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
REPORTER: THANKS. DID THE U.S. FIND ANY OF NETANYAHU'S REMARKS YESTERDAY TO BE FALSE OR MISLEADING?
ADMIRAL KIRBY: I'M NOT GOING TO PARSE EVERYTHING HE SAID OR DO A FACT CHECK HERE FROM THIS PODIUM. HE SHOULD 2PEAK 2OR 2IMSELF ABOUT 2HAT HIS VIEWS ARE.
REPORTER: HE SHOULD BUT HE HAD A POWERFUL STAGE, A JOINT ADDRESS BEFORE CONGRESS. DO YOU AGREE WITH ASSERTIONS THAT IRAN FINANCIALLY BACKED SOME OF THE PROTESTERS, THAT IF THERE ARE PALESTINIANS IN GAZA WHO AREN'T GETTING ENOUGH FOOD, IT'S NOT BECAUSE ISRAEL IS BLOCKING IT? AS TWO EXAMPLES. ADMIRAL
KIRBY: ON THE FIRST EXAMPLE WAOEFRBGS SAID OURSELVES -- EXAMPLE, WE'VE SAID OURSELVES, THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE CAME OUT PUBLICLY AND SAID, WITH HE DO KNOW IRAN HAS BEEN FUNDING AND ENCOURAGING SOME OF THE PROTEST ACTIVITY HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. SOME OF IT. WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT ALL THE PROTEST ACTIVITY OUT THERE ON A DAILY BASIS IS BEING FULLY FUNDED BY IRAN. THERE'S A LOT OF ORGANIC CONCERN OUT THERE IN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND MOST OF THESE PROTESTS ARE FORMED AND FASHIONED IN THAT REGARD. ON THE SECOND QUESTION, THERE HAS BEEN A STEADY INCREASE OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE GETTING INTO GAZA. THE PROBLEM ISN'T GETTING IT TO GAZA RIGHT NOW. THE PROBLEM IS GETTING IT AROUND GAZA. AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IT'S SO DANG DIFFICULT TO MOVE THINGS AROUND INSIDE GAZA IS BECAUSE THERE'S A WAR GOING ON AND BOMBS ARE DROPPING AND REGRETTABLY IN THE CONDUCT OF SOME OF THEIR RECENT OPERATIONS, THE ISRAELI MILITARY HAS IN FACT, NOT ON PURPOSE, WE HAVE NO REASON TO BELIEVE THEY DID THIS DISTRIBUTELY, BUT THERE HAS BEEN ACCIDENTAL STRIKES ON SOME OF THE TRUCKS AND THE THE TRUCKS AND THE CONVOYS THAT HAVE BEEN MOVING AROUND. SO IT'S NOT ONE OR THE OTHER. THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS WHY IT'S NOT MOVING AROUND AND SOME OF THAT IS OF COURSE THE MILITARY ACTIVITY OF THE ISRAELIS INSIDE GAZA.
REPORTER: NOW THAT THE VICE PRESIDENT IS THE LIKELY DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE, HAS SHE COMMUNICATED WITH THE PRESIDENT WHETHER A HARRIS ADMINISTRATION'S ISRAEL POLICY WOULD BE THE SAME OR DIFFERENT AS HIS? ADMIRAL
KIRBY: YOU WOULD HAVE TO TALK TO THE VICE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE AND THE CAMPAIGN FOR THAT. JUST WANT TO REMIND, SHE'S BEEN A FULL PARTNER IN OUR POLICIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST, PARTICULARLY WITH OUR POLICIES TOWARD ISRAEL AND THE WAR IN GAZA, FULL PARTNER, BEEN INVOLVED IN NEARLY EVERY CONVERSATION THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS HAD WITH THE PRIME MINISTER AND VERY MUCH ENGAGED THROUGHOUT.
REPORTER: BEFORE I GET TO MY QUESTION, GUYS, A QUICK FOLLOW-UP ON THAT. CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO MIGHT THINK IT JUST LOOKS ODD THAT SHE IS HAVING HER OWN PRIVATE MEETING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER SEPARATE FROM THE PRESIDENT'S, TO SUGGEST THAT THEY AREN'T -- [INDISCERNIBLE] --
ADMIRAL KIRBY: I RECKON IF SHE WERE HERE SHE'D BE IN THE ROOM RIGHT NOW BUT SHE'S NOT PHYSICALLY HERE. THERE'S NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THAT. THE VICE PRESIDENT HAS AND I FULLY EXPECT OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE MEETINGS OF HER OWN WITH FOREIGN LEADERS. SHE'S MET PRIVATELY WITH PRESIDENT SHREPBGSKY AND -- STKHREPBSKY AND OTHERS AS WELL.
REPORTER: HAS NOTHING CHANGED IN 20 DAYS? IS THAT --
ADMIRAL KIRBY: I WOULDN'T SAY NOTHING'S CHANGED.
REPORTER: WHAT ARE THE REMAINING GAPS AND STICKING POINT?
>> I'M NOT GOING TO NEGOTIATE IN PUBLIC. I WOULDN'T SAY NOTHING'S CHANGED.
ADMIRAL KIRBY: THE LAST 20 DAYS YOU TALK ABOUT, WE'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY, REALLY HARD TO TRY TO GET THOSE GAPS CLOSED. THERE'S STILL MORE WORK TO BE DONE. BUT WE BELIEVE, AS I SAID EVERYIER, WE'RE -- EARLIER, WE'RE CLOSER NOW THAN WE'VE BEEN BEFORE AND WE THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY ACHIEVABLE TO GET THIS OVER THE FINISH LINE.
REPORTER: FOLLOWING ON YOU THAT. ONE OTHER THING THAT THE PRIME MINISTER SAID YESTERDAY THAT'S GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION IS THE CONFLICT HAS HAD ONE OF THE LOWEST RATIOS OF COMBATANT TO NONCOMBATANT CASUALTIES IN THE HISTORY OF WARFARE. OUR OWN STATE DEPARTMENT HAS FOUND THAT ISRAELIS HAVE BEEN INCONSIST WENT INTERNATIONAL LAW. WHO IS CORRECT HERE? IS THE UNITED STATES COMFORTABLE WITH THE RATIO OF DEATHS? ADMIRAL
KIRBY: I'M NOT GOING TO GO LINE THROUGH LINE OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S SPEECH AND DEBATE IT HERE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE PODIUM. HE SHOULD SPEAK FOR HIS COMMENT, HE SHOULD SPEAK FOR HIS VIEWS. WHAT I CAN DO IS SPEAK FOR OURS. AND THE RIGHT NUMBER OF CIVILIAN CASUALTIES IS ZERO. AND THERE HAS BEEN TOO MANY CIVILIAN CASUALTIES IN THIS FIGHTING IN 2AZA. AND 2S I JUST INDICATED IN 2Y PREVIOUS ANSWER, THERE CONTINUE TO BE CIVIL KWRAB CASUALTIES IN -- CIVILIAN CASUALTIES IN THIS WAR IN GAZA. THERE CONTINUES TO BE DESPERATE NEED FOR FOOD, WATER, MEDICINE. BECAUSE IT'S A COMBAT ZONE IN MANY PLACES AND WE NEED TO BRING THE WAR TO AN END AND ONE OF THE PRINCIPLE THINGS THAT THE PRESIDENT'S GOING TO TALK TO THE PRIME MINISTER ABOUT TODAY IS HOW WE GET THERE. HOW DO WE END THIS WAR? AND THE BEST WAY IN HIS VIEW IS TO GET THIS DEAL IN PLACE. GET A SIX-WEEK CEASEFIRE. GET PHASE ONE GOING SO YOU NEGOTIATE TO PHASE TWO, GET A CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES AND GET THOSE HOSTAGES HOME.
REPORTER: THANKS. YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR TOP THE WORD COMPROMISES. DOES THE PRESIDENT BELIEVE SPECIFICALLY THAT PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU NEEDS TO MAKE COMPROMISES TO ACHIEVE A CEASEFIRE DEAL? IT'S NOT JUST HAMAS? AND ALSO, WHAT ARE THOSE COMPROMISES THAT NETANYAHU WOULD HAVE TO MAKE?
ADMIRAL KIRBY: BOTH SIDES NEED TO MAKE COMPROMISES. YOU CAN SURMISE THAT THERE ARE STILL COMPROMISES THAT NEED TO BE MADE. THE ISRAELIS ALREADY HAVE MADE MANY COMPROMISES TO GET US TO THIS POINT. HAMAS, THROUGH THEIR INTERLOCUTORS, HAVE MADE COMPROMISES TO GET US TO THIS POINT AND YET WE'RE STILL NOT THERE. SO THERE'S STILL A NEED FOR COMPROMISE.
REPORTER: WILL THE PRESIDENT BE SAYING TO PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU, YOU NEED TO MAKE COMPROMISES?
ADMIRAL KIRBY: WE'RE GOING TO DO A READOUT AND WE'LL TELL YOU HOW THE MEETING WENT AFTER IT'S OVER MUCH AS I SAID IN THE OPENING STATEMENT, THIS WILL BE A PRIME TOPIC OF DISCUSSION. THAT IT'S TIME NOW TO GET THESE COMPROMISES IN PLACE. IT'S TIME END TO THE WAR.
REPORTER: THANK YOU. HOW DOES THE ADMINISTRATION RECONCILE THE COMMENTS THE PRESIDENT HAS MADE ABOUT THE FACT THAT HAMAS HAS BEEN DEPENDS PLAY THED, ITS MILITARY OBJECTIVES ACHIEVED WEEKS AGO AND WE HEARD THE PRIME MINISTER REITERATE THAT HE WANTS TOTAL VICTORY, HOW DO YOU RECONCILE THESE TWO VISIONS?
