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FEMA to hire Community Liaisons across the state to aid in recovery

More than $300 million approved for North Carolina survivors and state recovery efforts

Following Hurricane Helene’s devastating impacts across the Southeast and Appalachia, the Biden-Harris Administration continues its robust Federal efforts to help communities recover and rebuild, including in heavily impacted communities in North Carolina. Across the state, the Administration is working alongside state and local officials to continue surging resources and assisting families, business owners, farmers, and other impacted communities receive the support and assistance they need and deserve.

To continue supporting recovery efforts, today the Administration is announcing that the Federal government will create a brand-new program and hire Community Liaisons to assist impacted communities with their recovery and rebuilding efforts. These dedicated Community Liaisons will interface between the people of North Carolina and FEMA to ensure their needs are met and serve as trusted messengers for survivors.

Thus far, the Administration has approved more than $300 million in assistance across the state, including $118 million in individual assistance to more than 87,600 households, and more than $189 million for debris removal and other emergency efforts. In total, across all impacted states in the Southeast and Appalachia, the Administration has approved nearly $2 billion in hurricane recovery assistance.

These new efforts to support North Carolina’s recovery supplement additional resources and funding, including:

• More than 1,500 Federal personnel remain deployed supporting the response and recovery operations. This includes more than 400 Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members, who are visiting neighborhoods to connect with survivors, assess damage, and offer access to Federal resources that support recovery and rebuilding.
• Fourteen Disaster Recovery Centers are operating in impacted areas and have served more than 5,700 visitors. More centers will be opening in the coming days. Survivors can visit Disaster Recovery Centers in the following cities/towns: Asheville, Bakersville, Boone, Brevard, Hendersonville, Jefferson, Lenoir, Marion, Morgantown, Newland, Old Fort, Sparta, Sylva, and Waynesville.
• FEMA is providing temporary hotel stays to more than 2,500 households through Transitional Sheltering Assistance.
• FEMA inspectors have performed more than 21,000 home inspections to help survivors assess damage and apply for financial assistance.
• Active-duty troops and National Guard members remain on the ground in their state capacity to support search-and-rescue operations, route clearance, and commodities distribution across western North Carolina. The Department of Defense is also employing additional capabilities to assist with increasing situational awareness across the remote terrain of Western North Carolina. The Army Corps of Engineers continues missions supporting debris removal, temporary emergency power installation, water and wastewater assessments with the Environmental Protection Agency.
• Power has been restored to 99 percent of impacted North Carolina customers due to thousands of utility personnel working around the clock.
• Commodity distribution, mass feeding, and hydration operations continue in areas of western North Carolina. FEMA continues to send commodity shipments and voluntary organizations are supporting feeding operations with bulk food and water deliveries coming in via truck and aircraft. Mobile feeding operations are reaching survivors in heavily impacted areas, including three mass feeding sites in Buncombe, McDowell and Watauga counties.

Additional actions the Administration is taking to protect public health, provide flexibilities to homeowners and taxpayers, support infrastructure recovery, and support workers, farmers, and students in North Carolina can be found here. Additional actions President Biden directed before Helene’s landfall can be found here.

Biden-Harris Administration’s Continuous Commitment to Being on the Ground

Following Hurricane Helene’s devastating impacts across North Carolina, President Biden committed to helping impacted communities recover and rebuild, no matter how long it takes. On October 2, less than one week after landfall, President Biden visited North Carolina to survey the damage, meet with first responders and impacted communities, and receive an operational briefing. As part of that visit, he also directed up to 1,000 active-duty troops to partner with the North Carolina National Guard on the ground at the request of the Governor. Days later, to surge additional resources and capacity at the request of the Governor, President Biden ordered another 500 active-duty troops to move into western North Carolina. On October 5, Vice President Harris also visited North Carolina to survey the damage, receive briefings, and meet with first responders.

The President and Vice President and senior leaders across the Administration have spoken with and coordinated closely with Governor Cooper throughout the response. President Biden talked with Governor Cooper at least twice immediately following Helene’s landfall, and Governor Cooper joined him to survey damage and receive briefings during his visit. They have stayed in close contact in the ensuing weeks.

At the President’s direction, FEMA Administrator Criswell has been on the ground in North Carolina for multiple days and nights to lead the Federal response since Helene’s landfall. She has traveled across the state to meet with survivors and communities, identify resource needs, and continue ensuring a swift and coordinated recovery effort.  She will return again this evening and remain in place to direct additional measures to speed response and recovery.  Many other Administration leaders, including Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Secretary Michael Regan, and Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, have also visited North Carolina to support recovery efforts and others will do so in the coming days and weeks, including Secretary Tom Vilsack on October 25.

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East Room

THE FIRST LADY:  Standing here with you, so many friends and colleagues and my family, I feel joy etching itself onto my heart.  We’ve done — all of us — we have done something momentous.  Something that — (applause) — something that, at times, seemed like it might not even be possible.  But together, with time and commitment and creativity, we did.

Tonight, I’m thrilled to be with all of you to celebrate tomorrow’s unveiling of the re-imagined White House tour. 

We — (applause) — we come together in the same room where President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act, where President Reagan met with Soviet General Secretary Gorbachev, where President Lincoln lay in state.  And I can never come into this room without reliving the memory of celebrating our granddaughter’s wedding here.

So, when you walk these halls, you can almost feel history wrapped around you.  Each floorboard holds the echoes of footsteps of world leaders and guests from decades before.  Each pillar, the weight of decisions that have rippled across time.  Each piece of art, the memory of the person who created it.

But until today, if you looked around these walls, you might not know any of that. 

Education is my life’s work, and I know that there are three kinds of learners: visual, auditory, and tactile.

The White House tour now lets visitors touch, hear, and see their history up close.  They’ll walk past the vibrant digital photos in the East Colonnade, a living timeline changing to meet the day’s events.  They’ll arrive at the 3D model of the White House and watch as centuries unfold before their eyes.

And we’re inviting visitors further into the rooms than ever before — and including the Diplomatic Reception Room, which hasn’t been open to public tours before this. 

As they walk through the house, visitols w- — visitors will learn about all the people who have been a part of history and its stories, like the sculptors — six brothers, immigrants from Italy, who found a home on our shores, who crafted the molding of this room — and the enslaved African Americans who were part of building this house.

Visitors will now be able to learn about all those stories contained in these halls. 

To Paul Buccieri and everyone at the History Channel, you made this possible.  (Applause.)  You found the right team, and you moved at lightning speed.  And I’m so grateful for your commitment to this partnership.

To the National Park Service that helps make this park the incredible place it can be; the White House curators and the White House Historical Association, who preserve our history; ESI Design, who made this idea into a reality; and presiden- –presidential libraries and countless more staff and partners who came together and brought their expertise to this project, your work will be imprinted on every guest who tours this house.

And to Blair Downing, our chief usher, you — (applause) — you and the exceptional Executive Residence team make this house a home.  So, thank you. 

Because of all of your hard work, we can now see the history of this house and also its future.

The little girl grabbing her dad’s hand to point out her favorite detail of the Green Room, the educator who will bring notes back to his class on how our democracy was shaped, the grandmother who will share memories of the presidents of her childhood with her grandchildren.

While tonight is the end of one part of our work, it’s only the beginning of this new chapter of White House public tours.  I hope this experience that visitors will get here will continue to grow and change so that we can keep teaching the world more about our history.

It’s been the honor of my life to serve as your First Lady and to call this house home.

The White House belongs to the American people, and together, we’ve opened its doors wider and wider. 

So, please enjoy this evening.  We are here to celebrate you.  Thank you for making time for being here.  (Applause.)

And now it’s my honor to introduce the 46th president, my husband, Joe Biden.  (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  (Applause.)

Hello, everyone.  My name is Joe Biden.  I’m Jill’s husband.  (Laughter.)

And, you know, when we were set up on a blind date by my youngest brother, he said, “You’ll love her, Joe.  She’s not interested in politics.”  (Laughter.)  That was 400 years ago.  (Laughter.)

Well, I, too, want to thank the History Channel and the National Park Service and the White House curators and Executive Residence Staff, you know, ES- — the ESI Design and White House Historical Association, and the presidential libraries staff. 

By the way, every time they play “Hail to the Chief” — it took me two years — they’d start to play it — swear to God –I’d look around like, “Where the hell is he?”  (Laughter.)  You think I’m kidding.  I’m not.  (Laughter.)  I’m not.

You all have helped history come to life. 

Jill said countless times, being an educator is not j- — what she does, it’s who she is. 

Ashley, do you doubt it now?  Stand up.  I want you — to introduce my daughter, Ashley.  (Applause.)

Ashley is the life of my — the love of my life and the life of my love.

And, look, the first lady is to work full time — the first one ever to work full time.  And I’ve seen her stay up late grading papers and planning trips and the first lady — around her obligations as Dr. B. 

But — so, it’s no surprise to me that one of her signature efforts is making the White House an inspirational educational opportunity for everybody.

You know, to us, the White House is not just a home, it’s a p- — or a place of work.  It really is.  And we’ve been — been — and as — as David kno- — it’s been — it’s the People’s House.  We’re just temporary renters. 

And that why I’ve used our time in office to open the doors of the White House even more than its ever been, I’m told.  We’ll open the doors of possibilities for all Americans.  And that’s what this entire project is all about — for people to feel it, to taste it, to see it, to understand the — the nuances. 

You know, we’re grateful to all of you here tonight for helping to make it happen and to make sure we learn the good, the bad, the truth of who we are as a people.

In America, we don’t erase history, we celebrate history.  And that’s what great nations do, and we’re a great nation — in my view, the greatest nation on Earth.  We inspire future generations to write the next chapter of that history in our journey — America’s journey.

Let me close with this.  Eavan Boland was a daughter of Ireland and made a career as a poet here in America.  She once wrote, “Remind us again, now that history changes, that it belongs to us.  It belongs to all of us.”  “To all of us.”

So, a toast — I know I’m giving a toast, but I don’t know a glass is —

THE FIRST LADY:  There it is.  Right there.  (Laughter.)

Thank you.

There’s yours.

THE PRESIDENT:  There you go.

A toast to Jill and to all of you.  And the history of the White House belongs to all Americans. 

Cheers.  And God bless you all.

(The president offers a toast.)

Enjoy your meal.  (Applause.)

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I congratulate President Prabowo Subianto on his inauguration as President of the Republic of Indonesia, and the Indonesian people for exercising their right to vote and making their voices heard.

This year, Indonesia and the United States are celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations. Vice President Harris and I look forward to working with President Prabowo to honor this milestone by continuing to strengthen our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and show that democracies can deliver on the challenges that matter most to our peoples’ lives.

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Westin Book Cadillac Detroit
Detroit, Michigan

1:08 P.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon, everyone.  Good afternoon.  Well, it’s good to be back in Detroit, and so we’re here back today to thank all the folks for the work that they are doing to help organize, register people to vote, and get them out to vote.  And today, early voting begins in Detroit. 

So, it is good to be back here and — and, obviously, to be in a great American city and to applaud it for being just that: a great American city with a lot of hardworking folks who have grit and ambition and deserve to be respected for all of that. 

And then, on Monday, I will be headed to Pennsylvania, to Michigan, and Wisconsin to spend some time with a great American leader, Liz Cheney, and talk with folks about why it’s important for us to — to put country before party and value the very important foundational principles on — that we stand on, in terms of particular — respecting and upholding the Constitution of the United States and — and the rule of law and the importance of having a president in the White House who actually understands their job and is fit to serve. 

So, with that, I’ll take any questions.

Q    On early voting. 

AIDE:  Chris with the AP.

Q    On early voting.  Are you concerned that Republicans are cutting the Democratic strength for early voting, and what are you seeing in the numbers now and how do you feel about them?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, what I’m hearing is that we’re seeing record turnout.  What I’m hearing is that in Georgia, for example, we’re beating all records in terms of early voting, and in North Carolina.  And in fact, today in Michigan, I’m going to challenge the folks here to do the same. 

So, you know, I don’t — I don’t yet have enough data to tell you who’s voting for who and — or how they’re leaning, but I think it’s great that people are turning out and voting and being active.  I — it’s what we should all want — right? — in our democracy, that people understand it’s their civic duty, but also that they can make a difference. 

Q    Vice President Harris —

AIDE:  And we’ll go to Nancy at Bloomberg, right here.

Q    Thank you. 

AIDE:  Yep.

Q    I wonder what you think of Elon Musk just getting increasingly involved in the election, both through his financial contributions to Trump’s super PAC, but also holding campaign events, attending rallies.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I mean, listen, I think that the most important thing that any one of us could do right now is pay attention to the issues that are at stake, and there’s a lot at stake. 

We are looking at — as I say repeatedly, because it is true — two very different visions for our country.  And Donald Trump has proven himself to be increasingly unstable and unfit, and he’s trying to take us backward. 

He is someone who demeans the American people, who has no actual plan for uplifting the middle class, no actual plan that is about any sense of optimism in who the American people are and what we are capable of doing.  And I think that that’s really what’s most important in these remaining — I believe it’s 17 days of the election, which is focusing on the issues themselves and reminding the American people they not only have a choice, but they have the power to decide the future of our country through this election.

Q    Madam —

AIDE:  We’ll go to Andrea right here.

Q    Hi.

AIDE:  Reuters. 

Q    So, yesterday, you called out Assad Turfe, one of the elected —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.

Q    — officials here, an Arab American.  He’s faced a tremendous backlash since you mentioned his name at the rally, and obviously there’s a lot of churn and turmoil within the Arab American and Muslim communities here in Michigan. 

