President Joe Biden sat down with George Stephanopoulos of ABC News on Tuesday for an in-depth interview in which he said his message to migrants was not to come to the border and that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo should step down over allegations of sexual harassment committed.
Biden also told Stephanopoulos that he agreed that Russian President Vladimir Putin was a “murderer” and would “pay a price” for meddling in US elections.
And he said it would be “difficult” to withdraw all US troops from Afghanistan by May 1, a deadline set in a deal former President Donald Trump’s administration made with the Taliban.
I honestly thought we had ‘politics outside of the vaccination discussion’
Biden told Stephanopoulos he was surprised that COVID-19 vaccinations were still so politicized.
“How do you get politics out of this vaccination conversation?” Stephanopoulos asked.
“I honestly thought we got it out,” Biden said. ‘I honestly thought to God that once we made sure we had enough vaccine for everyone, things would calm down. Well, they calmed down a lot. But I don’t quite understand – you know – I just don’t “I don’t understand this kind of macho thing like,” I’m not getting the vaccine. I have the right as an American, my freedom not to do it. ” Then why aren’t you a patriot? Protect other people. ‘
Biden said that by being vaccinated himself, he showed Americans do it safely – and changed his life “because I can now hug my grandchildren.”
“They’re coming to the house,” the president said, “I can see them. I can be with them. ‘
Putin ‘gonna pay’
The United States intelligence chief released an unclassified report on foreign interference in the 2020 election on Tuesday, which concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin was overseeing major efforts to “belittle” the candidacy from President Joe Biden.
Biden told Stephanopoulos that he had warned Putin about a possible response during a call in late January.
“He’ll pay a price,” Biden said. ‘We had a long talk, he and I, when we – I know him relatively well. And the conversation started, I said, ‘I know you and you know me. If I determine that this has happened, then be prepared. ‘
Stephanopoulos asked, “So you know Vladimir Putin. Do you think he’s a murderer? ‘
“Mmm hmm, I do,” replied Biden.
While the president said “you will see” Putin “is going to pay,” he did not explain.
He did say it was possible “to walk and chew gum at the same time in places where it is in our mutual interest to work together.” He pointed to his decision to renew an arms deal with Russia in January.
“It is difficult” to withdraw troops from Afghanistan in May
Biden also addressed his administration’s discussion of a deal former President Donald Trump had struck with the Taliban, whereby the US would withdraw all its troops from Afghanistan by May 1 if the Taliban met certain requirements.
“I’m making that decision about when they will leave,” Biden said. The fact is, that wasn’t a very solid negotiated deal that the president – the former president – worked out. And so we are in consultation with our allies and with the government, and that decision will be – – it’s underway now. “
Biden said it would be “difficult” for all service personnel to leave on May 1.
“It can happen,” he said, “but it’s difficult.”
Says Cuomo should step down if allegations are upheld
Biden told Stephanopoulos that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo should resign if an investigation confirms he has committed sexual harassment.
“I know you said you want the investigation to continue,” Stephanopoulos told Biden, referring to an investigation by the New York Attorney General into allegations that Cuomo had harassed several women. “If the investigation confirms the women’s claims, should he resign?”
“Yes,” the president replied. “I think he will probably be prosecuted too.”
Seven prosecutors have made allegations against the Democratic governor in recent weeks, and one allegation that he had touched a woman was referred to police in Albany, New York. called on Cuomo to resign.
Cuomo has denied the allegations.
Biden has so far not supported an immediate end to Cuomo’s governorship.
“There needs to be an investigation to determine if what she’s saying is true,” Biden told Stephanopoulos during an extensive interview in Darby, Pennsylvania. “That’s what’s the matter now.”
Things will ‘change’ with Saudi Arabia in the wake of Khashoggi’s murder
Stephanopoulos also urged Biden why he had not personally punished Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after US intelligence concluded that the Crown Prince had approved an operation to capture or kill Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi. As a candidate, Biden had promised a strong response to Saudi leaders.
The president said, “I am the man who released the report” – referring to the US intelligence report that the Trump administration did not make public, but which he did. Biden also said he had “made it clear” to the king of Saudi Arabia that things would change. “
“ We have held all the people in that organization accountable – but not the Crown Prince, because we never have what I am aware of, if we have an alliance with a country, went to the acting head of state and punished that person and exiled him. , ”said Biden.
He said he went through the list of things we expected the Saudis to do, including that it would “end the war in Yemen, end hunger there.”
Message to migrants: ‘Don’t come by’
Amid a wave of migrants and unaccompanied minors on the US southern border, Stephanopoulos asked the president, “Do you have to say very clearly, ‘Don’t come’?”
“Yes, I can say very clearly, don’t come by,” said Biden.
“Don’t leave your town, city or community,” he added.
The number of unaccompanied teenagers and children taken into US custody along the US-Mexico border has skyrocketed in recent weeks as the number of migrants trying to enter the country increases.
Republicans have said Biden’s steps to repeal former President Donald Trump’s harsh immigration policies have encouraged migrants to come to the United States, but Biden told ABC News that “we are sending people back” who are crossing the border.
Stephanopoulos asked Biden, “Was it a mistake not to anticipate this wave?”
“First of all, there has been a wave for the past two years,” said the president. “There was also a wave in ’19 and ’20.”
Stephanopoulos commented, “This one could be worse,” and Biden acknowledged, “Well, it could be.”
“The idea that Joe Biden said, ‘Come on’ – because the other day I heard they’re coming because they know I’m a nice guy,” Biden said.
“Here’s the deal, they’re not,” he said.
Thousands of unaccompanied minors are currently being held in US customs and border protection facilities, many longer than legally allowed, as Biden said his administration was “providing beds for these children.”
“We’ll have enough of those beds, I think, by next month to take care of these kids who have nowhere to go,” Biden said.
Biden said he inherited a ‘mess’ and that it was important to address the root causes of migration from Central America.
“It’s not like someone is in Guadalajara, Mexico right now – which isn’t the biggest problem right now – and says, ‘I have a great idea. Let’s sell everything we have, give it to a coyote, him us children, take them across the border. Leave them in a desert where they don’t speak the language. Won’t that be fun? “
He added, “That’s not why people come. They come because their conditions are so bad. Now some of them come because they want a better chance, for economic reasons. They don’t qualify. And in the meantime, we would do is provide beds for these children.
On a lighter note: is Major out of the doghouse?
At the end of the interview, the president also addressed his dog Major, one of two German Shepherds he has, who recently caused “a minor injury” – as the White House had said – to someone in the White House. Major was taken to Biden’s Delaware home after the incident occurred, although the White House said it was because First Lady Jill Biden was out of town.
“Is Major out of the doghouse?” Stephanopoulos asked the president.
“The answer is yes,” Biden said, laughing. Look, Major was a rescue puppy. Major did not bit anyone or penetrate the skin. What happened before … I think what surprised me is the White House itself that lives there. dude there in a black jacket. “
He said living in a new environment shocked Major.
“You turn a corner and there are two people you don’t know at all,” Biden said. And he moves to protect him. But he is a sweet dog. Eighty-five percent of the people there love him. He just licks them and wags his tail. ‘
Biden said that “the dog is now being trained” in Delaware and that he planned to see him later that night if he stayed in Delaware.
“He went home,” Biden said. ‘I didn’t ban him home. Jill would be gone for four days. I was supposed to be gone for two days, so we took him home. ”
Watch more of the interview with President Joe Biden on ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Wednesday, March 17 at 7:00 am EDT.