ADMIRAL KIRBY: I DON'T THINK THEY NEED TO BE RECONCILED. BOTH THINGS CAN BE TRUE. WE DO BELIEVE THAT FROM A MILITARY PERSPECTIVE, HAMAS HAS BEEN VERY BADLY BEATEN AND DENIGRATED. NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT. DOESN'T MEAN THEY'VE BEEN ELIMINATED. THEY STILL HAVE LEADERSHIP IN PLACE. THEY STILL CAN DIRECT OPERATIONS. THEY STILL HAVE FIGHTERS AT THEIR BECK AND CALL. AND WE'RE SEEING THAT EVERY DAY. AND WE ALSO STILL BELIEVE THAT THEY NEED TO BE DEFEATED, THAT THE THREAT TO ISRAEL NEEDS TO BE ELIMINATED FROM HAMAS. AND THAT WHATEVER THE POST-WAR SITUATION LOOKS LIKE, IT CAN'T END WITH HAMAS BEING IN CONTROL OVER GAZA. SO I DON'T THINK THAT THE TWO THINGS ARE NECESSARILY IRRECONCILABLE OR AT ODDS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
REPORTER: THANK YOU. TWO QUESTIONS. TO WHAT EXTENT THE WAR IN GAZA HAS IMPACTED THE PRESIDENT'S AMBITIOUSES FOR THE CORRIDOR AND -- [INDISCERNIBLE] -- DISCUSS TODAY THE -- [INDISCERNIBLE] --
ADMIRAL KIRBY: THE CORRIDOR? I THINK IT'S TOO SOON WHETHER TO KNOW THERE WILL BE A BIG IMPACT ON THAT. THE PRESIDENT'S ABSOLUTELY STILL COMMITTED TO IT. WE STILL HAVE THE TEAMS PULLING TOGETHER AND WORKING ON THAT. IT'S GOT GREAT PROMISE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES, NOT ONLY JUST FOR MOVEMENT OF COMMERCE, BUT THE JOBS THAT IT WILL CREATE JUST IN ITS ESTABLISHMENT.
REPORTER: AND SECONDLY, THE PRESIDENT'S -- [INDISCERNIBLE] -- STILL COMMITTED TO ATTENDING THE QUAD SUMMIT BEING HOSTED BY INDIA THIS YEAR?
ADMIRAL KIRBY: WE'RE STILL COMMITTED TO THERE BEING A QUAD LEADER SUM THINK THE YEAR BUT THERE'S NOTHING ON THE -- SUMMIT THIS YEAR BUT THERE'S NOTHING ON THE CALENDAR YET FOR IT.
REPORTER: THE MEETING WITH THE HOSTAGE FAMILIES THIS AFTERNOON THAT YOU REFERENCED, CAN YOU GIVE US A SENSE OF WHAT MESSAGE THE PRESIDENT WILL BRING TO THOSE FAMILIES, WHAT IS HE GOING TO SAY?
ADMIRAL KIRBY: I WON'T SPEAK FOR THE PRIME MINISTER BUT THE PRESIDENT INTENDS TO TELL THEM HOW SERIOUSLY HE STILL IS COMMITTED TO GETTING THIS DEAL IN PLACE AND GETTING THEIR LOVED ONES HOME. HE'S GOING TO TELL THEM THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAINTAIN THE CONTACT WITH THEM THAT WE HAVE HAD. THAT THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A GAP IN COMMUNICATION AS WE GET CLOSER HERE. HOPEFULLY TO THE END. AND THEN HE'S NOT GOING TO REST UNTIL ALL THEIR LOVED ONES ARE BACK.
REPORTER: IN THE OVAL OFFICE, THE TWO MEN 2ERE 2RIENDLY 2ND CORDIAL AND PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS JOKING ABOUT HOW OLD HE WAS, FIRST FIRST TIME MEETING WITH A PREVIOUS PRIME MINISTER. BUT WE KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN TENSIONS BETWEEN PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU AND PRESIDENT BIDEN. WHAT'S YOUR -- CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE STATE OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP RIGHT NOW?
ADMIRAL KIRBY: IT'S A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP AND BY HEALTHY I MEAN, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO AGREE ON EVERYTHING. THEY HAVEN'T. THEY HAVEN'T THROUGH THE LONG POLITICAL LIVES THAT BOTH OF THEM HAVE ENJOYED ALWAYS AGREED ON EVERYTHING. THEY COME FROM TWO DIFFERENT POLITICAL TRADITIONS. BUT THEY KNOW ONE ANOTHER. SPEAKING FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN THAT HE'S VERY COMFORTABLE IN THE RELATIONSHIP THAT HE HAS WITH THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE ABILITY THAT HE HAS, HE WOULD DO IT ANYWAY, BUT CERTAINLY WITH PRIME MINISTER, THE ABILITY THAT HE HAS TO BE CANDID AND HONEST AND LAY IT ALL OUT THERE AND HE'LL DO THAT TODAY.
REPORTER: DID THE PRESIDENT WATCH THE PRIME MINISTER'S SPEECH YESTERDAY OR SEE ANYTHING THAT HE --
ADMIRAL KIRBY: I DON'T KNOW IF HE WATCHED IT. I DON'T KNOW THAT.
REPORTER: AND YOU DIDN'T -- DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF HIS REACTION?
ADMIRAL KIRBY: I DON'T. THAT WAS EASY.
REPORTER: ON VENEZUELA, DO YOU THINK THAT MADURO HAS THE ABILITY TO KIND OF FULLY RIG THE ELECTION OR DO YOU THINK THAT HE -- IT'S MORE LIKELY HE WOULD JUST CONTEST THE RESULTS?
ADMIRAL KIRBY: IT'S DIFFICULT TO KNOW EXACTLY HOW THIS IS GOING TO PLAY OUT. SO I CAN'T REALLY ANSWER THAT SPECIFICALLY. BUT THE REASON I MENTIONED IT IN MY OPENING STATEMENT IS TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO MR. MADURO THAT WE'RE WATCHING. WE'RE WATCHING CLOSELY. THEY NEED TO BE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS, FREE OF OPPRESSION, FREE OF VOTER INTIMIDATION. AND AGAIN, NO MATTER WHO WINS, OUR EXPECTATION IS THAT THE WINNER IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AFTER DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS IN VENEZUELA.
REPORTER: IF THE OPPOSITION DOES WIN, ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT VIOLENCE THAT MIGHT BREAK OUT?
ADMIRAL KIRBY: IF WE WEREN'T CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY, I WOULDN'T HAVE MENTIONED IT IN THE OPENING STATEMENT.
REPORTER: THANK YOU. TWO QUESTIONS ON IRAN. HOW -- [INDISCERNIBLE] -- GOING TO DEAL WITH IRAN? WHICH ASPECTS OF DEALING WITH IRAN IS HE GOING TO PRIORITIZE IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS IN OFFICE? AND WHICH ONE OF THEM WOULD BE RECOMMENDED TO HARRIS WHEN SHE GETS AT THE WHITE HOUSE AGAIN?
ADMIRAL KIRBY: SHE'S ALREADY IN THE WHITE HOUSE, SHE'S ALREADY A KEY PARTNER IN OUR FOREIGN POLICY ON THIVES. I WOULD TELL YOU THAT YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS THE SAME FOCUS BY THIS ADMINISTRATION AND THIS TEAM, WHICH OF COURSE INCLUDES THE VICE PRESIDENT, ON HOLDING IRAN ACCOUNTABLE FOR ALL THEIR DESTABILIZING ACTIVITY, SUPPORT TO THE HOUTHI, TO HEZBOLLAH, TO HAMAS. THE MERCHANT ATTACKS THAT THEY'RE ALLOWING THE HOUTHIS TO CONTINUE TO PERPETRATE. AND THAT THEY'RE PERPETRATING THEMSELVES IN THE GULF REGION. AS WELL AS THEIR SUPPORT TO RUSSIA AND RUSSIA'S WAR IN UKRAINE. I COULD GO ON AND ON. WE HAVE SANCTIONED IRAN SOME 600 DIFFERENT TIMES JUST IN THE LAST 3 1/2 YEARS OF THIS ADMINISTRATION. WE'LL CONTINUE TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. THAT WILL BE A STEADY FOCUS FOR THE PRESIDENT.
REPORTER: THE PRIME MINISTER YESTERDAY NAMED PART OF THE PROTESTERS AS IRAN'S USEFUL IDIOTS. WHAT IS THE ADMINISTRATION'S -- [INDISCERNIBLE] -- DEALING WITH THEM?
ADMIRAL KIRBY: FIRST OF ALL, THAT'S NOT A PHRASE WE WOULD USE. I THINK TO PETER'S QUESTION, WE KNOW THAT IRAN CERTAINLY HAS TRIED TO MEDDLE HERE. THEY'VE TRIED TO SOW DISCORD. THEY'VE OBVIOUSLY CONTRIBUTED TO SOME FUNDING OF SOME PROTESTERS. BUT I THINK TO PAINT EVERYBODY WITH THAT BRUSH IS UNFORTUNATE AND NOT AN ACCURATE REFLECTION. MOST OF THE PROTEST ACTIVITY HERE IN THE UNITED STATES IS PEACEFUL. MOST OF IT IS, THE VAST MAJORITY OF IT IS ORGANIC. IT COMES FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE REAL CONCERNS. AND THAT'S WHAT A DEMOCRACY'S ALL ABOUT.