Do you think you could lose the election because of Gaza?  And what — you know, overnight, there were more strikes.  Thirty-two more people were killed in Gaza, some in hospitals.  You know, how risky is it that you could lose the election?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, it is undeniable that it is something that everyone is aware of — what is happening there.  I speak publicly all the time about the fact that there are so many tragic stories coming from Gaza. 

And, of course, the first in this phase of everything that has happened, the first and most tragic story is October 7th and what happened that day, and then what has happened since. 

And I think what’s critically important as we look at this moment is, one, acknowledging the tragedy of what has happened in Gaza in terms of the extraordinary number of innocent Palestinians who have been killed and taking that seriously and speaking truth about that, in addition, of course, to what I said about what happened on October 7, in terms of 1,200 innocent Israelis being slaughtered, women being horribly raped.

And then fast-forwarding to today, with the killing of Sinwar, this creates an opening that I believe we must take full advantage of to dedicate ourselves to ending this war and bringing the hostages home. 

Q    But it’s not working so far. 

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  You know what?  Listen, as it relates to the issues in the Middle East and in particular in that region, it has never been easy, but that doesn’t mean we give up.  Okay?  It is always going to be difficult.  It does not mean we give up.  We can’t give up. 

Q    Madam — Madam —

AIDE:  We have time for one more from Tamara at NPR.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Sure.

Q    You’ve been doing some more, sort of, Trump “rapid response,” I’d describe it — you know, responding to him in near real time — in recent days.  It feels like something slightly different from the way you were handling it before, and I’m wondering: Why that shift?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  He’s becoming increasingly unstable and unhinged, and it requires that response.  I think the American people are seeing it, witnessing it in real time, and we must take note of the fact that this is an individual who wants to be president of the United States, and I think the American people deserve better than someone who actually seems to be unstable. 

Q    Madam — Madam Vice President —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Okay.  Thank you all.  Thank you.

                        END                1:13 P.M EDT

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Tonight, Doug and I are praying for all those who were killed or injured in the collapse of the ferry dock walkway on Georgia’s Sapelo Island, as well as their family members and loved ones. Our Administration is in close touch with state and local officials, and we have offered any federal support the community might need. As always, we are deeply grateful for the heroism of our first responders. Even in the face of this heartbreak, we will continue to celebrate and honor the history, culture, and resilience of the Gullah-Geechee community.

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UAW Local 652
Lansing, Michigan

5:31 P.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Hey, everybody.  Hey.  (Applause.)  Hey, everyone.  Good afternoon.  Good afternoon, everyone.

Oh, it’s good to be in the house of labor.  Good afternoon.  (Applause.)  Good afternoon.

Ben, I want to thank you for your leadership.  I just said to him, I mean, what a leader he is.  You know, I just — first of all, it’s so good to be in the house of labor, and it’s so good to be with people who understand the dignity of work and fight for it every day.  And it’s not an easy fight, but it’s a good fight.

And I thank you for all that you do, Ben, and everybody who is here.  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you. 

So, it’s wonderful to be back in Michigan and to be with so many incredible leaders, including, of course, Representative Slotkin.  Where is she?  She’s — there you are.  (Applause.)  Who we must elect to the United States Senate.  (Applause.)  And we will.  I’m counting on that.

State Senator Hertel, let’s send him to the United States House of Representatives.  (Applause.)  There you are.

And a special thanks to the brothers and sisters of United Auto Workers.  Thank you for all that you are, all that you do, and the warm welcome.  (Applause.) 

And, of course, for generations in Lansing and across our country, union members have helped lead the fight for fair pay, better benefits, and safe working conditions, and every person in our nation has benefited from your work. 

You know, everywhere I go, I tell people, you may not be a union member, but you better thank unions — (applause) — for the five-day work week, for sick leave, for paid family leave and vacation time, because we are all clear: Collective bargaining benefits our entire nation — our entire nation.  (Applause.) 

Because here’s the deal.  When union wages go up, everybody’s wages go up.  When union workplaces are safer, everyone’s workplace is safer.  So, thank a union.  (Applause.)  Thank a union. 

And the bottom line is when unions are strong, America is strong.  Unions have always fought to make our nation more equal, more fair, and more free.  And in this election, everything we have fought for, for years in this movement — in this movement, for unions and for labor, is on the line. 

And I’m about to talk about it in real terms because we always have real talk with each other, and your members can afford nothing less, which has been why I appreciate your leadership. 

This election is about two very different visions for our nation: one that’s trying to take us backward — him — and ours that is about moving forward and about the future.  (Applause.)  We fight — we fight for a future where we protect the freedom to organize, where we understand the importance of collective bargaining. 

You know, I sometimes say to young people — and, by the way, have you noticed how, when you look at the polling, younger workers coming into the workforce, they get it and they understand the power and the nobility of unions. 

And I always say to people, look, here’s the thing about collective bargaining.  Everybody should want that, when there’s a negotiation, the outcome would be fair.  Right?  Who’s going to argue with that?  Everybody should want that — that there will be a fair outcome in a negotiation. 

All right.  So, if we start from there — we’re all reasonable people — then let’s think about it.  If you’re talking about the worker, the one worker trying to negotiate against the corporation, is that outcome going to be fair? 

     AUDIENCE MEMBERS:  No.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  No.  The disparity in power is too great.  So, collective bargaining, it’s a simple, simple and important point.  You let the workers organize so that the collective, together, who have the same concerns, the same issues, can be banded together to have equal power in a negotiation, because the whole point is the outcome of the negotiation should be fair.  That’s what collective bargaining is about.  That’s what unions are about.  (Applause.)

It’s about basic fairness, and it’s about the dignity of work, understanding all workers deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.  That’s what we’re talking about when we talk about this movement and the strength of the movement and the importance of keeping it going. 

We talk about, then, our knowledge about the importance of building a future where we tap into the ambition of the American people, where we build what I call an “opportunity economy” — right? — so every American has an opportunity to own a home, to buy a car, to build wealth, to start a business.

And I will always — it is my pledge to you — put the middle class and working people first.  I come from the middle class, and I will never forget where I come from.  (Applause.)  I will never forget where I come from.  I know where I come from.

Hard work is good work.  Hard work is good work and must receive the value to which it is due, which means understanding the value of the worker.  (Applause.) 

And we know we cannot have a strong middle class without American manufacturing.  Over the last three and a half years, we brought manufacturing back to America, creating 730,000 manufacturing jobs — (applause) — with your help — with your help.  We announced the opening of more than 20 new auto plants in the United States, and we did it by investing in American industry and American workers.  (Applause.)

And I will make sure America, not China, wins the competition for the 21st century.  (Applause.) 

So, under my plan, it’s about investing in the industries that built America, like steel, iron, the great American auto industry.  And we will ensure that the next generation of breakthroughs, from advanced batteries to electric vehicles, are not just invented but built right here in America by American union workers.  (Applause.)  Because it is they and you who have proven how to get the job done.  (Applause.)

And as part of that vision, we will invest in manufacturing communities like Lansing.  We will retool existing factories, hire locally, and work with unions to create good-paying jobs, including, by the way, jobs that do not require a college degree. 

And I’mma tell you why.  And I’mma tell you why, because I’m really clear that a college degree is not the only measure of the skills and experience of the qualified worker, and we need to understand — (applause) — we need to understand that. 

In fact, it is my pledge that, as president, I’m going to do a critical assessment of federal jobs to look at those that don’t require a college degree so we can start talking about good jobs based on the skill and experience of the worker and not random measures of who can do what.  And I plan on, then, challenging the private sector to do the same.  (Applause.)

And we will importantly protect the pensions of union workers and retirees.  (Applause.)  Again, it’s about the dignity of work, which includes the dignity of retirement.  After a lifetime of working hard, let’s talk about the dignity of retirement, the dignity of aging. 

And that’s why, as attorney general, I sued the big banks to return hundreds of millions of dollars to workers and their families after their pensions were mismanaged.  This is not new to me.  I’ve done that work. 

As a United States senator, I pushed for legislation to rescue workers’ pensions without cutting the benefits that workers had earned. 

And, as vice president, I worked alongside then-Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, and we, for a year, worked on what we needed to do with the federal workforce, which was in our direct power, to increase the ability for collective bargaining and to ensure that they have all the resources they need to grow in terms of organizing. 

As vice president, I also helped to do the long overdue work to protect the pensions of more than 1 million union members.  And yesterday, I announced the protection of the full earned pension benefits of more than 22,500 union workers and retirees in Michigan under the Detroit Carpenters’ Pension Fund.  (Applause.) 

Because, again, just to put a fine point on it, when it comes to your pension or Social Security or Medicare, these are retirement benefits you have earned.  This is not about a giveaway.  You’ve earned it.  And it must be protected, and it must be respected — after decades of hard work, that you receive it.  And honoring these benefits must be an ironclad commitment.  (Applause.)

Now — now let’s talk about, you know, the guy on the other side.  Let’s talk about Donald Trump for a minute.  Shall we?  So —

     AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And because he has a very different view.  Now, in all seriousness, he has a very different view of workers, of hard work, of the dignity of work.  You guys — we know it.  We know it. 

He tries to, you know, do his rhetorical thing at — at rallies like he understands what it means to earn a living.  No, you understand what I’m saying.  He pretends that he understands workers and the hard work and the battle workers face every day to get their due wages and benefits. 

Well, we’re not falling for the okey-doke, because we know — we know what he has said, and we know what he has done.  (Applause.)  He who called Social Security a Ponzi scheme.  He called it a Ponzi scheme.  He recommended we raise the retirement age to 70.  Can you imagine, if you are required to work to 70?  He who intends to cut Social Security and Medicare?

You know, we know how many people — their only source of income is their social security check.  Talk about — right? — is the value about dignity in retirement, dignity in aging.  And remember, he was the only one — he said he was going to be the only one who could bring back America’s manufacturing jobs.  You know how he talks.  (Deepens voice.)  “I’m the only one,” right?  (Laughter.)  You know how he talks.  (Laughter and applause.) 

And then, because we’re too busy watching what he’s doing to hear what he’s saying, we know America lost nearly 200,000 manufacturing jobs when he was president — okay? — including tens of thousands of jobs right here in Michigan.  And those losses, we know and we’ll note, started before the pandemic — okay? — making Donald Trump one of the biggest —

     AUDIENCE:  Losers!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — losers of manufacturing jobs in American history. 

And his track record for the auto industry was a disaster.  He promised workers in Warren that the auto industry would — I’m going to quote — “not lose one plant” under his presidency.  Then American automakers announced the closure of six auto plants when he was president, including General Motors in Warren and Stellantis in Detroit.  Thousands of Michigan autoworkers lost their jobs.

And if he wins again, we can expect there would be more of the same, because we know what he has done.  And we know that we’re going to focus on the work, not the words, when it comes to Donald Trump, and we know where he took us the last time.

 And check this out.  Donald Trump’s current running mate — because you know the job was open, right?  (Laughter.)  You know, like, when people go for an interview — especially the young people, they’ll go for an interview, and they’ll sit down and they’re in the interview, and they’ll say, “Why is the job open?”  (Laughter.)  Well, we know why that job was open.  (Laughter.)

So, Donald Trump’s running mate recently suggested that if they win, they would threaten the Grand River Assembly plant right here in Lansing —

     AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — the same plant that, with your help, our administration protected earlier this year, saving 650 union jobs.  (Applause.)  Right? 

And I do believe some of the union workers from Grand River are here with us today.  So, you know what I’m ta- — (applause) — so, you know I’m talking about.  You know what I’m talking about.  And Trump’s running mate called your jobs “table scraps,” right?

So, let me just say — needless to say — I will always have your back — (applause) — and will keep fighting to make sure that you keep your jobs right here in Lansing and keep these most noble and important jobs for America’s strength.  That’s the work you all do. 

You know, Donald Trump, he also promised that he was going to stop offshoring.  Remember that?  Then he cut taxes for corporations that shipped 200,000 jobs overseas during his presidency — cut the taxes for those corporations — okay? — and awarded nearly half a trillion dollars in federal contracts to companies that were offshoring jobs.  Okay?  Follow the money.

He gave your tax dollars to companies that were sending your jobs overseas.  And we got to get the word out to all of the brothers and sisters in labor to remind them of what this dude does — right? — what he actually does.  (Applause.)

Because, make no mistake, Donald Trump is no friend to labor. 

     AUDIENCE:  No!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  He is no friend to labor, and we’ve got to listen to what he says.  Know that — you know that famous saying: Listen when people tell you who they are. 

In fact, can we roll the clip?  (Laughter.)  Let’s see.  There we —

(A video clip is played.)

     AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Right?  Right.  Right.

 So, of course, that last bit, he was talking about Shawn Fain, who — who represents nearly a million active and retired autoworkers.  Okay?  So, that’s about a million autoworkers, active and retired. 

 Donald Trump — listen to his words: He’s saying that autoworkers are essentially engaged in child’s play, that children could do it.  Listen to what he says. 

I’m telling you, he — you know, he’s got his club, and I’m going to tell you, union workers are not part of his club.  Let’s be clear about that.  No matter what he does at his rallies, let’s be clear about that, right?

He thinks that the value of your work is essentially meaningless.  That’s what he’s saying, to compare it to child’s work? 

When we here know the work you do is complex.  You do it with great care.  You work hard.  You are highly skilled.  You are highly trained.  And the best autoworkers in the world is who you are — the best in the world — (applause) — the best in the world.

 And the fact is, Donald Trump’s comments are the talk of someone who has had everything handed to him. 

