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On the occasion of President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s visit to Germany, the United States reaffirms its commitment to deepening the close and historic bond between the two nations as Allies and friends.  For over 75 years, Germany has been a crucial partner in ensuring the stability, security, and prosperity of the transatlantic alliance.  In October 2023, President Biden welcomed President Steinmeier to Washington during German-American Day, underscoring the enduring people-to-people ties between our two countries, including the over 40 million Americans who claim German heritage and strengthen the diverse fabric of the United States.  In February 2024, President Biden welcomed Chancellor Olaf Scholz to the White House, where the two leaders reaffirmed their support for Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s war of aggression, discussed regional stability in the Middle East, and prepared for the NATO Summit in Washington.

During his visit to Germany, President Biden will underscore our mutual commitment to upholding democracy, combating antisemitism and hatred, and expanding collaboration to promote economic growth and technological innovation.  In addition, he will express gratitude to Germany for its role in hosting approximately 39,000 U.S. service members and its vital contributions to the security of NATO and the broader transatlantic community. 

The United States and Germany are partners in a wide range of new and continuing initiatives to address the most pressing challenges of our time, some of which are listed below.

# # #

SECURITY AND DEFENSE

• The United States and Germany cooperate through several multilateral institutions including NATO, the G7, the OSCE, and the UN, to advance security, democracy, and the rule of law globally.
• As host to the largest U.S. troop presence in Europe and second largest globally, Germany continues to play a critical role as a platform for U.S. military force projection, including support for NATO’s eastern flank and training for Ukrainian soldiers. 
• Germany has been a key provider of military assistance to Ukraine in its defense against the Kremlin’s aggression.  Contributions include advanced weaponry such as Leopard 2 tanks, air defense systems (such as IRIS-T), artillery, and ammunition. Germany also supplies medical aid, vehicles, and training for Ukrainian forces, continuously adapting its support to Ukraine’s evolving needs in coordination with NATO allies.
• As announced by President Biden and Chancellor Scholz on July 10, 2024, the United States looks forward to beginning the episodic deployments of its Multi-Domain Task Force in Germany in 2026, as part of planning for enduring stationing of these conventional long-range fire capabilities in the future.
• Germany plays a key role in the U.S-Italy co-led G7+ Coordination Group for Ukraine Energy Security Support.  Germany has been a leading provider of financial assistance and critical components such as transformers and power generators to support the repair and strengthening of Ukraine’s energy sector in response to Russia’s continued brutal attacks on civilian infrastructure.
• Germany is a robust partner in the fight against terrorism and terrorism financing, in the Financial Action Task Force, and as part of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS (D-ISIS).  On September 30, State Secretary Tobias Lindner joined Secretary Blinken for the D-Isis Ministerial Meeting in Washington, D.C. 
• Germany will accede to Operation Olympic Defender, a U.S.-led multinational effort intended to strengthen nations’ abilities to deter hostile acts in space, strengthen deterrence against hostile actors, and reduce the spread of debris orbiting the earth. International partners currently include the UK, Canada, and Australia.

DEFENDING DEMOCRACY

• As the second-largest provider of assistance to Ukraine after the United States, Germany has provided $37.2 billion (€34 billion) in bilateral assistance since February 2022.  This includes humanitarian assistance, budgetary support, military equipment and training, and funding for Ukraine’s reconstruction.  Germany hosted an international reconstruction conference for Ukraine in Berlin in June 2024 which generated over €60 billion in commitments to Ukraine and emphasized the human dimension of post-war recovery.
• At the September 2024 United Nations General Assembly, the United States, in partnership with Germany and other international allies, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting democratic transitions as part of the Democracy Delivers Initiative, launched by USAID.  The initiative mobilized over $517 million to provide financial and technical assistance to countries undergoing democratic renewal, including Guatemala, Armenia, and Moldova, with the aim of strengthening global democratic resilience.
• Germany has increasingly recognized the importance of supporting Taiwan as a like-minded democratic partner.  Education Minister Stark-Watzinger’s visit to Taiwan in 2023 marked the first visit by a German minister to Taiwan in 26 years.  Two German warships recently transited the Taiwan Strait, a visible demonstration of Germany’s commitment to upholding international laws and norms and increasing engagement to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
• Germany was one of the first of twenty-one countries to endorse the U.S. government’s Framework to Counter Foreign State Information Manipulation, the U.S. Department of State’s key initiative to galvanize like-minded democracies to respond collectively to the threat posed by disinformation.  