REPORTER: DO YOU AGREE WITH THE -- [INDISCERNIBLE] -- WITH THE PRIME MINISTER'S ASSERTION THAT BASICALLY ISRAEL IS PROTECTING THE U.S., I MEAN, IS IT SORT -- [INDISCERNIBLE] -- AND WHAT DOES THE U.S. NEED PROTECTION FROM AN ALLY?
ADMIRAL KIRBY: I'M SORRY, CAN YOU --
REPORTER: YEAH. HE 2AID 2HEN 2SRAEL FIGHTS HAMAS, HEZBOLLAH, HOUTHIS, WE ARE FIGHTING IRAN, WHEN ISRAEL ACTS TO PREVENT IRAN FROM DEVELOPING NUCLEAR WEAPONS, WE ARE NOT ONLY PROTECTING OURSELVES, WE'RE PROTECTING YOU. SO WHY DOES THE U.S. NEED PROTECTION FROM AN ALLY? ISN'T THE U.S. DOING ENOUGH? ADMIRAL
KIRBY: IT IS CLEAR THAT ISRAEL AND THE UNITED STATES SHARE A CONCERN ABOUT IRAN'S ACTIVITIES. AND THE PRIME MINISTER'S NOT WRONG. WHEN YOU'RE GOING AFTER GROUPS LIKE HEZBOLLAH OR HAMAS IN THIS CASE, PARTICULARLY, OR WHEN WE TOGETHER TRY TO DEFEND EACH OTHER AGAINST THE HOUTHI MISSILES AND DRONES THAT CONTINUE TO FLY, THAT IS ALSO BECAUSE OF THE PROXY NATURE OF IT, ALSO COUNTERING IRAN'S ACTIVITIES. TOGETHER. THAT'S WHAT ALLIES AND PARTNERS DO.
REPORTER: THANKS, JOHN. JUST TO TAKE THE LONG OF THIS. VERY EARLY IN PRESIDENT BIDEN'S SPIT, -- PRESIDENCY, HE SPOKE ABOUT HIS PRIORITIES IN FOREIGN POLICY. AND HE SAID THAT ONE OF THE PRIORITIES WAS RECLAIMING OUR CREDIBILITY IN THE MORAL AUTHORITY. THE PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL, IN THE JUDGMENT OF THE CHIEF PROSECUTOR OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT, A WAR CRIMINAL. ISN'T HOSTING ANING ISN'T HOSTING AN ALLEGED WAR CRIMINAL IN THE OVAL OFFICE UNDERMINING OF CREDIBILITY AND MORAL AUTHORITY?
ADMIRAL KIRBY: NO, BECAUSE WE DON'T CONSIDER HIM A WAR CRIMINAL.
REPORTER: BUT THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT DOES.
ADMIRAL KIRBY: WE DON'T AGREE. AS WE'VE SAID BEFORE, WE DON'T FIND THE I.C.C.'S FINDING TO BE RELEVANT OR APPROPRIATE IN THIS CASE. WE DON'T FIND HIM TO BE A WAR CRIMINAL. HE'S AN ALLY AND A FRIEND.
REPORTER: THE CHIEF PROSECUTOR SAYS THAT ISRAEL'S ALSO LEGITIMATE WAR AIMS BUT THE WAY ISRAEL CHOSE TO ACHIEVE THESE IN GAZA, NAMELY INTENTIONALLY CAUSING DEATHS, STARVATION, GREAT SUFFERING AND SERIOUS INJURY TO BODY OR HEALTH OF THE CIVILIAN POPULATION, ARE CRIMINAL.
ADMIRAL KIRBY: IS THAT A QUESTION? BECAUSE IF IT IS, I'VE ALREADY ANSWERED IT. WE DON'T CONSIDER HIM A WAR CRIMINAL.
REPORTER: THANKS. [INDISCERNIBLE] -- RECENTLY OUR FAMILIES WHO WERE VICTIMS OF HAMAS, BY THE LAUNCH AGAINST NORTH KOREA -- [INDISCERNIBLE] -- IN THE U.S. FEDERAL COURT, DEMANDING $1 BILLION FROM NORTH KOREA. PLANNING THAT NORTH KOREA WAS -- [INDISCERNIBLE] -- BECAUSE THE WEAPONS USED BY HAMAS WERE WEAPONS SUPPORTED BY NORTH KOREA, WHAT -- [INDISCERNIBLE] --
ADMIRAL KIRBY: LOOK, MR. KIM CONTINUES TO EXPORT MILITARY CAPABILITY AND WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH ALLIES AND PARTNERS AND COUNTERPARTS TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT. THEY'RE ALSO EXPORTING TECHNOLOGY AND WEAPONS SYSTEMS TO RUSSIA. SO THEY CAN KILL INNOCENT UKRAINIANS. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT BEHAVIOR.
REPORTER: ALSO IT -- [INDISCERNIBLE] -- HARSIS ELECTED AND -- HARRIS IS ELECTED AND SHE'S THE PRESIDENT, WILL SHE CONTINUE TO -- [INDISCERNIBLE] -- BETWEEN U.S. AND SOUTH KOREA?
ADMIRAL KIRBY: I AM NOT GOING TO SPEAK FOR A HYPOTHETICAL ELECTORAL OUTCOME AND I'M CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO SPEAK FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT IN THIS REGARD. YOU REALLY SHOULD TALK TO HER TEAM AND HER CAMPAIGN.
REPORTER: THANKS. THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN PUSHING FOR A PEACE DEAL, A CEASEFIRE, FOR WEEKS IF NOT MONTHS. NOW THAT HE HAS ANNOUNCED THAT HE'S NOT RUNNING FOR ANOTHER TERM, HOW IF IN ANY WAY THAT COMPLICATES THOSE EFFORTS TO REACH A PEACE DEAL?
ADMIRAL KIRBY: WE DON'T BELIEVE IT DOES. IN THE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE BEEN HAVING IN RECENT HOURS, THERE'S NO REASON TO SUSPECT THAT HIS DECISION PLOT TO 2UN 2OR RE-ELECTION 2S 2OING TO HAVE 2N IMPACT ON OUR ABILITY TO GET THE DEAL DONE. WHEREAS GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT, AS I AS I SAID BEFORE, IS LEADERSHIP. LEADERSHIP ON ALL SIDES AND THE ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO COMPROMISE. WE ARE CLOSE. WE JUST HAVE TO FINISH IT.
REPORTER: THE PRESIDENT ALSO LAST NIGHT SPOKE ABOUT HIS GOALS IN HIS REMAINING SIX MONTHS IN OFFICE. ONE OF THOSE GOALS IS TO GET BACK THOSE WRONGFULLY DETAINED AMERICANS, AMERICANS. THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED BY SOME AS A LAME DUCK PRESIDENT. DOES IT COMPLICATE THOSE EFFORTS TO GET BACK THOSE WRONGFULLY DETAINED AMERICANS?
ADMIRAL KIRBY: I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT WE CONTINUE TO WORK EXTREMELY HARD AT GETTING ALL THE WRONGFULLY DETAINED AMERICANS AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING THOSE IN RUSSIA THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, GETTING THEM HOME WHERE THEY BELONG. THEY DON'T NEED -- THERE'S NO REASON FOR THEM TO BE DETAINED. THE WHOLE TEAM IS WORKING ON THIS AROUND THE CLOCK. I CAN ABSOLUTELY ASSURE YOU THAT.
REPORTER: THANK YOU. YESTERDAY NETANYAHU ASKED THE U.S. TO FAST TRACK WEAPONS IN HIS SPEECH. I'M WONDERING IF THE PRESIDENT IS CONSIDERING LIFTING HIS PAUSE ON THE 2,000-POUND BOMBS THAT THE ISRAELIS HAVE REQUESTED?
ADMIRAL KIRBY: NO CHANGE TO THAT POLICY AT THIS TIME. AND I WOULD JUST ADD THAT THAT IS THE ONLY SHIPMENT OF THE ONLY TYPE OF WEAPONRY THAT HAS BEEN HELD UP. ALL THE MILITARY SECURITY ASSISTANCE THAT HAD BEEN GOING TO ISRAEL CONTINUES TO GO TO ISRAEL. THEY'RE STILL GETTING THE TOOLS, THE CAPABILITIES AND THE WEAPONS THAT THEY NEED FOR THE FIGHT THAT THEY'RE IN.
REPORTER: WHAT CONVERSATIONS HAS PRESIDENT BIDEN HAD WITH VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS AHEAD OF HER MEETING WITH THE ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER?
ADMIRAL KIRBY: I WON'T SPEAK TO PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND THE VICE PRESIDENT. I WOULDN'T DO THAT ON ANY GIVEN DAY AND I'M CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO DO IT STARTING TODAY. THE VICE PRESIDENT, I'M SURE HER TEAM WILL GIVE HER A READOUT OF HOW THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND THE PRIME MINISTER IS GOING RIGHT NOW. AND THAT WILL I'M SURE INFORM HER CONVERSATION, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO MORE DETAIL THAN THAT.
REPORTER: WHAT ADDITIONAL PRESSURE IS THE PRESIDENT WILLING TO EXERT UPON NETANYAHU, JUST GIVEN THAT THE FRAMEWORK, AS MY COLLEAGUE MENTIONED, WAS JUST SUBMIT A FEW WEEKS AGO AND STILL NOTHING HAS COME FROM THAT.