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  That’s exactly right.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I know it’s right.  (Laughter.)  It is — I know.  It is. 

This man, you know, who never had to work a job that came with calloused hands or an hourly wage — right? — someone who got handed $400 million on a silver platter and did what with it?  Filed bankruptcy six times.  (Applause.)  Come on.  Come on. 

He will never understand the life of a United Auto Worker — he will never understand that — people who work hard for everything they have, who take great pride in a job well done, who understand what it represents to their family and the future of their family.  Again, I go back to the dignity of hard work. 

So, let us be clear.  Donald Trump’s insults to American workers is not exclusive to that video.  Okay?  So, that was just a moment.  Kind of think of it as the commercial break in my speech.  (Laughter.)

But his comments are not only that, because Donald Trump has been a union buster his entire career.  He has called union leaders, quote, “Dues Sucking” people.  Okay?  He said that he supports so-called right-to-work laws, quote, “100 percent.”  Okay?  He bragged and joked with a billionaire buddy about mass firing striking workers and lowered labor standards and made it easier for companies that break the laws to get federal contracts. 

Donald Trump encouraged automakers of Michigan so they could pay their workers less — encouraged them to move so they could pay their workers less.  Okay?  And when the UAW went on strike to demand the higher wages you deserve, Donald Trump went to a nonunion shop and attacked the UAW.  He said striking and collective bargaining don’t make, and I’m going to quote, “a damn bit of difference.” 

So, here’s the bottom line, Donald Trump’s track record is a disaster for working people.  And he is, I believe, an existential threat to America’s labor movement.  And everything he intends to do, if he is reelected, is also spelled out in that Project 2025. 

So, to read it and to know it is to know he intends to launch a full-on attack on unions and the freedom to organize.  Okay?  He will ban public-sector unions, roll back workplace safety protections.  Read it when you have some time.  Google it, everybody who’s watching.  Look, mak- — he will make it easier for companies to deny overtime pay for workers and appoint a union buster to run the Department of Labor.  Be sure of that.  Be sure of that. 

So, to all the friends here, I say what you already know.  It’s time to turn the page.  (Applause.)  Let’s just turn the page.  (Applause.)  Turn the page.  (Laughs.)  Because America is ready to chart a new way forward, and we are not —

     AUDIENCE:  Going back!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — going back.  We are not going back.  (Applause.)

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

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  No, we are not going back.  We’re not going back.  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 because, as UAW always does, we are going to push forward.  We are going to push forward. 

And it all comes down to this.  Look, you all have taken time out of your busy lives to be here this afternoon, and we are all here together because we know the stakes in this election are so high. 

We are all here together because we love our country.  (Applause.)  We love our country.  And I do believe it is one of the highest forms of patriotism, the expression of the love of our country, to fight for our ideals.  And that’s what this is about. 

This is not, at the end of the day, a fight against something; this is a fight for something.  (Applause.)  This is a fight for something, including the fight to realize the promise of America.  After all, that’s what unions have always done.  It’s about understanding the promise of America, which has to include the promise that we should make to the workers of America.

 So, we have 18 days to get this done.  It’s not a lot of time.  Okay?  And we know this is going to be a tight race until the very end.  We are the underdog.  But make no mistake, we will win.  (Applause.)  We will win.  We will win.  We will win, I’m telling you.

It’s going to be hard work, but we like hard work.  Hard work is good work.  (Applause.) 

And ultimately, we will win because we know what we stand for.  (Applause.)  And when you know what you stand for, you know what to fight for.  (Applause.)  Right?We stand for opportunity.  We stand for dignity.  And we stand for the future.  (Applause.)

And so, I’ll close by saying, and when we fight —

     AUDIENCE:  We win!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — we win.

 God bless you.  God bless America.  (Applause.)

                               END                 5:57 P.M. EDT

The post Remarks by Vice President Harris at a Campaign Event | Lansing, MI appeared first on The White House.

We are heartbroken to learn about the ferry dock walkway collapse on Georgia’s Sapelo Island. What should have been a joyous celebration of Gullah-Geechee culture and history instead turned into tragedy and devastation. Jill and I mourn those who lost their lives, and we pray for the injured and anyone still missing. We are also grateful to the first responders at the scene. My team is in touch with state and local officials, and we stand ready to provide any and all assistance that would be helpful to the community.

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The post Statement from President Joe Biden appeared first on The White House.

Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of North Carolina and ordered Federal assistance to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight from September 16 to September 20, 2024.

Federal funding is available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight in the counties of Brunswick, Carteret, New Hanover, and Onslow.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Mr. E. Craig Levy, Sr. of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas. 

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV.

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The post President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves North Carolina Disaster Declaration appeared first on The White House.

Via Teleconference

8:45 A.M. EDT

MR. KIRBY:  Thanks very much.  I’ll just keep it short because I know you got questions. 

A really terrific day here in Berlin for the President.  I think you all saw how significant and emotional he was over — getting the Order of Merit from President Steinmeier.  He also had a chance bilaterally to meet with the President on issues like Ukraine and the Middle East. 

And then we came over here to the Chancellor.  He had some one-on-one time with Chancellor Scholz and then a working lunch.  Unsurprisingly, the main topics of discussion were, of course, Ukraine.  Further discussions about how we were going to continue to work with the EU to find a way to employ Russian sovereign assets to help with Ukraine’s reconstruction — that was a topic. 

Of course, there was also the issue of what’s going on on the battlefield and where the Germans see their perspectives about where the Ukrainian Armed Forces are, sort of President Biden sharing our perspective on how things are going on the battlefield. 

And then, of course, they talked about President Zelenskyy’s victory plan and how we can all work together to try to see if we can’t get to a just peace that President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people will approve of and, of course, you know, can implement. 

And then, now, the President is meeting with the European Quad leaders.  That’s going on right now.  I’m not in that room, but we’ll have a readout when it’s over.  And again, I have no doubt that issues regarding Ukraine and the Middle East will come up as well in the Quad. 

I forgot to mention — in the working lunch with Chancellor Scholz, they also did spend some time talking about the Middle East and the developments yesterday and how that might affect where we go forward here in terms of trying to find a way to end the war and with the opportunity that Sinwar’s death now provides us. 

So, again, that’s just kind of a rough summary of the discussions, and we will absolutely have a readout for you of the Quad meeting when it’s over.

So I can take some questions.

Q    John, real fast: Prime Minister Netanyahu today said, “We have before us a great opportunity to stop the axis of evil and create a different future.”  What gives the U.S. confidence, after Sinwar’s death, that Israel is ready for a ceasefire, that it sees a ceasefire as its best option?

MR. KIRBY:  We believe — continue to believe that finding an end to the war is critical, and we also believe that Mr. Sinwar’s death yesterday can provide an inflection point to getting there. 

I mean, look at what the Israeli Defense Forces have been able to do against Hamas.  I mean, they’ve really decimated their leadership, now knocking out the top leader himself.  They have, without question, completely eliminated any immediate threat that Hamas would pose from a military perspective.  They’ve knocked out military command structure.  They’ve gone after weapons caches.  They’ve made it much more difficult for Hamas to operate and act, plan and execute the way they did on October 7th. 

So, Hamas is in a much, much, much weakened position than it ever was before.  The President believes that certainly with Sinwar’s killing yesterday, that there’s a unique opportunity here for us all to kind of grab hold of to see what we can do to end the war and to get a ceasefire.  And we still believe that a ceasefire — actually, in the north too — but we still believe a ceasefire is important for Gaza to get those hostages home. 

So you asked me what gives us confidence.  I think, first of all, one thing that gives us confidence that now is a propitious opportunity is the incredible work that the IDF has done in decimating Hamas and now killing Hamas’s leadership. 

Q    But I guess the core question was: What gives you confidence that Prime Minister Netanyahu shares that view?  Does he share the view that you just articulated?

MR. KIRBY:  Well, I’ll let the Prime Minister speak for himself.  I mean, he said himself yesterday that this does provide a unique opportunity. 

Now, what we’ll do is continue to have consultations with our Israeli counterparts about how we take advantage of that opportunity.  The President still believes that intensive diplomacy is still the preferred path.  And now with Sinwar gone, we are in a unique opportunity to really take that to the next level, try to get a ceasefire in Gaza, but, as well, to try to get a ceasefire up in the north against Hezbollah, and then, again, do everything we can to prevent this from escalating. 

Q    Just to follow up on that, you know, in the past few months, when Israel has taken action against others — Nasrallah’s killing as an example — the big concern was that that had the potential to truly escalate the conflict in the Middle East into something closer to a regional conflict.  I guess I don’t quite understand.  Is the idea here that Sinwar was the chief stumbling block to a ceasefire, and with him gone, the remaining leadership that are sitting in Qatar, or wherever they are, are somehow going to be less of an obstacle to a ceasefire?  Is that the opportunity that you’re sort of dancing around?

MR. KIRBY:  Yes.  I’m not — sorry if I’m dancing.  I’m not trying to dance. 

Q    Not you personally, but —

MR. KIRBY:  But, yes, Sinwar was the main obstacle to getting a ceasefire done.  Every time his political advisors would — we’d negotiate with and through them to come up with a proposal, it would have to get to him.  Of course, that took time because of the communications challenges.  And then he would just — he would just refute it and refuse to move forward. 

And it’s not as if — as I’ve said this before, it’s not as if the Israelis weren’t willing to continue to find compromises, and they did.  Each and every time, Sinwar found a way to stop it.  Now he’s gone.  So, we’ll see.  I mean, Hamas, obviously, will make their own decisions about what their structure is going to look like and if and who might replace Mr. Sinwar. 

But, yes, his death does provide a unique opportunity here to try to take advantage of where we are with Hamas, where Israel is with Hamas, and see if we can’t get a ceasefire in place.

Q    But you haven’t gotten yet.  I mean, I know it’s early, it’s less than 24 hours, but you haven’t gotten any signals from those political Hamas officials that you were dealing through Qatar and whatever —

MR. KIRBY:  Not that I’m aware of.  Not that I’m aware of.

Q    — they haven’t sort of said, “Oh, well, let’s start talking again”?

MR. KIRBY:  Not that I’m aware of.  But as you rightly pointed out, I mean, this just happened yesterday.

We believe — and it was in the — look, it was in the President’s statement.  You know, the obstacle that was Sinwar has now been removed.  There’s a lot more work to be done.  And when the President is talking about that work, he’s talking about getting the diplomatic path back into some kind of swing.

Q    John, to your point about Sinwar, what are your fears as Hamas regroups?  What are your chief concerns right now?

MR. KIRBY:  Well, obviously, we’re going to be watching to see what they do here.  They have been — as I said, the leadership decimated, military structure decimated, but they still are a presence in Gaza, and they still do have some capability, so we’re certainly going to be watching that carefully.  And I’ve seen some statements out of them today, you know, basically pledging to continue the conflict and continue the war. 

They are in such a dramatically weakened position, it’s difficult to see from where we sit that they could perpetrate anything close to what they did on the 7th of October.  But that doesn’t mean that they aren’t still lethal to some degree, and so we’re going to have to watch that carefully. 

So, two things.  One, we’re going to continue to support Israel with defensive capabilities.  And that’s not going to stop.  Just because Mr. Sinwar is gone, it doesn’t mean that we’re going to, in some way, diminish our support to Israel and their defense capabilities. 

Two, as the President said last night to you all, this is an opportunity now to really step up and see what we can explore in terms of opportunities for a diplomatic solution and getting a ceasefire in place. 

We have to all — as we sit here, I mean, today, those hostages are still being held somewhere in Gaza, likely in tunnels, and their lives are still greatly at risk.  And there’s a keen sense of urgency — there has been, of course — but now, with Mr. Sinwar’s passing, it really underscores for us how urgent it is to see what we can do to get those hostages home.  And you heard Prime Minister Netanyahu say the same thing yesterday. 

Q    Let me ask a Ukraine question.  So, with regards to President Zelenskyy’s peace proposal and the two points — membership in NATO before the end of Biden’s presidency and also nuclear capabilities — where does the White House stand on that?  Have you had any change of heart or change of mind on that?  And how are you doing on the $50 billion loan?

MR. KIRBY:  Sorry, your first question was where’s our policy on what?

Q    On the peace — on the victory plan.

MR. KIRBY:  Oh, yeah.

Look, the President appreciated President Zelenskyy bringing it to the Oval Office and having a discussion about the victory plan. 

We’re obviously still digging through the details of it, so I’m not going to get into the nuts and bolts on every little item in it.  But I will say that, as we’ve made clear, we support President Zelenskyy’s plan for a just peace.  It’s critical that whatever that peace looks like, it has to be acceptable to him and to the Ukrainian people.  And we’re certainly not going to have any discussions about Ukraine without Ukraine.  And we’re certainly not going to have any discussions with foreign leaders that don’t comport with what we believe President Zelenskyy’s plans are for a just peace.

Q    The four leaders are literally having discussions about Ukraine without Ukraine right now, today.

MR. KIRBY:  With leaders who don’t — as I finished in my sentence, we’re not going to have discussions with leaders who don’t also comport to that plan, the idea of following through on his just peace plan. 

Q    Kirby, can you give a sense of to what extent President Biden is addressing the election on his trip here?  It obviously overhangs some of the things that he’s talking about in terms of alliances, in terms of what’s next for Ukraine.  How is he addressing that writ large?

MR. KIRBY:  The discussions he’s having today are not about the election.  It’s really about — well, first of all, thanking the German people for their incredible support of Ukraine, obviously showing his gratitude to the leadership here, President Steinmeier and Chancellor Scholz. 

