President Biden finally held his first press conference on Thursday – in which he denied the migrant crisis on the southern border, placed the burden of national unity on the GOP, and covered himself when asked if he expected to run for re-election.
Biden answered journalists’ questions in a formal setting for the first time in more than two months after his presidency and was promptly grilled about the growing wave of migrants on the US-Mexico border.
“Well look, I guess I should be flattered when people come because I’m a nice guy – that’s why it happens – that I’m a decent man, or however it’s worded, that’s why they because they know Biden is a good guy, ”Biden replied, when asked about migrants entering the country illegally due to the perception that his government is welcoming them.
Biden, who at times seemed confused during the lengthy press conference, also had doubts about seeking reelection in 2024.
“The answer is yes, my plan is to run for re-election,” he said initially. “That’s my expectation.”
But when the next reporter asked if that response was a commitment, Biden backed out.
“I don’t know where you are from,” he said. “I have never been able to plan four and a half, three and a half years in advance.”
Biden clarified that he said it was his “expectation.”
Asked if he would seek a second term, if Vice President Kamala Harris were on the ticket, Biden said she would.
“I would fully expect that to be the case,” he said. “She’s doing great.”
The commander-in-chief also weighed in on former President Donald Trump in four years.
“I have no idea,” he said. “I have no idea if there will be a Republican party.”
But he chuckled when he then cracked. “My predecessor,” he said. “Oh God, I miss him.”
At one point, Biden got lost in a noisy response about the migrant punch, cutting himself off halfway through to ask the reporter, ‘Am I giving you too long an answer? Because if you don’t want the details … “
The president opened his briefing, which began more than 10 minutes late, with a “ progress report, ” and set a new goal: 200 million COVID-19 shots to the arms by day of his 100th in office.
“I know it’s ambitious, it’s twice our original goal, but no other country in the world has come close to even close to what we do,” he said.
He also announced a $ 100 million investment in the communities “worst affected” by the pandemic and said that “nearly half” of all primary schools in the US are open five days a week for personal education.
Biden also praised a new forecast that the country’s GDP will be more than 6 percent – and said those claiming unemployment has fallen by 100,000 – below its pre-pandemic high.
During his first formal question-and-answer session, Biden raised questions about how his administration was handling the influx of Central American migrants at the US-Mexico border.
Biden targeted his predecessor Trump for “dismantling” immigration policies – then falsely claiming that “tens of thousands” of migrants have actually been “sent home” by his administration.
“We are sending back the vast majority of families that come,” Biden told reporters. That is what is happening. They don’t cross the border. “
New statistics showed that an average of 13 percent of the nearly 13,000 family members who tried to cross the border illegally were sent back to Mexico.
Biden also addressed his GOP critics, putting the question of the unification of the country at their feet.
“My Republican colleagues are going to have to decide whether or not we want to work together, or decide how they want to proceed is to just divide the country, continue with the politics of division,” he said. “But I’m not going to do that, I’m just moving forward.”
With Thursday the 65th day of his presidency, Biden has waited longer than any other president since TV was invented to hold a formal press conference.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki blamed the lack of press conferences so far on the “ historic crises ” Biden faces – as well as concerns about COVID-19, despite the president being vaccinated and all journalists are tested for the virus before they are allowed access to the White House grounds.
Biden’s assistants limited the number of journalists allowed into the cavernous East Room in the White House to 25. Most places went to the 14 reporters who usually attend Psaki’s daily briefing. Selection of the remaining attendees was outsourced to the White House Correspondents’ Association.
Psaki indicated at a Feb. 22 press conference that Biden may be calling on journalists from a list approved by his communications team.
Normally, each president has a list of people they are going to visit. But usually it’s a large number of people sitting in the press room, and we certainly hope we can do that in a COVID-safe way, ”said Psaki.
The White House faced skeptical questions from reporters for weeks about why Biden shattered a record over 100 years before a new president hosted a press conference.
Former President Donald Trump waited seven days to hold a press conference. Barack Obama waited 20 days, George W. Bush waited 30 days, and Bill Clinton waited nine days.
Since taking office, Biden has occasionally answered questions from journalists while organizing White House events or while traveling, but his responses in informal settings are generally brief and not subject to exchanges with journalists.
At 78, the president is the oldest person to take office and Republican critics, including Trump, accuse him of mental decline.
Biden this month addressed Vice President Kamala Harris as “President Harris” – repeating a blunder he’d made before.