ADMIRAL KIRBY: THE FRAMEWORK FOR THE DEAL? MY GOODNESS, I KNOW WE'RE NOT THERE YET AND I GET THAT THERE'S MORE WORK TO BE DONE, BUT THINK ABOUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE HE LAID THAT OUT ON THE 31ST OF MAY. WE WENT FROM THAT FRAMEWORK PROPOSAL TO GETTING THE FRAMEWORK ITSELF AGREED TO NOW BY BOTH SIDES. THERE'S SOME HAGGLING THAT'S BEING DONE OVER SOME OF THE DETAILS. SOME OF THAT HAGGLING HAS HAD POSITIVE RESULTS AND WE HAVE CLOSED SOME GAPS. THERE ARE STILL GAPS THAT REMAIN TO BE CLOSED, AS I SAID EARLIER. DETAILS THAT NEED TO BE WORKED OUT. THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT OF ENERGY AND EFFORT BEING PUT INTO THIS. CERTAINLY BY OUR TEAM BUT I'LL GO SO FAR AS TO SAY BY OUR COUNTERPARTS AS WELL.
REPORTER: THANK YOU. I'VE GOT TWO QUESTIONS, BUT FIRST, CAN YOU TELL ME THE BACK STORY BEHIND THE -- [INDISCERNIBLE] --
ADMIRAL KIRBY: I HAD A CHANCE TO MEET WITH SOME OF THE HOSTAGES' FAMILY MICE FAMILIES MYSELF BACK IN DECEMBER AND THE FATHER OF ONE GAVE ME THIS TO WEAR. AND I TRY TO WEAR IT AS MUCH AS I CAN JUST TO REMEMBER THAT, AGAIN, 293 DAYS, THEY NEED TO BE HOME WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND SINCE THEY'RE HERE AT THE WHITE HOUSE, AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A PRIME TOPIC OF CONVERSATION, I THOUGHT IT WAS APPROPRIATE TO WEAR IT TODAY.
REPORTER: DOES THE PRESIDENT HAVE ONE?
ADMIRAL KIRBY: I DON'T KNOW.
REPORTER: TWO QUESTIONS, IS IT OR IS IT NOT THE U.S.'S POSITION THAT UNRWA IS COMPLICIT IN TERRORISM?
ADMIRAL KIRBY: UNRWA DOES SOME THINGS THAT NO OTHER AGENCY CAN DO ON THE GROUND IN GAZA. WE BOTH KNOW THAT. THERE HAS BEEN AN INVESTIGATION DONE TO SOME OF THEIR EMPLOYEES AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME ADDITIONAL CLAIMS OR CHARGES AGAINST ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE BEEN LAID OUT THERE. BUT IT'S CLEAR TO US THAT UNRWA HAS TAKE -P THIS SERIOUSLY -- TAKEN THIS SERIOUSLY. THEY FULLY INVESTIGATED IT. THEY ELIMINATED THE EMPLOYMENT OF THOSE THAT THEY BELIEVE WERE INVOLVED IN TERRORIST ACTIVITIES, IT'S ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE, 2OT 2UST 2O US, BUT IT SHOULD BE AND WE BELIEVE IT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO UNRWA. BUT UNRWA IS STILL, YOU KNOW, AND YES, I KNOW, WE'RE NOT PROVIDING FUNDING BECAUSE OF LEGISLATION, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT CAN'T GET DONE WITHOUT UNRWA'S COOPERATION AND SUPPORT ON THE GROUND.
REPORTER: AND THE GOVERNMENT'S SPOGS THAT THOSE ARE -- POSITION IS THAT THOSE ARE CLAIMS AND CHARGE, RIGHT?
ADMIRAL KIRBY: SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN VERIFIED BECAUSE THEY DID THEIR OWN INVESTIGATION, UNRWA DID, AND TERMINATED SOME OF THOSE EMPLOYEES. SO CLEARLY THERE WAS SOMETHING TO IT.
REPORTER: MY SECOND QUESTION, HEZBOLLAH'S BEEN FIRING THOUSANDS OF ROCKETS, AT WHAT POINT DOES THAT VIOLATE THE PRESIDENT'S DON'T WARNING?
ADMIRAL KIRBY: WE ARE WORKING TO TRY TO RESOLVE THE DIFFERENCES AT AND AROUND THE BLUE LINE. WE HAVEN'T SEEN, ALTHOUGH THERE HAS BEEN FIRING BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THAT BLUE LINE, WE WANT TO SEE THAT STOP, WE HAVEN'T SEEN IT ESCALATE INTO AN ALL-OUT WAR HERE. NOR DO WE WANT THAT TO HAPPEN. WHICH IS WHY WE'RE WORKING SO HARD DIPLOMATICALLY TO TRY TO FIND A SOLUTION. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE PRESIDENT WILL TALK ABOUT TODAY IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO, WHAT MORE DO WE NEED TO DO TO STABILIZE THE SITUATION ON THE BLUE LINE SO THAT FAMILIES, BOTH LEBANESE AND ISRAELI, CAN START TO MOVE BACK TO THEIR HOMES.
KARINE: LAST QUESTION.
REPORTER: THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. THE PROGRESS THAT'S IN SIGHT AS IT RELATES TO THE PHASE ONE HOSTAGE AND CEASEFIRE DEAL, DOES THAT SIGNAL THAT THERE'S ALSO BEEN PROGRESS IN THE DAY-AFTER POST-CONFLICT GAZA AND SORT WHAT HAVE THAT GOVERNMENT LOOKS LIKE?
ADMIRAL KIRBY: THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT PROCESSES. WHERE I'M TALKING ABOUT PROGRESS MADE AND GAPS CLOSED, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE CEASEFIRE DEAL ITSELF WHICH HAS TWO PHASES TO IT. PHASE ONE GETS YOU SIX WEEKS OF A CEASEFIRE AND THE RETURN OF THE MOST VULNERABLE, BUT NOT ALL, BUT THE MOST VULNERABLE OF HOSTAGES. THAT'S A SEPARATE PROCESS THAN WHAT YOU CALL THE DAY AFTER WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT SECRETARY BLINKEN'S BEEN WORKING ON SINCE ALMOST THE DAY AFTER OCTOBER 7. IN TERMS OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WITH OUR PARTNERS ON THE GROUND, INCLUDING THE ISRAELIS, BUT ARAB PARTNERS, WHAT DOES GOVERNANCE LOOK LIKE WHEN THE WAR'S OVER AND HOW ARE IT'S AS OPERATIONS -- ASPIRATIONS OF THE PEOPLE OF GAZA ACTUALLY MET BY GOVERNING BODY AND A GOVERNING AUTHORITY THAT HAS AN INTEREST IN MEETING THEIR ASPIRATIONS FOR PEACE AND SECURITY?
REPORTER: HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE THAT PROCESS RIGHT NOW?
ADMIRAL KIRBY: IT'S ONGOING AND STILL A LOT OF WORK IS BEING DONE. IF YOU WANT ME TO GIVE YOU A REPORT CARD, I CAN'T DO THAT. BUT I CAN TELL THAT YOU SECRETARY BLINKEN, JAKE SULLIVAN, THE WHOLE TEAM, IS STILL VERY MUCH DEDICATED TO THAT.
REPORTER: AN OLYMPIC TRUCE. CAN YOU COMMENT ON THAT?
KARINE: ALL RIGHT.
REPORTER: A COUPLE TIMES ABOUT THE DECISION -- [INDISCERNIBLE] -- ONE THING THE PRESIDENT DID NOT SAY, EXPLICITLY WHY HE STEPPED ASIDE, HE CEDED. HE TALKED ABOUT HOW HE BELIEVES IN THE VESTED INTEREST OF THE COUNTRY. WHY DID HE BELIEVE HE WOULD LOSE TO DONALD TRUMP?
KARINE: I THINK THE PRESIDENT ACTUALLY ANSWERED THIS QUESTION.
REPORTER: HE DID?
KARINE: I THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THINK HE ANSWERED THE QUESTION. HE SAID, I REVERE THIS OFFICE BUT I LOVE MY COUNTRY MORE. HE SAID, I DRAW STRENGTH AND I ENJOY IN WORKING FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE BUT THIS SACRED TASK OF PERFECTING OUR UNION IS NOT ABOUT ME. IT'S ABOUT YOU, OUR FAMILIES, YOUR FAMILIES, YOUR FUTURES. AND I'VE DECIDED THE BEST WAY, THE BEST WAY FORWARD IS TO PASS THE TORCH TO A NEW GENERATION. THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO UNITE OUR NATION, HE TALKED ABOUT UNITY, HE TALKED ABOUT PASSING THE TORCH. I KNOW THERE'S A TIME AND A PLACE FOR LONG YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN PUBLIC LIFE, BUT THERE'S ALSO A TIME AND A PLACE FOR NEW VOICES. FRESH VOICES. YES, YOUNGER VOICES. AND THAT TIME AND PLACE IS NOW. THAT IS WHAT HE SAID. THAT IS WHY HE LAID OUT WHY HE'S PASSING THE TORCH, WHY IT'S TIME TO GIVE IT OVER TO NEW, FRESH VOICES. AND HE ALSO TALKED ABOUT UNITY. I WOULD ALSO REFER BACK TO HIS LETTER WHERE HE TALKED ABOUT ALSO WANTING TO UNIFY HIS PARTY.
REPORTER: DOES THE PRESIDENT BELIEVE HIS PRESENCE IN THAT RACE WASDY VICEIVE?
KARINE: I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO WHAT THE PRESIDENT LAID OUT. HE 2ALKED 2BOUT 2NITY. HE TALKED ABOUT BRINGING THE PARTY TOGETHER. HE TALKED ABOUT PUTTING THE COUNTRY FIRST. HE TALKED ABOUT PASSING OVER THE TORCH, BRINGING IN NEW VOICES. I THINK HE LAID OUT VERY CLEARLY WHY HE DECIDED TO MAKE THIS DECISION AND I BELIEVE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE GOT IT. THEY UNDERSTOOD IT.