But it’s really more about — as I kind of said in my opening statement, these are policy-heavy discussions, including the one he’s having right now, about some of the key still-open issues affecting our collective security, and that’s the war in Ukraine, and, of course, what’s going on in the Middle East, and really trying to work on policy solutions to solve these problems.  I mean, that’s really the gist of the meetings that he’s been at. 

Q    But —

Q    Hold on, hold on.  I’ll follow up.

I understand that it’s not a meeting about the election, but Europe is worried, and what happens in the U.S. election will help determine what happens next on those issues.  So, you know, what reassurances can he give, or can he just not, because he doesn’t know?  Nobody knows who’s going to win.

MR. KIRBY:  I think his purpose for coming and the thrust of his discussions are really about reaffirming everything that he’s done as President and Commander-in-Chief over the last three-plus years to improve alliances and partnerships, make them stronger, make them bigger, create ones where they didn’t exist before, and work together on cooperative solutions for some of these challenges. 

Now, we’ve been talking about Ukraine and the Middle East, but they are also talking about climate change.  They’re talking about terrorism.  They’re, you know, talking about, you know, clean energy transition.  All these transnational challenges that are before us. 

And his purpose is to reaffirm his commitment as President of the United States to seeing through, with the time he has left, on all those solutions.  I mean, nobody can be perfectly predictive about what’s going to happen next month.  And that’s democracy, and that’s the way it works. 

Q    He says all the time that whenever he comes to Europe, they want to know — remember the whole speech that he used to give at the beginning of his presidency about —

MR. KIRBY:  I’ll let — I will —

Q    — but how — so, like, are they asking him?

MR. KIRBY:  I will let the foreign leaders speak for themselves.  I’m not going to talk for them or what’s on their minds. 

Let me just tell — let me just put it this way, and I saw it today: American leadership matters to leaders here.  The United States matters.  The effect — you heard it in the speech that President Steinmeier gave today, that President Biden’s personal leadership has mattered when it comes to European security.  And the continent’s security has changed over the last three-plus years thanks to what Mr. Putin did. 

So, yes, he hears frequently from foreign leaders how important his personal leadership has been and his stewardship of these relationships, but also how important American leadership matters on the world stage.  So I’d leave it at that.

Q    John, I’m going to try one more time here.  You’ve talked about how the President —

MR. KIRBY:  You guys keep on trying.  I have to take away from that that I’m being unsatisfactory.  (Laughter.)

Q    Well, you said the President is here to cement his legacy, but he has less than a hundred days in office.  Is part of cementing that legacy handing over some of these achievements and responsibilities to European allies because of uncertainty about our election?

MR. KIRBY:  Well, so, first of all, I didn’t say he’s cementing his legacy.  He’s reaffirming all the things that he has done and making sure that these European leaders know that for the remainder of his time in office he’s going to keep working on these same goals.  So it’s not about cementing a legacy. 

I’m sorry, and the second part of your question was?

Q    So, as part of reaffirming his legacy, and with less than a hundred days left in office, is he preparing to hand over some of these things to European allies, given the uncertainty about our election?

MR. KIRBY:  No, this was not about handing over.  This wasn’t — these discussions today and the one going on right now is not about handing over responsibilities.  It is about talking to our allies and partners about what together we can continue to do to help Ukraine win this war, to bring the war in the Middle East to an end, and to address all those other transnational challenges. 

One of the things that the President is not only aware of but constantly restates is that while, you know, America is — the United States is the indispensable nation, he likes to say the “essential nation,” that we’ve got to have allies and partners in these challenges with us. 

First of all, it lends greater credibility to an effort if you’ve got partners.  And as I said, where there wasn’t an alliance or partnership to deal with a problem, President Biden has gone and created it.  The 50-plus Ramstein Group nations helping Ukraine and 20-plus nations that are helping in the Red Sea to beat back Houthi attacks on commercial shipping.  And concomitantly with that, an understanding by him that some nations have unique capabilities that we don’t have, and the ability to have conversations we can’t have that are critical to solving these problems.  So that’s what it’s really all about.

Q    Can I ask a follow-up on Ukraine?  You mentioned the victory plan and the discussions about that too.  Yesterday in Brussels, the Chancellor was very open about his — or very clear about his opposition to major parts in Zelenskyy’s victory plan, and Zelenskyy himself seemed a little frustrated by the conversations he had in Brussels yesterday.  So, I’m wondering — and also, the U.S. seems to take issue with some big parts in that victory plan.  So what is the path forward here?  What can the U.S., and maybe Germany also, offer?  What’s the game plan? Because the President himself said a tough winter is coming —

MR. KIRBY:  He did, yeah.

Q    And that’s the only thing that’s on the table right now.  So where are we there, and what’s the way forward?

MR. KIRBY:  The Quad leaders are meeting today, as you know, and they’re going to be talking about the victory plan.  As we’ve said — and I can — you know, it’s the same thing I would say today — we are still going through the victory plan in detail.  We’re still talking to our Ukrainian counterparts about it.  Today, the President has an opportunity to get the perspectives of these European leaders and to share his perspective on it. 

Look, again, without getting into — as I refused to do earlier, we’re not getting into every clause and subparagraph on this thing.  I would just tell you that we appreciate and respect the work that President Zelenskyy put into it and the thoughtfulness that he put into it, and we’re going to continue to work with him and his team to see what this just peace can and should look like, but with a recognition that — look, we believe that the best way the war ends is through a negotiated settlement, but it has to be up to President Zelenskyy to determine if and when that occurs and what the circumstances are.

Q    If I may, it’s not about the small details, though; it’s about the big lines in the victory plan that are an obstacle, obviously, like an unconditional invitation to NATO or long-range weapon use, like Western weapon use in Russian territory.  That’s not small and minor details.  That’s the big, you know, pillars of this victory plan.  So if you’re not in line there, what’s the future of this plan?

MR. KIRBY:  Why don’t we let the Quad leaders sit and talk about this before I go characterizing their positions on each of the components of it.  I’m not going to do that.  We’ve been very consistent with respect to NATO.  And I think somebody asked me a NATO question.  NATO is going to be in Ukraine’s future.  No question about that.  The first thing we have to do is help them win this war.  We got to make sure that they have what they need now.  And that’s why they talked about the battlefield today with Chancellor Scholz. 

Second is we got to make sure that if and when and however this war ends, Ukraine has the ability to not only have a strong, vibrant defense industrial base, but that they have pledging commitments from other countries, including the United States, for long-term security needs that they’re going to have.  They’re still going to have a long border with Russia no matter how this war ends.  They got to be able to deal with a potentially continued aggressive Russia. 

And then, even while all that’s going on, we’re going to continue to work with Ukraine on the necessary reforms that they will need to make in order to apply for NATO membership.  NATO isn’t [sic] going to be in their future.  We’ve put forward some pathways and some milestones to help them get there.  And that’s where we are.  That’s where we are in the United States.

Q    I just heard you say NATO isn’t going to be in their future.  Did you mean NATO is —

MR. KIRBY:  I said it is.

Q    — going to be in their future?

MR. KIRBY:  Yeah.  Did I say “isn’t”?

Q    Yeah.

MR. KIRBY:  No, NATO is going to be in Ukraine’s future. 

Q    Back to the Middle East for a second.  If and when the day comes when you do sit down again on the ceasefire proposal, is the current one on the table, the one that you’re working off of?  Or does the Sinwar situation mean you have to sort of go back to the drawing board or (inaudible)?

MR. KIRBY:  Well, (inaudible) that the ceasefire talks have been moribund now for several weeks because Mr. Sinwar simply refused.  And I wish I could tell you today that we’re getting the teams back together in Doha and we’re starting afresh.  That’s not where we are right now. 

I suspect — again, I don’t want to speculate, but I suspect that if and when we can get those talks back in place, the starting point will be where we left it.  Where that goes, I just don’t know.  We’re not in a position right now where serious negotiations are in the offing.

Q    And on the conversation yesterday with Prime Minister Netanyahu, obviously the Sinwar death was, you know, top of the conversation, I assume.  But did they also talk at all about what the retaliation for the Iran strikes will be?

MR. KIRBY:  As far as I understand, it was a very short call, mostly to congratulate him on killing Sinwar and then talking about the opportunity that Sinwar’s death now gives us, as I said earlier, in the diplomatic space.  That was the main focus. 

Q    Do you have a better understanding, though, on timing and scope of what they might do?

MR. KIRBY:  I’ll let the Israelis speak to their operations potential or otherwise.

Q    You don’t have to tell me what they’re doing, but do you have a good understanding of it?

MR. KIRBY:  I’m just — I’m not going to get into the specifics of diplomatic conversations we’ve had with the Israelis, and I’m certainly not going to talk about or speculate of any at all about their any potential military operations. 

Q    How diminished are Hamas’s capacity right now?  How big a threat are they, in your assessment?

MR. KIRBY:  Greatly diminished.

Q    You said they couldn’t do — like, is it enough that you think that forces the peace?  Is that kind of the argument you’re making?

MR. KIRBY:  We believe that with Sinwar’s killing, not only has the main obstacle to ceasefire negotiations been removed — and hopefully we can get that restarted with him now no longer in the position he was to block it — but also, as I said earlier, and I think it was in the President’s statement, the military structure of Hamas has just been nearly decimated.  They are absolutely incapable, as you and I are speaking here today, of conducting another attack on the scale of October 7th.  But as I also said a little earlier, they still exist as a terrorist organization.  They’re still in Gaza.  They’re still holding hostages.  And, yes, they still have some capability left to them. 

So there’s still a lethality to Hamas that just can’t be underestimated.  But I couldn’t put a percentage on it for you, like, you know, 70 percent diminished, 80 percent.  I don’t know that.  I just know that they are a shadow of their former self right now.

Q    Mr. Kirby, about next month’s Ramstein meeting that President Biden is going to chair, what do you expect?  What should we watch for at next month’s —

MR. KIRBY:  The President is looking forward to hosting this Ramstein Group at the leader level.  It’s going to be done virtually instead of in person.  I’m certainly not prepared a month out to get into the specific deliverables.  But as you have seen with every Ramstein Group meeting in the past, there has been a set of deliverables for Ukraine and Ukrainian security assistance by every — or not by every, but by most nations who attend. 

You come to the Ramstein Group with the expectation that you’re all going to talk collaboratively about how to improve Ukraine’s security assistance.  So, I fully expect that you’ll see the United States come to the Ramstein Group meeting, virtual though it is, with additional commitments to Ukraine’s security.  What those are right now, I’m not in a position to say.

Q    Would there be an answer, point by point, to a Ukrainian victory plan, to Zelenskyy’s plan?

MR. KIRBY:  The purpose of the Ramstein Group, just to remind everybody — the fancy name for it is Ukraine Defense Contact Group — is really defense leaders coming together from all these 50-plus nations to pledge security assistance commitments, and I would expect that that would be the same approach for the next Ramstein Group. 

As I said, we’re still working our way through the victory plan; so are many of our allies.  We’re still talking to President Zelenskyy about it.  Whatever the peace looks like, as I said earlier, we want to make sure that it meets President Zelenskyy’s and the Ukrainian people’s expectations.

Q    Is there any pressure here from the Quad or from Scholz about what America can deliver for Ukraine after the election but before Biden is out of office?

MR. KIRBY:  I did not detect any discussion of that regard today, the pressure from or a specific request from Germany for us to do, you know, XYZ between the election and Inauguration Day.

What I will tell you and what we have told the Germans is that the President has every expectation of fulfilling all our commitments under the PDA authority that he has left for the rest of this year, this calendar year.  And so, I think you just saw him announce another drawdown package when President Zelenskyy was in town.  You’ll see those still coming on a fairly regular, frequent basis as we get all the way through the calendar year.

AIDE:  And we’re just running a little bit low on time.  Do you want to take one or two from the virtual (inaudible) as well?

MR. KIRBY:  Let me take one more here, and then we can go virtual. 

Q    Have there been any outreach to partners in Egypt and Qatar about a possible ceasefire?

MR. KIRBY:  As I said earlier, that process hasn’t borne any fruit for many, many weeks.  And though I would love to sit here and tell you that now that Mr. Sinwar is dead, the day after we’re back at the table — we aren’t right now. 

What I would also add, though, is that we are — we have never stopped having conversations with our counterparts in Qatar and Egypt about the possibility of getting something started and that those conversations are continuing. 

Q    Could I ask one last question?  How does the President view his impact on transatlantic relations now with the last few —

MR. KIRBY:  The President is enormously proud of what his administration and his team has been able to do over the last three and a half years to improve transatlantic cooperation, transatlantic security, the transatlantic relationships. 

I mean, NATO is now two countries bigger than it was when he took office.  And it’s not just bigger.  NATO is more unified, more resolved, more cooperative than it’s ever been.  You heard President Steinmeier say the same thing today. 

So, there’s been an enormous impact on transatlantic security, and obviously a lot of this has been in response to what Mr. Putin decided to do in February of 2022.  But everything he wanted to do, he has failed to do.  He did not fracture the West.  He did not fracture NATO.  He did not take Kyiv in Ukraine. 

And as President Steinmeier said today, a large part of that is President Biden’s personal leadership, his hand on the tiller of these relationships. 

He has believed his whole public life, and he certainly has believed as President, that while America is in many ways the most essential nation, we are not the only nation, and that we need alliances and partnerships to deal with these challenges, and that means being able to work cooperatively and collaboratively with other nations, hearing them out, listening to their perspectives, because that’s important.

AIDE:  All right, we’ll go to Nick Schifrin from PBS virtually.  Nick, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Q    Thanks, Jess.  Thanks, John.  Sorry I couldn’t be there with you guys.  Apologies in advance if my one-year-old interrupts my question. 