ECONOMICS & TRADE

• Germany is the United States’ largest trading partner in Europe, with bilateral trade reaching over $324 billion in goods and services in 2023.  U.S. direct investment in Germany was $193.2 billion in 2023.  In total, German firms employ an estimated 923,600 people in the United States.  Germany is the fourth-largest source of foreign direct investment in the United States and the number one foreign investor in U.S. renewable energy projects.  Germany is currently the third-largest source of foreign direct investment in the United States, with investments worth more than $660 billion based on 2023 data.
• On September 24, 2024, the United States and Germany held the third round of the U.S.-Germany Economic Dialogue, building on the framework established in the 2021 Washington Declaration.  The talks focused on strengthening collaboration to increase economic security, including cooperation in sectors such as digital technologies and clean energy supply chains.  Both countries committed to enhancing supply chain resilience and advancing sustainability goals.
• Germany and the United States partner on several initiatives to advance women’s economic security around the world, including bolstering women’s participation in climate sectors through the Women in the Sustainable Economy Initiative, closing the gender digital divide through the Women in the Digital Economy Initiative, and supporting women to join the workforce by investing in efforts to close the global childcare gap through the Invest in Childcare Initiative.

COMBATTING ANTISEMITISM:

•  Germany is a global leader and vital partner in the fight against antisemitism and extremism.  Senior officials are unequivocal in condemning antisemitism and federal and state governments have robust strategies for tackling the problem.  In July 2024, Germany co-launched the Global Guidelines for Countering Antisemitism in Buenos Aires, an initiative led by U.S. Special Envoy Deborah Lipstadt.
• Launched in 2021, The U.S.-Germany Dialogue on Holocaust Issues, plays an essential role in combatting Holocaust distortion online and promoting accurate Holocaust education and commemoration.
• Germany and the United States cooperate on improving resolution to Nazi-confiscated art to ensure just and fair solutions for survivors and heirs, and salute Germany’s new art restitution policy.

EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGES

• The German-American Fulbright program is one of the largest and most varied of the Fulbright Programs worldwide, sponsoring over 40,000 Germans and Americans since its inception in 1952.
• Established in 2016 as a public-private partnership, each year the USA For You program brings youth from underserved German communities to the United States for a two-week homestay and community service experience.  The program promotes civic engagement and helps counter extremism and xenophobia by fostering cultural understanding.  In 2023, the German government launched a reciprocal Germany for You program, allowing American high school students to visit Germany for a similar exchange, further strengthening transatlantic ties.
• The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX), jointly funded by the United States and German governments, supports the transatlantic relationship by fostering year-long academic, homestay, and community service opportunities for 700 American and German youth annually.  Since 1983, CBYX has promoted cross-cultural understanding, professional skills, and mutual awareness of each nation’s history, politics, and society.  With around 15,000 German and 14,000 American participants to date, the program strengthens ties and deepens the transatlantic partnership between the next generation of leaders.
• The German Bundestag-Bundesrat exchange (CBBSX) program is an annual two-way exchange between German Bundestag and Bundesrat staff and U.S. Congressional staff members.  It was initiated during the 1983 German-American Tricentennial celebration and first implemented in 1984.  Participants focus on the U.S. legislative process and U.S.-German relations; examining U.S. Congress and the U.S. political system.  In 2024 the IVLP brought 10 German Bundestag and Bundesrat staff members to the United States.  For the first time, CBBSX participants also engaged with state and local government.