REPORTER: IF IT'S CLEAR I WOULDN'T ASK THE QUESTION.
KARINE: I THINK IT'S CLEAR. I DO. THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DO.
REPORTER: FOR SEVERAL WEEKS THE WHITE HOUSE HAS SAID THE PRESIDENT IS NOT GOING IT LEAVE THE RACE. HE ULTIMATE DID HE ULTIMATE DID. THE PRESIDENT WOULDN'T PARDON OR COMMUTE SENTENCES FOR HIS SON, HUNTER. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS. THE PRESIDENT'S --
KARINE: IT'S STILL A NO. IT'S STILL A NO.
REPORTER: IT WILL ALWAYS BE A NO?
KARINE: IT'S STILL A NO. IT WILL BE A NO. IT'S A NO. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD. WILL HE PARDON HIS SON? NO.
REPORTER: THANK YOU. PICKING UP ON ZEKE, FOR SUCH A MONUMENTAL DECISION, THE PRESIDENT DID ADDRESS WHY HE LEFT THE RACE.
KARINE: THANK YOU.
REPORTER: BUT HE LEFT A LOT OF IT FOR US TO READ BETWEEN THE LINES. HE DID NOT MAKE CLEAR WHY HE'S LEAVING THE RACE. EVEN IN THE EXCERPTS THAT YOU BRING UP, HE SAYS THAT THE BEST WAY FORWARD IS TO PASS A TORCH TO A NEW GENERATION IS. HE SAYING IT'S BECAUSE HE WAS TOO HOLD? IN ANOTHER ONE HE SAID IT WAS FOR THE SAKE OF DEMOCRACY. THAT DOESN'T ANSWER WHY HE THOUGHT HE WAS IN THE WAY OF DEMOCRACY. WHY DID HE --
KARINE: A NEW GENERATION, HE ALSO SAID THE NEXT SENTENCE WAS TO UNITE, IT'S ALSO TO UNITE THE NATION. LOOK, THE PRESIDENT HAS TALKED ABOUT THIS TWICE. ONE IN A LETTER THAT HE ADDRESSED TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ON SUNDAY. LAYING OUT A VERY MONUMENTAL, TO YOUR POINT, IT IS A MONUMENTAL DECISION THAT HE MADE. AND HE THOUGHT VERY LONG AND HARD. HE ALSO SAID THAT HE'S BEEN SERVING THIS COUNTRY AS A PUBLIC SERVANT FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS. IT IS NOT AN EASY DECISION TO MAKE. HE TALKED ABOUT UNITY. HE TALKED ABOUT THE NEXT GENERATION. HE TALKED ABOUT PASSING THE TORCH. I WAS ASKED IN THIS ROOM A COUPLE OF DAYS -- I -- MAYBE TWO WEEKS AGO, ALL OF THESE DAYS ARE COMING TOGETHER, THAT WHEN THE PRESIDENT RAN IN 2020, HE TALKED ABOUT PASSING THE TORCH. HE TALKED ABOUT THE NEXT GENERATION. HE TALKED ABOUT BEING A BRIDGE TO THE NEXT GENERATION. AND I WAS ASKED, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THE PRESIDENT STILL WANTS TO DO AND STILL CARES ABOUT? AND I SAID YES. SO THIS IS PART OF THAT. RIGHT? THIS IS PART OF WHAT HE SAID IN 2020. HE TALKED ABOUT UNIFYING THE NATION. HE TALKED ABOUT UNIFYING THE PARTY. AND HE BELIEVED THE TIME WAS NOW. THE TIME WAS NOW TO STEP DOWN FROM HIS RE-ELECTION AND TO MOVE AHEAD WITH THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, THE END OF HIS TERM, AND THAT'S WHAT HE DECIDED TO DO.
REPORTER: BEFORE HE MADE THE DECISION, HE SAID THAT THERE WERE THREE THINGS THAT COULD SWAY HIM. THE LORD ALMIGHTY, A MEDICAL CONDITION, AND IF HIS TEAM SHOWED HIM THAT HE COULD NOT WIN. SO WAS IT BECAUSE OF THE POLLING?
KARINE: I CAN TELL YOU IT'S NOT A MEDICAL DECISION BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ASKED BEFORE AND WE ANSWERED THAT VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD AND IN A VERY DIRECT WAY. I'M JUST NOT GOING TO GET BEYOND THAT.
REPORTER: FINALLY, PRESIDENT BIDEN SPENT MUCH OF HIS SPEECH TALKING ABOUT THE CHOICE THAT AMERICANS FACE IN NOVEMBER. TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN MANAGER CALLED IT A CAMPAIGN SPEECH. YOUR RESPONSE?
KARINE: MY RESPONSE IS IT'S NOT A CAMPAIGN SPEECH. I WILL REMIND MY FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE THAT THE PRESIDENT'S NO LONGER A CANDIDATE.
REPORTER: THANK YOU. DEMOCRATS ON CAPITOL HILL ARE BEING HANDED THIS CARD WITH TALKING POINTS ABOUT THE VICE PRESIDENT AND THE BORDER. DO YOU KNOW WHO IS HANDING THIS OUT?
KARINE: I HAVE NO IDEA. YOU PROBABLY SHOULD ASK HER CAMPAIGN.
REPORTER: THE FIRST ONE SAYS VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS WAS NEVER APPOINTED BORDER CZAR, THERE'S NEVER BEEN SUCH A POSITION, IT DOESN'T EXIST. WHY ARE DEMOCRATS SO SENSITIVE ABOUT THE VICE PRESIDENT AND THE BORDER?
KARINE: WHY ARE REPUBLICANS SO SENSITIVE ABOUT ACTUALLY NOT OWNING UP TO THEM GETTING IN THE WAY OF A BORDER DEAL? WHY? WHY WON'T THEY OWN UP TO THAT? WHY WON'T THEY OWN UP TO THE LAST PRESIDENT 2OLD 2HEM 2OT 2O MOVE 2ORWARD? IT WAS A BIPARTISAN DEAL JUST RIGHT THERE. AVAILABLE TO THEM AND THEY VOTED TWICE AGAINST IT. TWICE AGAINST IT. WHY ARE THEY SO SEBSTIVE TO MOVE FORWARD -- SENSITIVE TO MOVING FORWARD AND DEALING ON AN ISSUE THAT A MAJORITY OF WHAT AMERICANS CARE ABOUT, IS DEALING WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE BORDER?
REPORTER: DO YOU THINK THE BORDER WOULD BE LESS OF A TALKING POINT NOW IF THERE WAS LESS MIGRATION TO THE BORDER, SAY, IF SOMEBODY HAD ADDRESSED ROOT CAUSES OF MIGRATION SOONER?
KARINE: HOLD ON A SECOND, DID YOU NOT HEARING THE BEGINNING -- I KNOW THERE WERE A LOT OF TOPPERS BUT ONE OF THE TOPPERS I TALKED TALKED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING AT THE BORDER. IT'S DOWN BY 5 #% -- 55%. NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS DID, BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT THIS PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT DID. THEY MOVED FORWARD AND TAOBGS ACTIONS TO DEAL WITH WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE BORDER. REPUBLICANS CONTINUE TO BLOCK GETTING RESOURCES TO THE BORDER PATROL AGENTS. THEY CONTINUE TO BLOCK ACTUALLY DEALING WITH AN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM. SO, YES, WE ARE GOING TO DEBUNK THE FALSE, YOU KNOW, CHARACTERIZATION OF THE VICE PRESIDENT, SHE WAS NOT A BORDER CZAR. INDEPENDENT FACT CHECKERS HAVE SAID THE SAME THING. THAT DID NOT EXIST AND THAT IS NOT TRUE.
REPORTER: A DIFFERENT TOPIC. RUSSIA AND CHINA ARE TEAM -PG UP IN THE SKIES NEAR ALASKA FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER. ARE YOU GETTING A SENSE YET BASED OP EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON THAT SOME OF AMERICA'S ENEMIES MIGHT BE LOOKING AT WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE AND THINK THERE'S NOBODY IN CHARGE?
KARINE: LET ME JUST SAY THIS. THERE IS VERY MUCH SOMEONE IN CHARGE. THE PRESIDENT IS THE PRESIDENT UNTIL THE END OF HIS TERM. SO THAT STATEMENT IS CERTAINLY FALSE. AND WE HAVE SEEN THE PRESIDENT BRING TOGETHER OUR ALLIES AND PARTNERS. HE REINVIGORATED NATO. HE GOT MORE THAN 50 COUNTRIES BEHIND UKRAINE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES AGAINST PUTIN. HE STOOD UP TO PUTIN. AND HE'S DONE A LOT MORE. AND NOW, RIGHT NOW, AS WE'RE SPEAKING, I BELIEVE IT'S STILL HAPPENING, THE PRESIDENT IS HAVING A BILATERAL CONVERSATION, MEETING, WITH THE ISRAEL. SO -- WITH OF THE PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL. BY THE WAY, THE PRIME MINISTER THANKED PRESIDENT THE FOR THE WORK HE'S BEEN ABLE TO DO IN HELPING TO MAKE SURE THAT ISRAEL IS ABLE TO HAVE AN IRONCLAD SECURITY, RIGHT? THAT'S THAT. I WANT TO BE CLEAR AND ADDRESS YOUR -- I GUESS THE BASIS OF YOUR QUESTION OUTSIDE OF SAYING THERE'S NO LEADERSHIP. OUR DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DID NOT SEE THIS ACTIVITY IN ALASKA AIR DEFENSE IDENTIFICATION ZONE AS A THREAT. NORTH AMERICAN AEROSPACE DEFENSE COMMAND, FOR THISSED A, CONTINUES TO MONDAY -- NORAD, CONTINUES TO MONITOR THE ACTIVITY NEAR NORTH AMERICA AND TO MEET PRESENCE WITH PRESENCE. U.S. AND CANADIAN AIR CHARACTER DETECTED, TRACKED AND INTERCEPTED THE RUSSIAN NPRC AIRCRAFT AND MORE BROADLY THE U.S. REMAINS CONCERNED ABOUT THE P.R.C. AND RUSSIAN COLLABORATION ACROSS ALL INSTRUMENTS OF NATIONAL POWER THAT DO NOT PROMOTE GLOBAL STABILITY AND SECURITY, NOT JUST THE -- IN THE ARCTIC, BUT THE PRESIDENT, IF ANYTHING, IF YOU LOOK AT HIS FOREIGN POLICY OBJECTIVES AND WHAT HE'S BEEN ABLE TO DO, AND WHAT THE LAST ADMINISTRATION DID, THE LAST ADMINISTRATION RUINED OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR PARTNERS AND ALLIES. THIS PRESIDENT HAD TO FIX THAT. AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ACTUALLY MENDED OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR PARTNERS AND ALLIES. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO. AND A PERFECT EXAMPLE IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH UKRAINE BEING ABLE TO DEFEND ITSELF AGAINST RUSSIA'S AGGRESSION.