But two parts on Gaza.  As you’ve been pointing out, there hasn’t been movement on a ceasefire, not that you guys haven’t been working on it.  Is there an assessment yet that Hamas might choose a leader who can even make a decision about a ceasefire going forward, whether they can choose a leader in the near future?

And then, there’s always been a second pathway in terms of getting to the day after for Gaza, which is working with Arab partners across the region and creating some kind of security package and (inaudible) transition to governance.  Can you guys make that progress regardless of what Hamas does?  Is that possible?  Thanks.

MR. KIRBY:  Well, on your second question, I mean, we obviously hope to.  It’s not by happenstance that the President mentioned day-after planning and efforts in his statement last night.  That is something that he has tasked Secretary Blinken to really take the lead on, and Secretary Blinken and his team are working on that very hard.  We still believe that even while the war goes on, we’ve got to make sure we’re ready for that day after so that Gaza cannot be governed by Hamas but can be governed by authorities, institutions that are answerable to the Palestinians who live there and not to a terrorist organization. 

So we still very much believe in the possibilities there, and Secretary Blinken is working that hard, including with, and even especially with, our Arab partners.

On your first question, it’s, I think, just too soon for us to be able to know, Nick, how Hamas is going to — from a leadership perspective, how they’re going to respond to this, who they might anoint as Sinwar’s successor, and what that individual may be willing to pursue one way or the other, for good or for ill.  It’s just too soon for us to know.  And I’m not aware of — I’m certainly not privy to any intelligence assessments at this early hour that would give us insight into that. 

Q    And, sorry, just a quick follow-up.  Is there a version of progress on a transitional security structure in Gaza that would be despite a lack of hostage release?  Could you have progress on that without a deal to end the war and release the hostages?

MR. KIRBY:  I would refer you to the State Department for that one.  I mean, they’re really working this a lot harder than — well, they’re working it very, very hard.  I just don’t have the insights on everything that they’re doing.  I would — but — so it doesn’t sound like I’m just brushing you off. 

As I said earlier, the killing of Sinwar underscores the keen sense of urgency that we still have and must have to get a ceasefire deal in place to get those hostages home.  That is the President’s primary concern right now, is making sure we get them home, that we can get a surge of humanitarian assistance in, that we get that ceasefire in place.  That’s where his head space is.  Not that it’s not on the day after.  Of course, he’s concerned about that as well, and he’s following Secretary Blinken’s efforts.  But his main focus right now is on getting that ceasefire deal and getting the hostages home. 

AIDE:  Thanks, Nick.  And then for our last question, we’ll go to Tom Bateman for BBC.  Tom, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Tom, are you there?

Q    Can you hear me?

AIDE:  Now we can. 

Q    Can you hear me?

AIDE:  Yep.

Q    Okay.  Thanks, Kirby.  I just wanted to ask you about the dynamics of negotiation now, because, clearly, Netanyahu is in a strengthened position.  Hamas are in a weakened position. And it felt to me as though the Israeli Prime Minister was redrawing some of his conditions yesterday because he said that Hamas fighters who are holding hostages, you know, could release hostages and get away with their lives.  That’s quite a different exchange than the ceasefire deal suggests. 

And I just wonder if you think now — you talked a little bit about if the negotiations start up again, where you start from — but presumably, he would want to very much change the conditions now.  And I just wonder what your assessment of what’s on the table now, the chances of that still carrying through, what your assessment is of that.

MR. KIRBY:  Well, with the caveat that I won’t speak for the Prime Minister, I don’t know that his comments yesterday necessarily connote a move on the goal post when it comes to getting the hostages home.  I mean, he’s absolutely right — as was the case two days ago, so is the case today: that Hamas could simply release all the hostages right now, do the right thing and let them go. 

And as the Prime Minister said before — you know, that would dramatically hasten an end to the conflict if they just did the right thing and let them go.  They shouldn’t be held in the first place. 

So the way we read that is he was restating what he has said many times before.  We obviously don’t see any sign that that’s going to happen.  Now, again, we’ll see what Hamas does and how they react to Sinwar’s killing.  But no signs, as you and I are speaking right now, that that’s in the offing, which is why the President made it clear last night on a couple of occasions, and again today, that this moment of justice also provides us a moment of opportunity to see what we can do to get those hostages home and also to get a surge of humanitarian assistance in to the people of Gaza who so desperately need it.

AIDE:  All right, that’s all the —

Q    Can I just ask one more quick one?  Sorry.  Given the threats on former President Trump’s life and his campaign requesting military planes, do you know if that request is actively under consideration, or is that being ruled out?  I know that Jake told us yesterday that the President tasked you guys with actually responding to any intel you get on, you know, threats on —

MR. KIRBY:  Yes, of course we will respond to any intelligence and do it appropriately and collaboratively with the campaigns, as we must. 

I am not going to get into the specifics of requests that may or may not be coming in, and I’m certainly not going to talk about the specifics of force protection or, in this case, protection given to former President Trump.  I mean, that wouldn’t be appropriate for me to do. 

All I can assure you is that the guidance by the President is to make sure that we are being as responsive as we humanly can to the security needs of the of both candidates and, in this case, obviously former President Trump.  We’re having regular conversations with him and his team about what those needs are, and doing everything we can — everything we can to be responsive to those needs.

Q    Is there any frustration on your end that this is sort of being politicized by his team that you’re not doing enough?

MR. KIRBY:  I have the advantage of not having to get into politics one way or another, so I’m going to just — I’m just going to let that one go. 

All right.  Thanks, everybody.  Appreciate it.

9:21 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.

Riverside Park
Grand Rapids, Michigan

2:38 P.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon, Michigan!  Good afternoon.  Can we hear it for Brian?  (Applause.) 

Good afternoon, Michigan.  It is good — (applause) — oh, it is good to be back.  It’s good to be back.  (Applause.)  Good afternoon.  Oh — (laughs) — oh, my god.  Okay.  (Applause.)  Okay.  Thank you. 

Okay, let’s get to business.  Let’s get to business.  Thank you.  Thank you.  I am very touched.  (Applause.)  Thank you all.  Oh, it’s good to be back.  Thank you all very much.  Thank you.  Thank you. 

Okay, let’s get to work.  Let’s get to work.  Let’s get to work.  Let’s get to work. 

So, let me first thank all of you for taking time out of your very busy lives for us to all be here together this afternoon.  I thank you so very much for all you do, all you have done, and all you will do over these next 18 days.  Thank you all so very much.  (Applause.)  Thank you. 

This is an incredible group of incredible leaders, and your voice matters so much right now.  And I think there is so much about our campaign that is about the spirit of reminding everyone that we’re all in this together.  We are all in this together.  (Applause.)  So, thank you. 

And to all the governors who are here with us today — (applause) — I’m telling you, they’re riding thick.  They’re riding thick.  Oh, and they are all — each one of them — such incredible leaders, both for their state and our nation, and such dear friends.  And I thank you all, including, of course, Michigan’s own Governor Whitmer — (applause) — who we love as “Big Gretch.”  (Applause.)

And to the governors, I want to say you’ve been traveling the country for our campaign, and I’m so deeply grateful for your support. 

I also want to recognize Senator Stabenow — (applause) — a champion for Michigan; Representative Scholten, who we will reelect to the United States Congress.  (Applause.)  And while we’re at it, let’s send Representative Slotkin to the United States Senate.  (Applause.)

All right, so we got work to do.  Eighteen day — eighteen days left in one of the most consequential elections of our lifetime.  And as you know, everyone here knows, this election is truly about two very different visions for our nation: Ours that is focused on the future; Donald Trump’s that is focused on the past.  Ours, that is focused on bringing down the cost of living for working families, investing in small businesses, and entrepreneurs.  Ours, that is about protecting reproductive freedom.  (Applause.)  

But none of that is what we hear from Donald Trump.  Instead, it is just the same old, tired playbook.  He has no plan for how he would address the needs of the American people, and he is, as we have seen, only focused on himself.

And now he is ducking debates and canceling interviews.

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Come on. 

Check this out.  His own campaign team recently said it is because of exhaustion.  (Laughter.)  Well, if you are exhausted on the campaign trail, it raises real questions about whether you are fit for the toughest job in the world.  (Applause.)  Come on.  Come on.

So, for all these reasons and more, we are here because we know it is time to turn the page.  (Applause.)  It is time to turn the page because America is ready to chart a new way forward.  (Applause.)  America is ready for a new and optimistic generation of leadership that is all of us — (applause) — all of us, which is why Democrats, Republicans, and independents are supporting our campaign.  (Applause.) 

In fact, earlier this week, over 100 Republican leaders from across the country joined me on the campaign trail, including some who even served in Donald Trump’s own administration — (applause) — the people who know him best, right? 

And I believe all of this shows that the American people want a president who works for all the people.  (Applause.)  And that has been the story of my entire career.  In my career, I’ve only ever had one client: the people — the people.  (Applause.)

As a young courtroom prosecutor, I protected women and children.  As attorney general of California, I fought for students and veterans.  As vice president, I have stood up for workers and seniors.  And as president, I will stand up for all Americans — all Americans.  (Applause.) 

And together, we will build a brighter future for our nation.  Yes, we will.  (Applause.)  Because, by the way, we will win.  (Applause.)  We will win.  We will win.  Come on.

     AUDIENCE:  We will win!  We will win!  We will win! 

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  (Laughs.)  Yes, we will.

     AUDIENCE:  We will win!  We will win!  We will win!

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  We will win.  We will win.  And we will win.

And one of the reasons that we know we are working hard toward that win is because we believe together in building a future — in what we can do together as a nation — and a nation of people who see what we have in common more than what separates us. 

 We will w- — build towards a future where we have an economy that works for all Americans.  We will build what I call an “opportunity economy” so that every American has an opportunity to own a home, buy a car, build wealth, and start a business.  (Applause.) 

 In fact, do we have any small-business owners here?  (Applause.)  I love our small businesses.  I got a plan for you.  I love our small businesses.  Our small businesses are part of the backbone of America’s economy.  Bless you all for the work you are doing. 

 So, under my plan, we will also bring down the cost of housing — (applause) — and we will help entrepreneurs start and grow small businesses. 

 My plan will expand Medicare to cover the cost of home health care for our seniors — (applause) — so that more of our seniors can live with dignity. 

And, you know, I’ll just give you a little background i- — in terms of a personal story.  So, I took care of my mother when she was sick.  And for any of you who have taken care of an elder relative, you know what that is, right?  It’s about trying to cook something that they can eat.  It’s about trying to find clothes that they can — they can handle on their skin.  It’s about trying, from time to time, to think about something that will put a smile on their face or maybe just make them laugh.  It’s about dignity. 

But under the current system, and especially for those in the sandwich generation who are raising young kids while you’re taking care of your parents, it’s difficult.  And under the current system, to get help for taking care of your seniors, unless you got the extra money sitting around, you’d have to leave your job or pay down all your savings to qualify for Medicaid.  That’s not right.  That’s not right. 

 So, my plan is about saying, let’s have Medicare cover the cost of home health care for our seniors — (applause) — which is a matter of understanding how real people are living and understanding the importance of everyone being entitled to dignity.  (Applause.)

Our plan, in terms of an opportunity economy, will lower costs on everything from health care to groceries.  I’ll take on corporate price gouging, because I’ve done it before and I will do it again.  (Applause.)

My plan will also give middle-class tax cuts to 100 million Americans, including $6,000 tax credit for the first year of a child’s life so that our young parents — (applause) — can do what they naturally want to do, which is parent their children well, but they don’t always have the resources to be able to do it.  So, let’s help them out so that they can buy a car seat, so that they can buy a crib, so that they can take care of that baby’s needs during that critical phase of their development. 

     We all benefit from it.  We all benefit from it.  (Applause.)

     Dignity.

My plan also invests in American manufacturing and innovation, because I will make sure America, not China, wins the competition for the 21st century.  (Applause.) 

     AUDIENCE:  USA!  USA!  USA!

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

     AUDIENCE:  USA!  USA!  USA!

 THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And so, to that point and with pride, we all say: We must and we will invest in the industries that built America, like steel, iron, and the great American auto industry.  (Applause.)  And we will ensure that the next generation of breakthroughs, from advanced batteries to electric vehicles, are not just invented but built right here in America by American union workers.  (Applause.)

 And, Michigan, I know I’m going to tell you what you already know, but let us be clear for folks who are watching from different parts of the country.  Contrary to what my opponent is suggesting, I will never tell you what kind of car you have to drive, but here is what I will do.  I will invest in manufacturing communities like Kent County.  (Applause.) 

Together, we will retool existing factories, hire locally, and work with unions to create good-paying jobs — (applause) — including jobs that do not require a college degree, because here’s where I come from.  I know a college degree is not the only measure of the skills and experience of a qualified worker.  (Applause.)

And I intend to reexamine federal jobs, when you all elect me president — (applause) — to assess those jobs that should not have that requirement, and then I intend to challenge the private sector to do the same.  (Applause.)

 Now, all of this is to say Donald Trump has a different approach.  He makes big promises — (laughs) — and he always fails to deliver.

So, remember he said he was the only one — you know how he talks.  (Laughter.)  He — the only one who could bring back America’s manufacturing jobs.

Then, America lost almost 200,000 manufacturing jobs when he was president.

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Facts.  Including tens of thousands of jobs right here in Michigan.  And those losses started before the pandemic, making Donald Trump one of the biggest losers — (applause) — of manufacturing jobs in American history. 