SCIENCE, ENVIRONMENT, SPACE, & TECHNOLOGY

• On January 10, 2024, the United States and Germany held a U.S.-Germany Critical and Emerging Technology Track 1.5 Dialogue to share strategic objectives, outlooks, and lessons learned in technological innovation. The two countries agreed to convene the first of an ongoing AI Dialogue to discuss approaches to AI governance, infrastructure and innovation, and applications of AI for good. They intend to hold the first session of this dialogue in early 2025.

• Furthering their commitment to monitoring the effects of climate change, the United States and Germany have partnered on space collaboration through NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On (GRACE-FO) mission, which monitors Earth’s water movement by tracking shifts in gravity.  This mission provides critical data for managing water resources, monitoring sea levels, and understanding climate change impacts on a global scale.
• The U.S.-Germany scientific partnership was further strengthened throughfunding from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) for Collaborative Research in Computational Neuroscience (CRCNS) program, which advances cutting-edge research in brain function and computational neuroscience.  This initiative supports interdisciplinary approaches to understanding neural systems.
• On September 14, 2023, the United States and Germany held the inaugural U.S.-Germany Space Dialogue, advancing collaboration in space exploration, satellite technology, and space security.  This dialogue promotes joint efforts in planetary science, climate monitoring, and managing space debris, while advancing international norms for responsible space operations.

CLIMATE & ENERGY

• In July 2021, the United States and Germany launched the U.S.-Germany Climate and Energy Partnership to deepen collaboration on the policies and sustainable technologies needed to accelerate the global net-zero future.  Notable outcomes of the Partnership include the first U.S.-Germany Climate and Energy Summit held in Pittsburgh September 2022, and the U.S.-German Clean Hydrogen Conference held in Berlin October 2023.
• Beyond our strong bilateral partnership, the United States and Germany are also intensifying our cooperation to accelerate the clean energy transition and promote clean economic growth in emerging and developing economies.  This includes leveraging and scaling-up our collective technical, policy, and financial support to catalyze investments in clean energy manufacturing and industrial decarbonization in developing countries, leveraging key international platforms such as the Climate Club and Clean Technology Fund.

GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT

• The United States participated in the International Humanitarian Conference on Sudan, hosted by France, Germany, and the European Commission on April 15, 2024, to address the vital need for greater humanitarian assistance for the Sudanese people.
• The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Germany’s Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) are strengthening their partnership through a Strategic Development Dialogue.  This initiative focuses on joint efforts to tackle global challenges in climate change, food security, gender equality, health, and G7 development priorities.
• The United States and Germany have worked closely across multiple presidencies of the G7 Food Security Working Group to support efforts to achieve long-term food and nutrition security.  As most recently affirmed in the Apulia G7 Leaders’ Communiqué, both countries have committed to promoting and supporting multi-stakeholder programs to build climate resilience in our food systems.  These programs include the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils, launched by the United States in partnership with the African Union and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

###

The post FACT SHEET: The U.S.-Germany Partnership appeared first on The White House.

On the occasion of President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s visit to Germany, the United States reaffirms its commitment to deepening the close and historic bond between the two nations as Allies and friends.  For over 75 years, Germany has been a crucial partner in ensuring the stability, security, and prosperity of the transatlantic alliance.  In October 2023, President Biden welcomed President Steinmeier to Washington during German-American Day, underscoring the enduring people-to-people ties between our two countries, including the over 40 million Americans who claim German heritage and strengthen the diverse fabric of the United States.  In February 2024, President Biden welcomed Chancellor Olaf Scholz to the White House, where the two leaders reaffirmed their support for Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s war of aggression, discussed regional stability in the Middle East, and prepared for the NATO Summit in Washington.

During his visit to Germany, President Biden will underscore our mutual commitment to upholding democracy, combating antisemitism and hatred, and expanding collaboration to promote economic growth and technological innovation.  In addition, he will express gratitude to Germany for its role in hosting approximately 39,000 U.S. service members and its vital contributions to the security of NATO and the broader transatlantic community. 

