After over two months in office, President Joe Biden has not held a single press conference -- that is until today -- and there are plethora of topics he’ll have to answer questions about.
Biden began by hailing his achievement passing his historic $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, but was then forced to pivot to a discussion on a slew of issues facing the country.
Biden started by announced the administration's new vaccination goal of offering 200 million shots in his first 100 days in office. The White House hit its first goal of 100 million before day 60 and current pace is around 2.5 million per day.
Biden was hit with questions on immigration, troops in Afghanistan, China, a filibuster rule and whether he'll run again in 2024.
Biden says it's his “expectation” that he'll run for reelection in 2024.
The president is 78 and already the oldest president to hold office. He would be 82 at the start of a second term.
On immigration, Biden the administration is sending vast numbers of migrants back to their countries of origin. "We're providing for the space to get kids out of border patrol facilities." He added that 5,000 beds have been made available to families. "Mexico is refusing to take families back and we're now in negotiations with the president." Biden said the vast majority of people under 18 come with the phone number of a family member with them in their pockets and the administration has set up a protocol to monitor the number that's being called and navigating set a hearing, and/or placing them with Health and Human Services.
Biden says when parents send their children alone across the border, it's a “desperate act.” The president says he wants to help change the conditions in Central American countries when the migrants are coming from, but he says there's no easy answer.
Biden referred to appointing Vice President Harris to tackle the immigration issue, but when asked if the numbers of unaccompanied minors should stay in the country or be deported, he said he would be moving a thousand kids out of facilities while protocols were put into place.
"I will commit when my plan is underway to let you have access," Biden said about reporters being allowed inside immigration facilities. "I will commit to transparency." Biden said he hasn't been to the facilities because he "doesn't want to be the issue."
As related to a filibuster rule, Biden said "it's being abused in a giant way." When it comes to the right to vote, he added, "I want to get things done...If we have to complete breakdown, we have do what I'm talking about."
"We will leave, but the question is when," Biden said when asked about troops in Afghanistan.
In discussing North Korea, the president said, "Korea's UN 1718 was violated by those missiles that were tested." Adding, that he is prepared for diplomacy with conditions of nuclear disarmament.
When asked about his relationship with China, Biden said President Xi called to congratulate him, the two talked for two hours. "I made it clear to him again, that we're not looking for confrontation, although we know there will be competition. We ask that China play by the rules." Adding that "our democracy is equipped because all the people get to speak to compete."
On gun control Biden said, when it comes to legislation, it's all about timing. Biden said he would be announcing more officially in Pittsburgh Friday, but it's essentially about how to "Rebuild the infrastructure of this country so that we can compete and create significant numbers of really good paying jobs."
Ultimately, Biden said he's willing to work with any Republican who's willing to make change.
Associated Press contributed to this story.
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