REPORTER: YESTERDAY AND AGAIN TODAY YOU INSISTED THAT THE PRESIDENT DIDN'T MAKE THIS DECISION BECAUSE OF A MEDICAL CONDITION. IT WASN'T ABOUT HIS HEALTH. YESTERDAY YOU SAID THAT HE COULD HAVE FINISHED A SECOND TERM IF HE WON ONE. SO WAS THIS DECISION TO STEP OUT OF THE RACE JUST A POLITICAL CALCULUS? HE JUST DIDN'T THINK HE COULD BEAT TRUMP?
KARINE: I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO WHAT THE PRESIDENT SAID LAST NIGHT, TO WHAT HE PENNED AND RELEASED TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ON SUNDAY. DON'T HAVE ANYTHING MORE TO ADD TO THAT. HE WANTED TO UNITE THE COUNTRY, HE WANTED TO PASS THE TORCH, HE FELT AFTER 50-PLUS YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE, THE TIME WAS TO DO JUST THAT. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD.
REPORTER: DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD ON WHAT HE TEASED ABOUT PROPOSING REFORMS TO THE SUPREME COURT?
KARINE: THAT IS SOMETHING CERTAINLY THAT THE PRESIDENT WOULD TALK TO MORE ABOUT IN THE UPCOMING WEEKS, JUST FOR FOLKS WHO MAY HAVE MISSED THAT, HE SAID LAST NIGHT, HE SAID, I'M GOING TO CALL FOR SUPREME COURT REFORM BECAUSE THIS IS CRITICAL TO OUR DEMOCRACY. SUPREME COURT REFORM. I ANSWERED THIS QUESTION, THIS PART, I SAID THIS PART TO A QUESTION YESTERDAY, HE BELIEVES IF YOU ARE SERVING IN HIGH OFFICE, YOU SHOULD BE HELD TO A TRANSPARENCY ACCOUNTABILITY, AND YOU SHOULD BE HELD TO A HIGH ETHICS. THAT'S WHAT THE PRESIDENT BELIEVES. I'M CERTAINLY NOTING IF TO GET AHEAD OF THE PRESIDENT -- NOT GOING TO GET AHEAD OF THE PRESIDENT AND HE WILL HAVE MORE TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL SOON.
REPORTER: GIVEN THE HISTORIC NATURE OF THE DECISION AND ANNOUNCEMENT, YOU JUST SAID THAT THE PRESIDENT THOUGHT LONG AND HARD ABOUT THE DECISION TO EXIT THE RACE. BUT ALSO YOU SAID HE MADE THE DECISION ON SATURDAY NIGHT.
KARINE: HE STILL THINKS ABOUT SOMETHING -- YOU CAN STILL THINK ABOUT SOMETHING LONG AND HARD IF HE STARTED THINKING ABOUT IT ON SATURDAY NIGHT AND FINALLY MADE HIS DECISION ON SUNDAY.
REPORTER: THAT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE --
KARINE: THAT'S YOUR ASSUMPTION. THAT IS YOUR ASSUMPTION. NOT EVERYBODY WILL HAVE THAT SAME ASSUMPTION OR THOUGHT, RIGHT? IT IS A DECISION THAT HE FELT THAT HE NEEDED TO MAKE. AND THAT WAS THE TIKTOK OF IT, IF YOU WILL. WE WERE LAYING OUT TO YOU HOW IT HAPPENED. AND THAT'S HOW IT HAPPENED. THAT'S HOW THE PRESIDENT SAID IT HAPPENED.
REPORTER: DO YOU EXPECT THE PRESIDENT TO ADDRESS ANY FURTHER HIS DECISION MAKING -- [INDISCERNIBLE] -- AS MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ASKED. WE DON'T FEEL WE'VE GOTTEN THE CLARITY ABOUT HOW HE MADE THIS MONUMENTAL DECISION, OBVIOUSLY WE'D LOVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK HIM QUESTIONS HIMSELF, DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD EXPECT --
KARINE: THE PRESIDENT'S GOING TO MAKE HIS DECISION ON HIS OWN ON HOW MUCH MORE HE WANTS TO SHARE. OBVIOUSLY HE GAVE AN OVAL ADDRESS AND ADDRESSED THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, AS HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO DO IN HIS LETTER BACK ON SUNDAY. AND HE HAD A LETTER ON SUNDAY AS WELL. MAYBE THERE'S MORE HE'LL WANT TO SHARE. WE HAVE SIX MONTHS, CERTAINLY THE PRESIDENT ENJOYS TAKING ALL OF OF YOUR QUESTIONS, WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO JUST THAT. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SHARE BEYOND WHAT YOU'VE HEARD FROM THE PRESIDENT ON SUNDAY AND HIS OVAL ADDRESS TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE LAST NIGHT.
REPORTER: ONE LAST ONE ON THE NEXT SIX MONTHS. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN TELL US ABOUT HOW OPERATIONS AT THE WHITE HOUSE MAY CHANGE, THE PRESIDENT'S SCHEDULE MAY CHANGE, ANYTHING THAT'S REFLECTS THAT HE HAS MORE TIME NOW --
KARINE: YOU'RE RIGHT. HE HAS A LOT MORE TIME. NOW HE WON'T BE A CANDIDATE. THAT'S TRUE. AND THE PRESIDENT SAID HE WANTS TO CONTINUE HIS -- OBVIOUSLY AS HE WAS DOING BEFORE, CONTINUE AND SOLELY FOCUSED ON BEING PRESIDENT AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND DELIVERING AND BUILDING ON UNPRECEDENTED SUCCESSES THAT HE'S BEEN ABLE TO GET DONE. WE STILL HAVE A LOT MORE TO DO. WE STILL HAVE TO MAKE SURE, HE MENTIONED THE SUPREME COURT IN HIS SPEECH. I WON'T GET AHEAD OF THAT. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HE CARES ABOUT. THE ETHIC, RIGHT, AND TRANSPARENCY, SOMETHING HE WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS ADDRESSED, AGAIN, NOT GOING TO GET AHEAD OF THE PRESIDENT. BUT HE GAVE A LITTLE BIT OF THAT. HE LAID OUT WHAT HE'S DONE FOR ALMOST FOUR YEARS AND MAKING SURE WE'RE BUILDING ON THAT. WHETHER IT'S CONTINUING TO LOWER COSTS, HE TALKED ABOUT THAT, BRINGING DOWN INFLATION, CREATING GOOD PAYING JOBS, ALL OF THESE HISTORIC LEGISLATIONS THAT HE WAS ABLE TO GET DONE, THEY STILL HAVE TO BE IMPLEMENTED. RIGHT? WHETHER THE CHIPS AND SCIENCE ACT, WHETHER IT'S THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL, WHETHER IT'S THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT. THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK TO GET DONE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DELIVER THE GOOD THINGS, THE GOOD COMPONENTS OF THOSE NOW LAWS TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. STILL A LOT TO GET DONE. HE'S FOCUSED ON IT AND WE'LL CERTAINLY HAVE MORE TO SHARE, AS YOU KNOW HE'S GOING TO BE GOING TO AUSTIN ON MONDAY AND SO STAY TUNED. STAY TUNED.
REPORTER: THANK YOU. SO AFTER PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID HE WAS GOING TO STEP ASIDE AND ENDORSE VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS, DEMOCRATS QUICKLY COALESCED AROUND VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS. I WAS WONDERING IF PRESIDENT BIDEN SOUGHT 2SSURANCES FROM OTHER DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES THAT THEY WOULDN'T CHALLENGE HER?