The United States and Germany are partners in a wide range of new and continuing initiatives to address the most pressing challenges of our time, some of which are listed below.

# # #

SECURITY AND DEFENSE

• The United States and Germany cooperate through several multilateral institutions including NATO, the G7, the OSCE, and the UN, to advance security, democracy, and the rule of law globally.
• As host to the largest U.S. troop presence in Europe and second largest globally, Germany continues to play a critical role as a platform for U.S. military force projection, including support for NATO’s eastern flank and training for Ukrainian soldiers. 
• Germany has been a key provider of military assistance to Ukraine in its defense against the Kremlin’s aggression.  Contributions include advanced weaponry such as Leopard 2 tanks, air defense systems (such as IRIS-T), artillery, and ammunition. Germany also supplies medical aid, vehicles, and training for Ukrainian forces, continuously adapting its support to Ukraine’s evolving needs in coordination with NATO allies.
• As announced by President Biden and Chancellor Scholz on July 10, 2024, the United States looks forward to beginning the episodic deployments of its Multi-Domain Task Force in Germany in 2026, as part of planning for enduring stationing of these conventional long-range fire capabilities in the future.
• Germany plays a key role in the U.S-Italy co-led G7+ Coordination Group for Ukraine Energy Security Support.  Germany has been a leading provider of financial assistance and critical components such as transformers and power generators to support the repair and strengthening of Ukraine’s energy sector in response to Russia’s continued brutal attacks on civilian infrastructure.
• Germany is a robust partner in the fight against terrorism and terrorism financing, in the Financial Action Task Force, and as part of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS (D-ISIS).  On September 30, State Secretary Tobias Lindner joined Secretary Blinken for the D-Isis Ministerial Meeting in Washington, D.C. 
• Germany will accede to Operation Olympic Defender, a U.S.-led multinational effort intended to strengthen nations’ abilities to deter hostile acts in space, strengthen deterrence against hostile actors, and reduce the spread of debris orbiting the earth. International partners currently include the UK, Canada, and Australia.

DEFENDING DEMOCRACY

• As the second-largest provider of assistance to Ukraine after the United States, Germany has provided $37.2 billion (€34 billion) in bilateral assistance since February 2022.  This includes humanitarian assistance, budgetary support, military equipment and training, and funding for Ukraine’s reconstruction.  Germany hosted an international reconstruction conference for Ukraine in Berlin in June 2024 which generated over €60 billion in commitments to Ukraine and emphasized the human dimension of post-war recovery.
• At the September 2024 United Nations General Assembly, the United States, in partnership with Germany and other international allies, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting democratic transitions as part of the Democracy Delivers Initiative, launched by USAID.  The initiative mobilized over $517 million to provide financial and technical assistance to countries undergoing democratic renewal, including Guatemala, Armenia, and Moldova, with the aim of strengthening global democratic resilience.
• Germany has increasingly recognized the importance of supporting Taiwan as a like-minded democratic partner.  Education Minister Stark-Watzinger’s visit to Taiwan in 2023 marked the first visit by a German minister to Taiwan in 26 years.  Two German warships recently transited the Taiwan Strait, a visible demonstration of Germany’s commitment to upholding international laws and norms and increasing engagement to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
• Germany was one of the first of twenty-one countries to endorse the U.S. government’s Framework to Counter Foreign State Information Manipulation, the U.S. Department of State’s key initiative to galvanize like-minded democracies to respond collectively to the threat posed by disinformation.  