And his track record for the auto industry was a disaster.  He promised workers in Warren that the auto industry would, and I’m going to quote, “not lose one plant” during his presidency.  Those were his words, “not one plant.” 

Then American automakers announced the closure of six auto plants when he was president, including General Motors in Warren and Stellantis in Detroit.  Thousands of Michigan autoworkers lost their jobs.  And Donald Trump’s running mate recently suggested that if they win, they would threaten the Grand River Assembly plant in Lansing.  Okay?

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  The same plant our administration protected earlier this year, saving 650 union jobs — (applause) — 650 union jobs.  His running mate called those “table scraps.” 

So, we fought hard for those jobs, and we believe that you deserve a president who will protect them and not insult them.  (Applause.)

And make no mistake, Donald Trump is no friend of labor.  Let’s be really clear about that.  No matter what the noise is out there, he is no friend of labor.  Just look at the record.  Instead of his rhetoric, look at the record.  And let’s not fall for the okey-doke.  (Laughter.) 

Seriously.  He encouraged automakers to move their plants out of Michigan so he could pay — they could pay their workers less.  Understand what that was about: so they could pay their workers less. 

And when the UAW went on strike to demand the higher wages they deserved, Donald Trump went to a nonunion shop —

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — and attacked the UAW, and he said — he said, striking and collective bargaining don’t make, quote, “a damn bit of sense” — “a damn bit of difference” is what he said exactly.  That it doesn’t make a, quote — pardon my language — “a damn bit of difference,” is what he said. 

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  He don’t make a damn bit of sense.  (Applause.) 

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  All right, brother.  (Laughs.)

So, Michigan, you know better.  Strong unions mean higher wages — (applause) — better health care, and greater dignity for union members and for everyone, whether or not you are part of a union.  (Applause.)  Get that straight.  Get that straight.

Which is why, when I am president, I will sign the PRO Act into law and make it easier for workers to join a union and negotiate for better pay and working conditions.  (Applause.)

And now Donald Trump is making the same empty promises to the people of Michigan that he did before, hoping — hoping you will forget how he let you down the last time.  But we will not be fooled, because we know how to read Project 2025.  For those who haven’t seen it, just google it. 

You know, I just have to keep repeating, I can’t believe they put that thing in writing.  I cannot beli- — they — they put it in — they put it in writing.  They bound it.  They — they published it, and they handed it out.  (Laughter.)  And now they’re trying to run from it.  Come on. 

And so, we’ve read it.  It’s a detailed and dangerous blueprint for what Donald Trump intends to do if he were elected president.  So, that’s why we know — not only because it’s what he did before — that’s why we know Donald Trump will give billionaires and corporations massive tax cuts, attack unions, cut Social Security and Medicare —

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — get rid of that hard-fought, hard-won $35 cap on insulin for our seniors.

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Check out what’s in it.  It will make it easier for companies to deny overtime pay for workers —

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — and impose what I call a “Trump sales tax,” which is basically — he’s talking about at least a 20 percent tax on everyday necessities, which economists have measured will cost the average family nearly $4,000 more a year.

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And on top of this, Donald Trump intends to end the Affordable Care Act — okay? — and has no plan to replace it. 

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  “Concepts”! 

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  You watched the debate.  (Laughs.)  So, you remember, he has, quote, “concepts of a plan.” 

AUDIENCE:  “Concepts of a plan!”

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  “Concepts of a plan.”

So, he’s going to threaten — he’s going to threaten the health insurance of 45 —

AUDIENCE MEMBERS:  (Inaudible.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  We need a medic over here.  We need a medic over here.  Let’s — let’s clear a path so they can come through, please.

     AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Don’t forget he’s out on bail! 

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Espionage!  (Laughter.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And we got jokes over here, grounded in reality.  (Laughter.)

     We okay?  Okay.  We’re okay.  Thank you all. 

     So — (applause) — we’re good.  Okay.

So, you know, where I was going with that is many of you may have heard me say, I do believe that Donald Trump is an unserious man, and the consequences of him ever getting back into the White House are brutally serious — brutally serious. 

So, on that point about “concepts of a plan,” it’s funny.  We thought it was ridiculously hilarious when we first heard it.  But here’s the thing about that.  He is basically going to threaten the health insurance of 45 million people based on a concept and take us back to when insurance companies could deny people with preexisting conditions.  You remember what that was like?

Well, we are —

AUDIENCE:  Not going back!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — not going back.  We are not going back.  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 are not going back.  We’re not going back.

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

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And we are not going back because we intend to move forward — (applause) — because ours is a fight for the future, and it is a fight for freedom — (applause) — like the fundamental freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body and not have her government tell her what to do.  (Applause.)

And we here remember how we got to this place, because then-President Donald Trump hand-selected three members of the United States Supreme Court with the intention that they would undo the protections of Roe v. Wade, and they did as he intended. 

And now, in America, one in three women lives in a state with a Trump abortion ban, many of these with no exception even for rape and incest, which means you’re telling a survivor of a violation to their body that they don’t have a right to make a decision about what happens to their body next? 

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  That’s immoral.  That’s immoral. 

And I think 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 — (applause) — not the government.  If she chooses, she will talk to her priest, her pastor, her rabbi, her imam but not the government — not some — some people up in a state capitol — not Donald Trump.

AUDIENCE:  No!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  No. 

So, let me tell you, when Congress passes a bill to restore the reproductive freedoms nationwide, with your help, as president of the United States, I will proudly sign it into law.  (Applause.)  Proudly.  Proudly.  Proudly. 

And across our nation, we are witnessing a full-on assault on other hard-fought, hard-won freedoms and rights — fundamental freedoms and rights.  I’m traveling our country.  I mean, attacks on the freedom to vote. 

You know, in the state of Georgia, they passed a law that makes it illegal to give people food and water for standing in line to vote.  You know, the hypocrisy abounds.  What happened to “love thy neighbor”?  Right?

Attacks on the freedom to join a union, attacks on the freedom to be safe from gun violence, attacks on the freedom to love who you love openly and with pride.  (Applause.)

So much is on the line in this election, and you all are spending your precious time here together because we know this is not 2016 or 2020.  The stakes are even higher this time for many reasons, including because, just months ago, the United States Supreme Court basically told the former president he is effectively immune no matter what he does in the White House.

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Right.  Because we know — just imagine Donald Trump with no guardrails.  Just imagine.  He who has vowed he would be a dictator on day one.  He who calls Americans who disagree with him the “enemy from within.”  You know where that language comes from?  The “enemy from within,” talking about Americans.  He who says he would use the military to go after them — American citizens.  He who has called for the, quote, “termination” of the Constitution of the United States of America. 

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And we are clear: Someone who suggests we should terminate the Constitution of the United States should never again have the privilege of standing behind the seal of the president of the United States.  (Applause.)  Never again.  Never again.  Never again.  Never again. 

AUDIENCE:  Never again!  Never again!  Never again!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Never again. 

So, Michigan, it all comes down to this.  We know why we’re here together.  We know what’s at stake.  And we are here together for one of the most important of all the reasons: We are here together because we love our country.  (Applause.)  We love our country. 

We love our country, and we know that it is one of the highest forms of an expression of love of our country, of patriotism, to then fight for our ideals, to fight to realize the promise of America.  That’s what our campaign is about. 

And Election Day is in 18 short days.  Okay?  And here in Michigan, early voting starts on Saturday, October 26th, which is one week from tomorrow.  (Applause.) 

So, now is the time to make your plan to vote.  Make a plan.  Make a plan.  And if you have received your ballot in the mail, please do not wait.  Fill it out and return it today. 

Because, folks, the election is here.  The election is here right now.  And like I know everybody here knows to do, we’ve got to energize and organize and mobilize and remind our neighbors and our friends that their vote is their voice and your voice is your power. 

In a democracy, while we can hold on to it, our vote is the power that each of us as an individual has.  It’s an extraordinary power, and we will not give it away, and we will not let anyone suppress or silence our power.  Don’t ever let anybody take your power from you.  (Applause.)

So, Michigan, today I ask you, then, 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.)

                             END                3:07 P.M. EDT

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Riverside Park
Grand Rapids, Michigan

2:03 P.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Hi, guys. 

Well, we’re back in Michigan, and it’s good to be back.  And again, we have a situation where the former president is insulting the people of the state — this time saying that autoworkers — that their important and good and highly skilled work could be performed by a child — which is just further evidence that Donald Trump comes from a place where he really does not appreciate or understand how most people in our country work very hard for all that they have and that there is great dignity in their work.

In addition, I’ve — you know, I’ve been hearing reports that his team, at least, is saying he’s suffering from exhaustion.  And that’s apparently the excuse for why he’s not doing interviews and, of course, he’s not doing the CNN Town Hall.  He refuses to do another debate.

And, you know, look, being president of the United States is probably one of the hardest jobs in the world.  And so, we really do need to ask: If he’s exhausted being on the campaign trail, is he fit to do the job?  And I think that’s a question that is an open-ended question that he needs to answer.

     Q    Madam Vice —

 THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you all.

     Q    Madam Vice President, there’s a lot of —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Oh, sure.

     Q    You’re in a state where there’s a lot of opposition to you from pro-Palestinian voters.  In light of the recent news this week in the Middle East, I mean, does your message to them change?  What’s your message to them in the final few weeks?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, my message remains, first of all, we have got to end this war.  And I think that what has happened now with the — the killing of Sinwar creates an opportunity for us to end this war and bring the hostages home.  And I think everyone wants this war to end, and this is an opportunity to actually get there.

     Q    Madam Vice President, can you explain why it’s — sort of the race still remains incredibly tight?  I know you’ve been out campaigning.  What’s your, sort of, like, thesis of the case of why it remains so tight?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Looks, it’s — it’s an election for president of the United States.  It’s not supposed to be a cakewalk for anyone.  There are very important issues at play.

And I am clear and I think the people that you hear right now in the background are clear that Donald Trump is unfit for the office, he is unstable, and he, frankly, is a danger to our democracy, as has been described by his former chief of staff, secretaries of Defense, national security advisor, and former vice president.

     Q    The former president has been critical of you not attending the Al Smith dinner last night.  As you were talking about him being exhausted, do you think that that’s one reason why he chose to go to New York City rather than come out here on the campaign trail?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, I’m beyond getting into the head of Donald Trump, but I will say it should be a concern.  If he can’t handle the rigors of the campaign trail, is he fit to do the job?  I think it’s a legitimate question.

     Thank you all.

                             END                2:06 P.M. EDT

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On October 22, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. will host Prime Minister Robert Golob of the Republic of Slovenia for a bilateral meeting at the White House. This will be their first meeting at the White House and follows conversations that helped pave the way for the largest prisoner swap since the Cold War. The leaders will have an in-depth discussion on a range of issues of mutual interest, including energy security and cooperation, a shared approach to the Western Balkans, continued robust support to Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression, and events in the Middle East. President Biden will underscore our appreciation for Prime Minister Golob’s leadership to bring home Americans unjustly detained by Russia and our continued cooperation on a host of other global issues.

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Our Nation’s minority-owned businesses are the glue of our communities and the engines of our economies.  Investing in them is key to growing our economy from the middle out and bottom up, not the top down.  When minority-owned businesses do well, everyone does well.  More people get jobs, first-time business owners build generational wealth, our economy grows, and more Americans feel a sense of pride and hope in all that is possible in our Nation.  This Minority Enterprise Development Week, may we celebrate the talent and ingenuity of the innovators and entrepreneurs who run our Nation’s minority-owned businesses.  And may we recommit to ensuring that minority-owned businesses have access to the resources they need to thrive.

Minority-owned businesses add incredible value to our economy, generating nearly $2 trillion in revenue each year.  These businesses not only provide the goods and services we need but are also sources of hope — helping people realize their American Dream, building generational wealth, and uplifting their families and communities.  That is why my Administration is ensuring that minority-owned businesses have access to capital and can grow.  The Small Business Administration (SBA) is lending tens of billions of dollars to small businesses that would otherwise struggle to access capital.  For example, since 2020, the rate of SBA-backed loans increased by about 40 percent for Asian American-owned businesses, tripled for Black-owned businesses, and more than doubled for Latino-owned businesses.  Further, my American Rescue Plan helped minority-owned small businesses keep their doors open during the COVID-19 pandemic and represents the largest-ever dedicated Federal investment to connect minority-owned small businesses to support.  That law invested $10 billion to launch and expand programs that provide critical access to capital for small businesses.  The American Rescue Plan also invested $500 million to fund over 100 awards for organizations working to connect entrepreneurs to resources to help their small businesses recover and thrive through initiatives like the SBA’s Community Navigators Program, the Department of the Treasury’s Small Business Opportunity Program, and the Minority Business Development Agency’s Capital Readiness Program. 

My Administration has also been working to ensure that minority-owned businesses get a fair shot at success.  That is why I signed an Executive Order that would increase the share of total Federal contracts going to disadvantaged businesses from 10 percent to 15 percent by 2025 — and in the last 3 years, we have spent over $208 billion on small disadvantaged businesses.  My Bipartisan Infrastructure Law expanded and made permanent the Minority Business Development Agency, ensuring that minority-owned businesses have access to the resources and support they need to thrive.  And with my Inflation Reduction Act and CHIPS and Science Act, we are working to make sure that minority-owned businesses are benefiting from the billions of dollars we are investing in America’s infrastructure, manufacturing, and clean energy industries here at home.  In addition, Vice President Harris launched the Economic Opportunity Coalition in 2022 to provide tens of billions of dollars in investments to underserved communities. 