KARINE: I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO SPECIFICS OR BEHIND THE SCENES CONVERSATIONS. I'M JUST NOT. ALSO, THAT'S KIND OF ON THE CAMPAIGN, THE POLITICAL SIDE. SO I'M GOING TO BE CAREFUL FROM HERE. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WHAT WE SAW THE FIRST 48 HOURS, 24 HOURS, 48 HOURS, AFTER THE PRESIDENT DECIDED NOT TO RUN, THE COALESCING OF SUPPORT BEHIND THE VICE PRESIDENT, WHICH IS NOT SURPRISING. SHE HAS BEEN A PARTNER, A CRITICAL PARTNER TO THIS PRESIDENT IN EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY GET DONE. SOME HISTORIC ITEMS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET DONE. SHE'S BEEN THE CRITICAL PARTNER TO THIS PRESIDENT. SHE HAS FOUR YEARS, ALMOST FOUR YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AS VICE PRESIDENT. ALSO, AS A SENATOR. ALSO AS ATTORNEY GENERAL. SHE HAS AN IMPRESSIVE RESUME AND I HAVE SAID THIS BEFORE AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN. I DO NOT SEE AND THE PRESIDENT OBVIOUSLY DID NOT SEE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD BE MORE QUALIFIED TO STEP IN. AND SO IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT SHE GOT THE SUPPORT THAT SHE HAS AND CONTINUES TO GET, AND THE PRESIDENT CERTAINLY IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT HER.
REPORTER: THANKS. THE PRESIDENT PRAISED VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS LAST NIGHT IN HIS ADDRESS AS A GOOD PARTNER, A STRONG LEADER. WILL HE HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS IF SHE STARTS CREATING A LITTLE BIT OF DISTANCE WITH HIM ON ANY POLICY AREAS?
KARINE: LOOK, CERTAINLY I CAN'T SPEAK TO HOW SHE'S GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH HER CAMPAIGN ON POLICY ISSUES, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE CAMPAIGN WOULD HAVE TO ADDRESS DIRECTLY. I WOULD SAY, AGAIN, KIND OF REPEATING MYSELF, BUT SAYING THIS IN A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT WAY, THE LAST FOUR YEARS HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL POLICY-WISE. THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET THINGS DONE. THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO TURN AROUND THE ECONOMY. WE SHOULD NOT FORGET WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE PRESIDENT AND THE VICE PRESIDENT STEPPED IN TO THEIR ROLES. RIGHT? THEY STEPPED INTO THE PRESIDENCY. THE ADMINISTRATION, WE HAD A ONCE IN A CENTURY PANDEMIC THAT THE PRESIDENT TURNED US AROUND, WITH THE HELP OF THE VICE PRESIDENT. YOU THINK ABOUT THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, YOU THINK ABOUT THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT. MANY OF THESE LEGISLATIONS SHE PLAYED A ROLE IN GETTING IT ACROSS THE AISLE. SHE ALSO PRESIDES IN THE SENATE. SHE REALLY GAVE US SOME REALLY IMPORTANT VOTES IN GETTING THINGS DONE. SO THEY'VE BEEN PARTNERS IN THIS. I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO HYPOTHETICALS HERE ABOUT HOW SHE'S GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH HER CAMPAIGN. BUT YOU THINK ABOUT CRIME, YOU THINK ABOUT HEALTH CARE, YOU THINK ABOUT THE ECONOMY, YOU THINK ABOUT IMMIGRATION AND THE SUCCESSES WE'VE SEEN IN THOSE PARTICULAR AREAS, AND THAT'S JUST A FEW. FOREIGN POLICY. SHE'S BEEN A PARTNER IN THAT.
REPORTER: SURE. SO NO DOUBT THEY HAVE TO RUN ON THE RECORD THAT THEY HAVE TOGETHER. BUT THE RELATIONSHIP HAS CHANGED A LITTLE BIT. SHE'S NOT JUST A SUPPORTER VICE PRESIDENT NOW, SHE'S ALSO THE CANDIDATE FOR THE PARTY GOING FORWARD IN THE ELECTIONS. SO IF SHE DECIDES TO SHOW A LITTLE BIT MORE OF HER OWN VIEWS ON GAZA, FOR EXAMPLE, IS THE PRESIDENT OK WITH THAT?
KARINE: HYPOTHETICAL THAT I DON'T WANT TO GO DOWN A RABBIT HOLE IN, WHAT I SAY IS THAT THE PRESIDENT RESPECTS THE VICE PRESIDENT. HE ENDORSED HER, BELIEVING THAT, AS I SAID, PASSING THE TORCH TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF NEW VOICES, THAT SHE WAS MORE THAN QUALIFIED TO DO THE JOB, MORE THAN QUALIFIED TO STEP IN ON DAY ONE AS HE SAID HIMSELF AND ONE AS HE SAID HIMSELF, I'M JUST REPEATING HIM. I THINK THAT SAYS VOLUMES COMING FROM A PRESIDENT WHO HAS BEEN A SENATOR, WHO HAS BEEN A VICE PRESIDENT. RIGHT, WHO KNOWS HOW THIS PLACE WORKS, WHO NEWS WORKS, WHO KNOWS HOW CONGRESS WORKS AND NOW KNOWS WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. I THINK THAT'S, I THINK COMING FROM THIS PRESIDENT SAYS A LOT. I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO HYPOTHETICALS HERE. THEY ARE PRETTY MUCH HAVE BEEN HAND IN GLOVE, IF YOU WILL, THESE PAST FOUR YEARS. ON GETTING THINGS DONE. ON THE DIFFERENT POLICY ISSUES. AND I SUSPECT THAT WILL CONTINUE.
REPORTER: YOU MENTIONED NOW ABOUT WHAT THE PRESIDENT SAID LAST NIGHT ABOUT THE VICE PRESIDENT. BUT ONE THING HE DIDN'T DO WAS EXPLICITLY TELL AMERICANS TO VOTE FOR HER. HE SAID, NOW THE 2HOICE 2S 2P TO YOU, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. WHY NOT USE THAT MOMENT WHEN HE HAD MILLIONS OF PEOPLE TUNED IN TO SAY THAT MESSAGE FLAT OUT?
KARINE: BECAUSE HE WAS BEING MINDFUL. THIS WAS AN OVAL ADDRESS. THIS WAS NOT A CAMPAIGN, POLITICAL ADDRESS. THIS WAS AN OVAL ADDRESS. AND HE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT AS -- HE SAID HE STARTED OFF HIS REMARKS TALKING ABOUT BEING AT THE RESOLUTE DESK. TALKED ABOUT THE SPACE AND THE PORTRAITS THAT WERE IN THE ROOM. THE BUSTS THAT WERE IN THE ROOM. THE IMPORTANCE, THE HEAVY WEIGHT OF THAT OFFICE. AND HE BELIEVED THIS WAS A MONUMENTAL DECISION, AS MANY OF YOU HAVE REMINDED ME TODAY, THAT HE MADE. AND HE WANTED TO TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO TALK THROUGH WHAT HE'S BEEN ABLE TO DELIVER, TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IT MEANT FOR HIM TO BE PRESIDENT, AN HONOR OF A LIFETIME, AND, YOU KNOW, TO LAY OUT WHAT THIS NEXT SIX MONTHS IS THE GOING TO BE. SO THAT'S WHAT HE WANTED TO FOCUS ON. THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF TIMES FOR HIM TO GO OUT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND TALK ABOUT CHOICES AND TALK ABOUT WHAT'S AT STAKE. GOING TO BE VERY CAREFUL HERE, BUT THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF TIME TO DO THAT. HE DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THAT WAS THE TIME TO DO THAT WAS LAST NIGHT.
REPORTER: CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE -- AFTER THE SPEECH? WE KNOW FROM SOCIAL MEDIA POST, WE COULD HEAR IT HERE THAT THE PRESIDENT WALKED DOWN TO THE ROSE GARDEN, SEVERAL HUNDRED STAFF WERE OUT THERE. WHAT WAS THAT LIKE? WHAT DID YOU DO AFTERWARDS, PRIVATE TIME WITH FAMILY, TELL US HOW HIS MOOD WAS AFTER?
KARINE: IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL MOMENT. THE PRESIDENT WENT TO THE ROSE GARDEN, THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF STAFF CHEERING HIM ON. VERY PROUD TO HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS ADMINISTRATION, MANY OF US SINCE THE TKPWEUPING OF THIS ADMINISTRATION -- BEGINNING OF THIS ADMINISTRATION, ALMOST FOUR YEARS. AND HE ALSO WANTED TO APPRECIATE THE STAFF. HE KNOWS HOW HARD IT'S BEEN, NOT JUST THE PAST 3 1/2 YEARS, BUT CERTAINLY THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. AND SO I THINK IT WAS A VERY SPECIAL MOMENT, VERY PROUDFUL MOMENT FOR THE STAFF HERE. I WAS THERE IN THE ROSE GARDEN. GOT TO LISTEN TO HIM SPEAK OFF THE CUFF AND SAY THANK YOU AND TALK ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET DONE, THE HISTORIC AMOUNT OF WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET DONE AND WHAT'S AHEAD IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS. SO YES, THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF STAFF HERE IN THE ROSE GARDEN. SOME OF US -- I WAS ABLE TO BE IN THE OVAL AND WATCH THE PRESIDENT DELIVER THE REMARKS. MANY OF THE STAFFERS WERE ABLE TO WATCH TOGETHER HERE AT THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE RESIDENCE AND AFTERWARDS WE ALL CAME TOGETHER AND CHEERED ON THE PRESIDENT AND THANKED HIM. AND HE WAS ABLE TO THANK US AND APPRECIATE US ASS WELL. WELL.
REPORTER: WHAT'S THE MOOD OF THE STAFF RIGHT NOW? I'M CURIOUS, IS THERE MELON COLLIE? -- MEL COLLIE? WHAT'S
KARINE: IT'S WHAT I SAID TO KAREN. IT'S A LOT OF PRIDE AND THE WORK WE HAVE DONE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS PRESIDENT. THERE IS A LOT OF UNDERSTANDING THERE IS A LOT MORE WORK TO BE DONE IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS AND ENERGIZED AND GOING TO BE HONEST, IT HAS BEEN HARD, VERY HARD. WHEN YOU DO THESE JOBS, YOU BELIEVE IN THE WORK AHEAD, YOU BELIEVE IN THE LEADERSHIP OF THE PERSON YOU ARE WORKING FOR, THAT PERSON BEING JOE BIDEN. IT HAS BEEN A TOUGH COUPLE OF WEEKS, BUT WE ARE SO FULL OF PRIDE OF WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET DONE AND NOW THERE ARE SIX MONTHS LEFT.
REPORTER: WHEN YOU HAD YOUR PREPARED REMARKS AT THE VERY TOP, IT SEEMED AS IF YOU GOT A LITTLE EMOTIONAL --
KARINE: I SAID IT. IT IS AN EMOTIONAL MOMENT FOR EVERYONE, INCLUDING ME. IT'S AN EMOTIONAL MOMENT. YOU DO THESE JOBS. DON'T PAY ALL THAT WELL AS YOU KNOW AND YOU HAVE TOUGH JOBS AS YOU KNOW AND TAKES YOU AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILY AND DON'T SLEEP AS MUCH. THEY ARE 24/7 JOBS FOR SURE. YOU DO IT 2ECAUSE 2OU 2ELIEVE IN THE WORK. WHICHEVER SIDE OF THE AISLE YOU'RE IN, I WOULD HOPE AND THINK THAT PEOPLE WHO DO THESE JOBS BELIEVE YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE PEOPLE'S LIVES BETTER OR CONNECTED TO THE ISSUES YOU ARE WORKING ON. YEAH. IT'S EMOTIONAL. IT'S EMOTIONAL.
REPORTER: WHAT DID THE PRESIDENT SAY -- [INDISCERNIBLE]
KARINE: WHEN YOU HAVE THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OBVIOUSLY A REPUBLICAN AND SOMETHING YOU ALL HAVE REPORTED, SET UP A MEETING TO TELL REPUBLICANS TO STOP BEING RACIST, SEXIST, THAT SAYS A LOT THAT THEY HAVE HAVE TO BE TOLD TO NOT DO THAT. BUT MORE BROADLY, I THINK IT'S DESPERATE AND DISGUSTING AND IT'S A DOG WHISTLE AND SHE IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. SHE'S THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. SHE SHOULD GET THAT RESPECT. SHE HAS BEEN DOING THIS JOB WITH THE PRESIDENT FOR FOUR YEARS. SHE'S A FORMER SENATOR, AND HAS BEEN A CRITICAL PARTNER IN GETTING THE ECONOMY RESTARTED AND MAKING SURE THAT WE DEAL WITH THE PANDEMIC AND TO HEAR THAT IS FRANKLY DISGUSTING.
REPORTER: ONE MORE QUESTION -- [INDISCERNIBLE]
KARINE: DON'T HAVE ANY POLICY ANNOUNCEMENTS TO MAKE AT THIS TIME BUT THE BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT THAT CAME TOGETHER FROM THE SENATE WHERE WE NEGOTIATED A PROCESS TO HELP THE SO-CALLED DOCUMENTED DREAMERS AND SADLY, REPUBLICANS AND I HAVE SAID THIS MANY TIMES ALREADY TODAY THAT THEY VOTED IT DOWN TWICE, VOTED IT DOWN TWICE. AS I SAID AT THE TOP, WE ARE GOING TO PROVIDE PROTECTION TO MORE THAN 500,000 PEOPLE AND KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER IN THE U.S. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED BACK IN JUNE AND SOMETHING WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO. THE WAY TO DEAL WITH A BROKEN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM IS TO GET LEGISLATIVE PROCESS DONE AND MOVE FORWARD. WE STARTED THAT. REPUBLICANS VOTED IT DOWN TWICE. WE HAD A BIPARTISAN OPTION THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE TOUGHEST AND FAIREST WAY TO MOVE FORWARD. SOMETHING WE HADN'T SEEN IN YEARS AND VOTED IT DOWN TWICE. THAT IS HOW WE ARE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD TO MAKE SURE CONGRESS GETS THE WORK DONE THAT THEY NEED TO.
REPORTER: ON THE ECONOMY FIRST, IF I COULD, NEW CNN POLL SAID 39% OF THE ADULTS THAT THEIR INCOME WILL NOT BE ENOUGH TO MEET EXPENSES. SINCE THEY CAME INTO THE OFFICE, HOW LONG DOES THE AMERICANS HAVE TO WAIT BEFORE THE WORRY GOES AWAY?
KARINE: TOO MANY FAMILIES ARE FOUNDING IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. I TALKED ABOUT THE HISTORIC CALL. THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT. INSULIN IS CAPPED AT 35 2UCKS. THIS 2OES 2O THE QUESTION, WHAT ELSE DOES HE WANT TO DO. CONTINUE TO LOWER COSTS. YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO TO GET HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR AMERICANS WHO ARE HAVING A HARD TIME WITH RENT AND GETTING A HOUSE. SO HE HAS TAKEN ACTIONS TO DEAL WITH THAT ISSUE THAT AMERICANS HAVE. WE GET IT. WE GET IT. OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS WE WANT TO FOCUS ON AS WELL. WE KNOW AMERICANS ARE HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME. BUT OUR STANCE AND HOW WE SEE THIS COUNTRY IS VERY CLEAR. REPUBLICANS WANT TO GIVE A TAX BREAK TO CORPORATIONS, A BIG TAX BREAK TO CORPORATIONS AND BILLIONAIRES AND WANT TO GO AFTER SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE. THAT'S NOT WHAT WE WANT TO DO. WE WANT TO PROTECT IMPORTANT PROGRAMS THAT OTHER PROGRAMS NEED.
REPORTER: THE PRESIDENT KEPT WITH THE THEME OF SAVING DEMOCRACY AND THE VICE PRESIDENT USING THE SAME LANGUAGE. IS THIS A DANGEROUS RHETORIC?
KARINE: LOOK, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT UNITY. IT IS. SAVING DEMOCRACY, MAKING SURE WE ARE UNIFIED AS A COUNTRY AND CALLED ON THE COUNTRY TO COME TOGETHER. THAT IS A THEME THAT HE HAS TALKED ABOUT SINCE 2019. SINCE 2019. NOTHING NEW HERE AND I'LL QUOTE, KEEP CALLING OUT HATE AND EXTREMISM AND MAKE IT CLEAR THERE IS NO PLACE IN AMERICA FOR POLITICAL VIOLENCE, SOMETHING THAT THE PRESIDENT SAID LAST NIGHT OR ANY VIOLENCE PERIOD. I AM GOING TO KEEP SPEAKING OUT TO PROTECT OUR KIDS AND GUN VIOLENCE. THIS IS SOMETHING THE PRESIDENT TRULY BELIEVES IN. THAT IS THE THEME, UNITY IS THE THEME IN HIS REMARKS LAST NIGHT.
REPORTER: THERE ARE THREE PUBLIC ATTEMPTS OR THREATS TO THE FORMER PRESIDENT THAT WE KNOW OF, IRAN BEING ONE OF THEM AND THE SHOOTER THE OTHER NIGHT. HOW MANY THREATS ARE ENOUGH TO LOWER THE TEMPERATURE?
KARINE: THE PRESIDENT HAS CALLED ON LOWERING THE TEMPERATURE. IT TAKES ALL OF US TO LOWER THE TEMPERATURE, ALL OF US. AND WE CAN READ BETWEEN THE LINES WHAT I MEAN. IT TAKES ALL OF US TO TAKE THAT ACTION AND LOWER THE TEMPERATURE. WHEN YOU HAVE A PRESIDENT THAT USES THE OVAL ADDRESS, NOT JUST WORDS, HE DID IT RIGHT AFTER SADLY RIGHT AFTER THE FORMER PRESIDENT ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION TALKED ABOUT LOWERING THE TEMPERATURE THEN AND DENOUNCING AND CONDEMNING POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND HOW IT HAS NO PLACE IN THIS NATION. AND USING THE OVAL TO DO JUST THAT. WE ARE CONDEMNING POLITICAL VIOLENCE FOR SOME TIME. [INDISCERNIBLE] CENTRAL THEME. AND YOU MENTIONED YOUR COMMITMENT. TWO WEEKS AT THE NATO PRESS CONFERENCE. WHAT CHANGED? HE SAID WHAT CHANGED WAS THE GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION I GOT. [INDISCERNIBLE] IT'S A FAIR QUESTION FOR ALL OF US IF YOU CAN HELP US TO UNDERSTAND -- [INDISCERNIBLE]
KARINE: IT IS A FAIR QUESTION TO ASK AND I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD. I'M NOT GOING TO GET AHEAD OF THIS PRESIDENT. HE PUT OUT A LETTER AND SAID WHAT HE WANTED TO SAY ABOUT THE SITUATION LAST NIGHT. I'M NOT SAYING IT'S NOT A FAIR QUESTION TO ASK, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING MORE TO ADD THAN AND HE TALKED ABOUT PASSING THE TORCH AND UNITY AND BRINGING THE COUNTRY TOGETHER AND WHAT HE WANTED TO SHARE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. IF THERE IS MORE TO SAY, I WILL LEAVE THAT TO HIM TO SAY THAT.
REPORTER: THERE MIGHT BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEGACY ENGAGEMENT IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS. IS THERE SOMETHING HE WANTS TO DO BEFORE HE LEAVES OFFICE?
KARINE: HE IS STILL THINKING THROUGH IT. THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS WE WANT TO GET DONE DOMESTICALLY, FOREIGN POLICY, THE PRESIDENT IS THINKING THROUGH IT. WHEN THERE IS MORE TO SHARE. THANKS
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