Since Vice President Harris and I entered office, our Administration has created 16 million jobs, and American entrepreneurs have filed nearly 20 million new business applications.  Wages are growing faster than prices.  Unemployment remains low.  Black- and Latino-owned businesses are being created faster today than they have been in years and Federal contracts with Native American-owned companies increased by over $8 billion from 2020 to 2023. I also take pride in my Administration’s investments in Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions — all of which are helping launch the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, and business owners.  These investments will ensure that their graduates will have every opportunity to lead the industries of the future and build generational wealth.

Across America — from small towns to big cities — we are seeing thousands of stories of revival, renewal, optimism, and pride.  And each new business that is created is an act of hope, not just for the business owner but for the entire community.  During Minority Enterprise Development Week, may we celebrate all the minority-owned businesses making our economy stronger, our Nation more competitive, and our communities more hopeful.  And may we recommit to supporting their success and longevity.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 20 through October 26, 2024, as Minority Enterprise Development Week.  I call upon the people of the United States to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements and contributions of minority business owners and enterprises and commit to promoting systemic economic equality.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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     In the Oval Office, I sit surrounded by portraits of exceptional American Presidents and busts of inspiring American leaders.  They remind me each and every day that we are a Nation of dreamers and doers, of promise and possibilities, and of ordinary Americans doing extraordinary things.  Above all, we are a Nation of good people, who show our kindness and character through small acts every single day.  This National Character Counts Week, we celebrate the core values of decency, honesty, dignity, and equality that have long defined the character of America.

     Our Nation is strong, and our future is bright — in large part because of the upstanding character that resides within all Americans.  I have witnessed it up close in educators like the First Lady, who inspire our Nation’s youth to reach for every possibility; mothers, fathers, and parental figures who raise their children with care, courage, and grit; first responders, who run toward danger to protect others; union workers, who are building America; and brave service members, who stand on the frontlines of freedom to defend our democracy.  Across the country, American workers are writing the greatest comeback story we have ever known — restoring pride in our hometowns, pride in America, and pride in knowing we can get big things done when we work together.

     Since I came into office, my Administration has taken large strides toward building an America that lives up to those values.  The American Rescue Plan helped keep child care programs open, families in their homes, and small businesses on their feet.  We set a record for Federal contract spending on small businesses.  Our historic investments across the clean energy economy are helping to combat climate change and create good-paying jobs.  Through the American Rescue Plan and Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, we have made significant investments in reducing crime, preventing gun violence, and saving lives, and last year, we saw one of the lowest rates of violent crime in more than 50 years.  We are also ensuring that America is a Nation where everyone is respected and where we give hate no safe harbor.  That is why I signed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, making it easier to report hate crimes, and hosted the United We Stand Summit to counter the corrosive effects of hate-fueled violence.  My Administration continues to work to counter antisemitism, Islamophobia, and hate in all its forms and ensure that everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

     Under my Unity Agenda, we are tackling the opioid epidemic and mental health crisis, holding Big Tech accountable, supporting our veterans and their families, and ending cancer as we know it.  We are investing more than $1 billion to help schools across the country train and hire new mental health counselors through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, we have granted new disability benefits to over one million veterans and their families under the PACT Act, and we launched the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health to fast-track progress on how we prevent, detect, and treat cancer and other diseases.

     My father taught me that our character is not measured by how many times or how hard we get knocked down but by how quickly we get back up.  Even in the face of challenges ahead and obstacles in our way, Americans always get back up.  It is what drives our great country forward and what makes our Nation strong.  This week and every week, let us recommit to upholding our most essential values and remember that the sacred task of perfecting our Union is not just about any one of us but about “We the People.” 

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 20 through October 26, 2024, as National Character Counts Week.  Now and throughout the year, I encourage all Americans to engage in efforts that honor and express the best attributes of our character, extend a hand of fellowship to their neighbors, and unite in service to their communities.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
eighteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.
 
 
                             JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.
 

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     Our forests are central to our country’s heritage, history, and economy.  Forests support livelihoods across Tribal Nations, rural towns, and big cities — from foresters and loggers to mill workers and carpenters — while also sustaining the health of our environment and our communities.  During National Forest Products Week, we recognize that conserving our bountiful forests is critical to sustaining our economy and ensuring that Americans can enjoy the wonder of our forests for generations to come.

     As a Nation, we rely on our forests for so much — from cleaning the air we breathe and the water we drink to providing the lumber and paper we use every day.  But the existential threat of climate change endangers our forests, putting those jobs, livelihoods, and critical products at risk.  After decades of fire suppression and ignoring climate change, wildfire seasons have become wildfire years, burning down communities, destroying forest ecosystems, and upending people’s lives.

     My first year in office, I launched the “America the Beautiful” initiative to conserve at least 30 percent of all our Nation’s lands and waters by 2030 through local, voluntary efforts across the country while empowering foresters and farmers to advance sustainable practices to keep working lands productive.  These efforts will help strengthen our economy and pass on a healthier planet to our children and grandchildren.

     When I came into office, I was determined to conserve our forests while protecting the people who rely on them for jobs.  My Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is creating jobs managing our forests, restoring ecosystems, and preventing catastrophic fires.  It is investing in the removal of overgrown vegetation near homes and power lines, preparing evacuation routes in areas at risk of wildfires, removing invasive plant species from forests that can cause fire to spread, and planting native tree species that are more resilient to the changing climate.  And my Inflation Reduction Act made the largest climate investment ever, putting people to work planting trees, sustainably managing our forests, and working on fire prevention.  Together, these actions are producing new jobs that help us care for our forests and keep all of us safe from wildfires.

     At the same time, my Administration is working to support the American workers and rural communities producing our forest products.  We have awarded millions of dollars in grants to American businesses that support forest conservation, expand the sustainable use of American wood products, and find innovative ways to use our wood waste materials, including to build strong and sustainable buildings.  I also take pride in having raised the Federal firefighter minimum wage to $15 per hour — an important first step in ensuring the people who run into flames to keep all of us safe are paid what they deserve.

     Conserving our forests is good for our economy, the planet, and the soul of our Nation.  This week, may we recommit to responsibly stewarding our forests and the abundant resources they provide so that we may all enjoy their benefits and beauty for years to come.

     To recognize the importance of the many products generated by our Nation’s forests, the Congress, by Public Law 86–753 (36 U.S.C. 123), as amended, has designated the week beginning on the third Sunday in October of each year as “National Forest Products Week” and has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this week.

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 20 through October 26, 2024, as National Forest Products Week.  I call upon the people of the United States to join me in this observance and in recognizing all Americans who are responsible for the stewardship of our Nation’s beautiful forested landscapes.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.
 
 
                             JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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President Emmanuel Macron of France, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom, and President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. of the United States met today in Berlin, Germany.

The leaders condemned Russia’s continued war of aggression against Ukraine, discussed their plans to provide Ukraine with additional security, economic, and humanitarian assistance – including leveraging the extraordinary revenues of immobilized Russian sovereign assets, as decided at the G7 Summit –, discussed President Zelenskyy’s Victory Plan, and reiterated their resolve to continue supporting Ukraine in its efforts to secure a just and lasting peace, based on international law, including the United Nations Charter, and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The leaders also discussed events in the Middle East, in particular the implications of the death of Yahya Sinwar, who bears responsibility for the bloodshed of the October 7th terrorist attack, the immediate necessity to bring the hostages home to their families, ending the war in Gaza, and ensuring humanitarian aid reaches civilians. The leaders also reiterated their condemnation of Iran’s escalatory attack on Israel and coordinated on efforts to hold Iran accountable and prevent further escalation. They discussed the situation in Lebanon and agreed on the need to work towards full implementation of UNSCR 1701 and a diplomatic resolution that allows civilians on both sides of the Blue Line to return safely home.

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Berlin Brandenburg International Airport
Schönefeld, Germany

5:48 P.M. CET

Q    Mr. President, what did you achieve today?

THE PRESIDENT:  We had very good meetings today with the Quad.  There was an almost — there was unanimity on continuing to support what’s going on in Ukraine, helping the Ukrainians. 

We also talked about the Middle East.  We think there’s a road to peace there.  It’s going to be harder.  It’s going to be difficult.  But we’re all on the same page.  So, there’s total unanimity.  And — 

Q    Did your predecessor come up in the discussions?

THE PRESIDENT:  I don’t know who my predecessor is.

Q    Can you give us a sense about the Middle East piece?  Do you — you said it’s going to be harder.  Do you have any sense of a timeline?  Are you putting more pressure on Netanyahu? 

THE PRESIDENT:  There’s an opportunity, in my view — and my colleagues agreed — that we can probably deal to the — Israel and Iran in a way that is — ends the — the conflict for a while.

Q    Say that again.

THE PRESIDENT:  That ends the conflict.  In other words, that stops the back and forth. 

We think that there’s a possibility of working to a ceasefire in Lebanon.  And it’s going to be harder in Gaza, but we agree that there has to be an outcome, what — what happens the day after.

Q    Mr. President, do you have a good understanding right now what Israel is going to do in response to Iran’s October 1st attacks and when they will actually respond to Iran?

THE PRESIDENT:  Yes and yes.

Q    Can you tell us?

THE PRESIDENT:  No and no.

Q    Sir, did you hear any concerns about the upcoming American election?  Are your fellow leaders worried?

THE PRESIDENT:  They’re interested.

Q    Do you — did you get reassurance from Netanyahu yesterday on your phone call that they’re willing to come to the table on a ceasefire?

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I — I’m not go- — we’re in the middle of discussions on that.  We’re not — I’m not going to get into that.

Q    Mr. President, is there any chance that you would — on Ukraine — that you would change your mind on long-range weapons, allowing them to strike deeper into Russia, which is one of the main proposals that Zelenskyy put out?

THE PRESIDENT:  In — in foreign policy, there’s never a, “Well, I never change my mind.”  Right now, there is no consensus for long-range weapons (inaudible).

Q    What would have to happen for you to change your mind on that —

THE PRESIDENT:  I’m not going to speculate.

Q    — and NATO membership?

Q    What’s the consensus on the Ukraine victory plan from the Quad meeting?

THE PRESIDENT:  Say it again.

Q    The consensus on the Ukraine victory plan from —

THE PRESIDENT:  We’re —

Q    — the Quad meeting?

THE PRESIDENT:  We’re going to stay with Ukraine.  We’re going to make sure they continue to have capabilities.

Thank you.

5:50 P.M. CET

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German Chancellery
Berlin, Germany

12:34 P.M. CEST

CHANCELLOR SCHOLZ:  (As interpreted.)  Mr. President. 

(Speaking English.)  Dear Joe, it is my great pleasure to welcome you here to the Chancellery in Berlin as a friend of Europe, as a friend of Germany, and, above all, as my friend.  Welcome.

(As interpreted.)  Dear Joe, our cooperation the past three years was extraordinarily close and full of trust.  I know that this is not something that we can take for granted, even among good partners as the U.S. and Germany have been for many, many decades. 

I would like to take this opportunity here and today to express my gratitude and say thank you.  Thank you, Mr.  President. 

The times in which we’re living are extremely challenging indeed.  With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, war has returned back to Europe.  The European security order has been shaken in its very foundations. 

It is all the more important that we reacted decisively and stood closely together and unequivocably condemned this blatant violation of international law and stand by our Ukrainian friends’ side. 

It is thanks to your leadership that Putin’s plans failed, that Ukraine wasn’t overrun within a few days.  But it is thanks to the bravery of Ukrainian armed forces and the support of many states — above all, the United States and Germany — Ukraine stands up to imperialist Russia since more than two and a half years. 

Together, we commit to Ukraine’s sovereignty and integrity so that Russia cannot subjugate Ukraine by force.  We stand by Ukraine’s side as long as it is necessary.  Putin has miscalculated.  He cannot sit and ride out this war.

Together, therefore, we decided, with our G7 partners, to support Ukraine with a loan package to the tune of 50 billion U.S. dollars by the end of this year. 

Together, we commit to a strong NATO Alliance which defends every square inch of its territory.  Every member of our alliance can rely on that.  And together, we commit to the fundamental principles of the free world as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. 

Mr. President, from the very beginning of the war, we closely coordinated ourselves across the Atlantic.  It has made us strong.  It has made the Alliance strong, and we will continue to do that. 

Our position is clear.  We continue to support Ukraine as strongly as possible.  At the same time, we are making sure that NATO does not become a party to this war so that this war does not lead to an even bigger catastrophe.  We are very much aware of this responsibility, and no one can shoulder this responsibility for us. 

Of course, the situation in the Middle East is also on our agenda.  The barbaric terrorist attacks of Hamas on Israel of October 7th has massively destabilized the situation. 

Israel has the right to defend itself.  It is important to me to say this very clearly.  We stand by Israel’s side, and we fully agree that it is now more important than ever before to prevent further escalation and a regional conflagration.

With the death of Hamas leader Sinwar, who was responsible for the horrific terrorist attacks, we hopefully now see a tangible prospect of a ceasefire in Gaza, an agreement that leads to the release of hostages held by Hamas. 

Joe, your efforts — we always supported your efforts in this conflict, and we will continue to do so.  Our common objective remains a credible political process towards a two-state solution, and we will continue to be fully committed to that. 

In Lebanon, we’re working towards a situation that the conflict leads to a diplomatic process as soon as possible.  It is clear the people in Northern Israel have to be able to live free of fear and insecurity.  Lebanon deserves a future in self-determination, stability, and security. 

Originally, your visit was scheduled to take place last Friday and had to be postponed due to the severe hurricanes.  And I’m delighted that you were able to come today.  It affords us the opportunity to talk about the challenging global situation in great detail bilaterally but also together with the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who will join us later. 

In my view, we need such talks at highest levels to make progress in the most important, pressing issues. 

(In English.)  Joe, thanks again for taking the time for this visit.  It is a strong signal of our transatlantic unity and of our friendship.

Please.

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Well, Chancellor — Olaf, it’s great to see you again, and I do apologize for having to cancel the first time around, but we did have a crisis in our southeastern border with hurricanes and tornadoes.  But we’re here because Germany is — Germany is my country’s closest and most important of allies. 

When Putin launched his brutal invasion in Ukraine, you reminded us all why this alliance is so essential.  Under your leadership, Chancellor, Germany rose to meet the moment.  You showed the wisdom to recognize that this war marked a turning point in the history, an assault on the very principles of the protected peace and security in Europe for more than 75 years. 

And then you summoned the resolve to act, remaking Germany’s foreign policy to reckon new realities — with new realities to stand strong and steadfast with Ukraine. 

America and Germany are the two largest supporters of Ukraine in its fight for survival as a free and independent nation.  As Ukraine faces a tough winter, we must — we must sustain our resolve, our effort, and our support. 

And I know the cost is heavy, but make no mistake, it pales in comparison to the cost of living in the world where aggression prevails, where large states attack and bully smaller ones simply because they can. 

Today, the chancellor and I are going to discuss ongoing efforts to surge support to Ukraine’s military; to shore up Ukraine’s civilian energy infrastructure, which is under constant assault and bombardment from Russia; and to help Ukraine recover by unlocking the value of frozen Russian assets.

I also want to recognize Germany’s decision to spend 2 percent of your gross domestic product on defense.  Please keep it up, because it matters. 

Our alliance with Germany extends far beyond Ukraine and Europe.  It’s global. 

Today, the chancellor and I will discuss regional security in the Middle East, including the ongoing domestic efforts regarding Lebanon and Gaza. 

The death of the leader of Hamas represents a moment of justice.  He had the blood of Americans and Israelis, Palestinians and Germans, and so many others on his hands.

I told the prime minister of Israel yesterday: Let’s also make this moment an opportunity to seek a path to peace, a better future in Gaza without Hamas.  And I look forward to discussing Iran. 

Olaf and I spoke the morning after Iran launched 200 ballistic missiles at Israel earlier this month.  With our G7 counterparts, we agreed to coordinate our response through sanctions and other measures, and that is what we have done. 

I’m grateful for Germany’s cooperation holding Iran accountable for destabilizing policies, including providing missiles and drones to Russia to use against Ukraine. 

And just this week, the European Union followed Germany, the UK, and France in sanctioning Iran’s leading airlines.  This followed our own oil sanctions.  This coordination is going to have to continue. 

I also want to thank Germany for standing firm against a vicious surge of antisemitism, hatred, and extremism we’re witnessing today.  Some of it fueled by foreign misinformation.

As domestic — as democratic allies, we have to remain ever vigilant against what I call the “old ghosts in new garments,” ancient hatreds resurfacing.  Our charge is to make sure that the forces holding our societies together and binding us in the common cause of human dignity and freedom remain stronger — stronger than the forces seeking to pull us apart. 

And finally, Chancellor, I deeply appreciate your partnership and the many times you’ve forsaken the easy choice to make the right choice.  Your act of statesmanship and friendship has made possible the safe return and unjustly detained Americans and Germans and the reunion of brave Russian dissidents to their families.  I want to thank you, thank you, thank you. 

I value our conversations, and I look forward to them — this one is — particularly.  And I want to — I really mean it — I want to thank you for your friendship, not only personally, but I don’t see how we maintain stability in Europe and around the world without a tight German-U.S. relationship.  And you’re the leader to do it. 

Thank you. 

12:45 P.M. CEST

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Bellevue Palace
Berlin, Germany

11:10 A.M. CEST

PRESIDENT STEINMEIER:  Please have a seat.

Mr. President, so good to have you here. 

(Speaks German.)  (No translation provided.)

Of the many stereotypes about Germany — our sense of humor — (laughter) — our spontaneity, our irresistible joie de vivre — (laughter) — only one is really true: We are good at keeping records. 

So, 44 and a half years ago, when the young Senator Joseph Biden came to Bonn, a German civil servant — ein guter Beamter, as we like to say — made a note — a rather extensive one, I should say — of this senator’s visit.  And being Germans, you understand, we still have that note.  (Laughter.)  (Holds up a document.)  This one.  Many pages.

(Speaks German.) (No translation provided.)

That’s the content — the main content of report: “He is keenly interested in the Federal Republic of Germany,” the note concludes.  And it adds, “that this senator might look to a,” I quote again, “significant political future.”  (Laughter.)  “Significant.”  What a remarkable understatement. 

Today, you are the 46th President of the United States.  And under your leadership, the transatlantic alliance is stronger and our partnership is closer than ever. 

Mr. President, you are keenly interested in Germany.  That we have known for almost half a century.  So, it is time for you to know that Germany, in turn, is deeply grateful to you. 

Let me say, in the name of my country, thank you, Mr.  President.  (Applause.) 

For Germany, the friendship with the United States has been, is now, and will always be existentially important — existential both for our security and our democracy. 

And yet, in this friendship, there have been and always will be times of proximity and greater distance, times of agreement and times of discord.  Even recently, just a handful years ago, the distance had grown so wide that we almost lost each other. 

But — but, ladies and gentlemen, throughout the ups and downs of time, there have been people who have stood by the transatlantic relations no matter what.  And chief among those people, Mr. President, is you. 

You stand with us, sir, because you know that what binds us is so much deeper than the news of the day.  What binds us is freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. 

What binds us is the conviction that if liberal democracy is to have a future in this troubled world, we have to secure it together.

And what binds us are the lessons from our past — sacred lessons that you described so hauntingly in your letter to our beloved Margot Friedländer. 

Sir, when you were elected president, you restored Europe’s hope in the transatlantic alliance literally overnight.  And then, only a year later, came Putin’s war. 

When Putin invaded Ukraine, he didn’t just go after one country.  He attacked the very principles of peace in Europe. 

Putin thought we would be weak.  He thought we would be divided.  But the opposite was true.  NATO was stronger and more united than ever, and that is, in no small part, Mr. President, thanks to your leadership.

Mr. President, to have you in our most dangerous moment since the Cold War, to have you and your administration on our side is no less than a historical stroke of good fortune.

For us here in Europe, the past two years have shown once again, America truly is the indispensable nation.  But it has also shown something else.  NATO is the indispensable alliance. 

So, in the months to come, I hope that Europeans remember America is indispensable for us, and I hope that Americans remember your allies are indispensable for you. 

We are more than just other countries in the world.  We are partners.  We are friends. 

The choice on November the 5th is only Americans’ choice to make.  But we, as Europeans, have a choice too.  We have the choice to do our part, to be unwavering in our support for Ukraine, to invest in our common security, to invest in our shared future, and, as you have done, sir, to stand by the transatlantic alliance no matter what.

Mr. President, when I visited you in the Oval Office a year ago on October the 6th, just a few hours before Hamas’ brutal attack on Israel, we spoke about the Middle East.  We spoke about Ukraine and Russia.  But at the end — I will never forget that — at the end of our conversation, you went to your desk and handed me a speech of yours not on foreign policy but on the issue that you care most about and that you worry most about — about democracy. 

I quote, “Democracies don’t have to die at the end of a rifle,” you say in that speech.  “Democracies can die when people are silent, when they are willing to give away that which is most precious to them because they feel frustrated, tired, alienated.”  End of the quote.

Your words, Mr. President, echoed deeply in our part of the world, and they weigh even more heavily coming from the leader of the world’s oldest and most time-tested democracy. 

So, let me say this from the bottom of my heart.  In this time when democracy is under strain all around the Western world, you, Mr. President, have been a beacon of democracy. 

You are a beacon not just by what you have done but by who you are, by the example of your humility, your deep connection with the lives and hopes of hardworking people, and, if you excuse that old-fashioned word, by your decency. 

Decency is maybe what we are most at risk of losing.  But your decency, sir, is a light that shines very far.  It certainly reached the hearts of my fellow Germans. 

As U.S. president, you command the most powerful military.  You lead the biggest economy in the world.  But maybe the most precious service to democracy, the most joyful and reassuring thing for people is to know that even this most powerful man in the world is, in the end, a fundamentally decent human being. 

Mr. President, we all know that you love your Irish poets and that you know them well.  I have heard you quote Seamus Heaney from memory, so I hope you allow me to end with a quote from his “Republic of Conscience.” 

I quote, “At their inauguration, public leaders must swear to uphold unwritten law and weep to atone for the presumption to hold office.” 

“The presumption to hold office,” Mr. President.  It seems that you have always had a deep sense of the inevitable presumption in holding office, including the highest office — in being elevated above others, in a society of equals. 

You have transformed this presumption into a deep sense of responsibility, and you have carried that responsibility throughout your career and have now decided, in the most noble tradition of American leaders since Washington, to let democracy run its ever-changing and uncharted course. 

Mr. President, on the historic occasion of your visit to Germany, my country recognizes your decades-long dedication to the transatlantic alliance, your outstanding political leadership in Europe’s most dangerous moment, and your lasting moral example of service, sincerity, and decency.

It is now my great honor to bestow on you the Grand Cross special class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. 

And for that, Mr. President — may I say, dear Joe — congratulations.  (Applause.)

I have to read the document — one second — in German.

(Speaks German.)  (No translation provided.)  (Applause.)

(President Biden is presented the Grand Cross special class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.)  (Applause.)

It’s done.  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Let me begin by saying I — I’m overwhelmed not just by the award but by the words, Mr. President.

Margot Friedländer, you are a voice of conscience and healing.  I’m actually honored to be in your presence, for real.

This award means so much to me for what it says about us, the journey we’ve taken; the alliance we’ve strengthened; the way that we have, as two separate nations, risen together to meet our moment.

I think it’s fair to say, although I know I only look like I’m 40 years old — (laughter) — I — I’ve seen a wide sweep of history.

When I was born, our countries were at war.  As a young senator, I visited West Berlin and saw what it meant to live in a divided city, country, and continent.  And I forged a bond with Helmut Schmidt, your — my first relationship of candor and trust with a German chancellor but, thankfully, not my last.

And then, in 1989, like millions of people around the world, I saw 70,000 brave souls gathered in Leipzig, crying — crying out for freedom.  And the Berlin Wall came down 35 years ago this month. 

It was one of the greatest advances in human dignity in my lifetime.  Some feared the reunification of Germany would revive old hatreds and rivalries.  But leaders of America and Germany dreamed together of a much better future.

The achievement of a Germany whole and free lives on, exceeding, I think, everyone’s expectations.  The dream of Europe whole and free remains the work of our time, nor is that work more urgent than a pushing back against Putin’s vicious attack against Ukraine.

German leaders had the wisdom to recognize a turning point in history, an assault on a fellow democracy, and also on principles that upheld 75 years of peace and security in Europe.

Germany and the United States stood together to support the brave people of Ukraine in their fight for freedom, for democracy, for their very survival.  And I want to thank every leader across Germany’s government who has worked tirelessly to ensure that Ukraine prevails and Putin fails, and NATO remains strong and more united than ever.

We head into a very difficult winter — (coughs) — but we cannot let up.  We cannot — (an aide delivers a glass of water) — thank you so very much.  That’s kind of you.  (Laughs.)

We head to a dery — a very difficult winter.  But we cannot let up.  We must sustain our support.  In my view, we must keep going until Ukraine wins a just and durable peace consistent with the U.N. Charter, until once again human dignity prevails.

Let me close with this.  The times I have lived through have taught me that history does move forward and things can get better if we determine they must — that things can get better and that we should never underestimate the power of democracy, never underes- — -estimate the value of alliances.

Germany — Germany has taught us all that change is possible and, for better or for worse, countries can and do choose their own destinies and the choices that leaders make at critical times truly matters.

I want to thank the current leaders of Germany for the choice you’ve made when it matters most.

I hope you’ll forgive this once, but — if I forsake the great German poets and quote an Irish poet.  (Laughter.) 

Seamus Heaney said in “The Cure at Troy” — he said, “History teaches us not to hope on this side of the grave.  But then — but then, once in a lifetime, a longed-for tidal wave of justice can rise up, and hope and history rhyme.”

When the Berlin Wall fell, hope and history rhymed.  When Kyiv stood, hope and history rhymed.

Many Americans and Germans always find the wisdom and the courage.  May they keep making hope and history rhyme, because we can, because nothing is beyond our capacity, in my view — nothing is beyond our capacity — when we do it together.

So, thank you again for this award.  I’m honored to accept.  I do not deserve, but I’m honored to accept.  And that, if we continue to work together, Germany has stood up in a way that is incredible.

I want to thank you again for the award.  And may God bless you all.  And may God protect our troops.

Thank you so very much.  (Applause.)

11:31 A.M CEST

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President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. met today with Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany at the Chancellery to discuss the longstanding U.S.-German relationship, grounded in our shared democratic values.  The two leaders coordinated on support for Ukraine in its self-defense against Russian aggression; efforts to counter antisemitism and other forms of hate at home and abroad; the Middle East; amongst other global issues.  President Biden expressed his appreciation for Chancellor Scholz’s leadership in increasing Germany’s investment in NATO’s collective defense and in securing the release of wrongfully detained Americans, along with other human rights activists and political dissidents from Russian prison, earlier this year. He also underscored the U.S. commitment to continue working together to address the challenges of today and tomorrow and deliver results for both our peoples.

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