ECONOMICS & TRADE

• Germany is the United States’ largest trading partner in Europe, with bilateral trade reaching over $324 billion in goods and services in 2023.  U.S. direct investment in Germany was $193.2 billion in 2023.  In total, German firms employ an estimated 923,600 people in the United States.  Germany is the fourth-largest source of foreign direct investment in the United States and the number one foreign investor in U.S. renewable energy projects.  Germany is currently the third-largest source of foreign direct investment in the United States, with investments worth more than $660 billion based on 2023 data.
• On September 24, 2024, the United States and Germany held the third round of the U.S.-Germany Economic Dialogue, building on the framework established in the 2021 Washington Declaration.  The talks focused on strengthening collaboration to increase economic security, including cooperation in sectors such as digital technologies and clean energy supply chains.  Both countries committed to enhancing supply chain resilience and advancing sustainability goals.
• Germany and the United States partner on several initiatives to advance women’s economic security around the world, including bolstering women’s participation in climate sectors through the Women in the Sustainable Economy Initiative, closing the gender digital divide through the Women in the Digital Economy Initiative, and supporting women to join the workforce by investing in efforts to close the global childcare gap through the Invest in Childcare Initiative.

COMBATTING ANTISEMITISM:

•  Germany is a global leader and vital partner in the fight against antisemitism and extremism.  Senior officials are unequivocal in condemning antisemitism and federal and state governments have robust strategies for tackling the problem.  In July 2024, Germany co-launched the Global Guidelines for Countering Antisemitism in Buenos Aires, an initiative led by U.S. Special Envoy Deborah Lipstadt.
• Launched in 2021, The U.S.-Germany Dialogue on Holocaust Issues, plays an essential role in combatting Holocaust distortion online and promoting accurate Holocaust education and commemoration.
• Germany and the United States cooperate on improving resolution to Nazi-confiscated art to ensure just and fair solutions for survivors and heirs, and salute Germany’s new art restitution policy.

EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGES

• The German-American Fulbright program is one of the largest and most varied of the Fulbright Programs worldwide, sponsoring over 40,000 Germans and Americans since its inception in 1952.
• Established in 2016 as a public-private partnership, each year the USA For You program brings youth from underserved German communities to the United States for a two-week homestay and community service experience.  The program promotes civic engagement and helps counter extremism and xenophobia by fostering cultural understanding.  In 2023, the German government launched a reciprocal Germany for You program, allowing American high school students to visit Germany for a similar exchange, further strengthening transatlantic ties.
• The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX), jointly funded by the United States and German governments, supports the transatlantic relationship by fostering year-long academic, homestay, and community service opportunities for 700 American and German youth annually.  Since 1983, CBYX has promoted cross-cultural understanding, professional skills, and mutual awareness of each nation’s history, politics, and society.  With around 15,000 German and 14,000 American participants to date, the program strengthens ties and deepens the transatlantic partnership between the next generation of leaders.
• The German Bundestag-Bundesrat exchange (CBBSX) program is an annual two-way exchange between German Bundestag and Bundesrat staff and U.S. Congressional staff members.  It was initiated during the 1983 German-American Tricentennial celebration and first implemented in 1984.  Participants focus on the U.S. legislative process and U.S.-German relations; examining U.S. Congress and the U.S. political system.  In 2024 the IVLP brought 10 German Bundestag and Bundesrat staff members to the United States.  For the first time, CBBSX participants also engaged with state and local government.

SCIENCE, ENVIRONMENT, SPACE, & TECHNOLOGY

• On January 10, 2024, the United States and Germany held a U.S.-Germany Critical and Emerging Technology Track 1.5 Dialogue to share strategic objectives, outlooks, and lessons learned in technological innovation. The two countries agreed to convene the first of an ongoing AI Dialogue to discuss approaches to AI governance, infrastructure and innovation, and applications of AI for good. They intend to hold the first session of this dialogue in early 2025.

• Furthering their commitment to monitoring the effects of climate change, the United States and Germany have partnered on space collaboration through NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On (GRACE-FO) mission, which monitors Earth’s water movement by tracking shifts in gravity.  This mission provides critical data for managing water resources, monitoring sea levels, and understanding climate change impacts on a global scale.
• The U.S.-Germany scientific partnership was further strengthened throughfunding from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) for Collaborative Research in Computational Neuroscience (CRCNS) program, which advances cutting-edge research in brain function and computational neuroscience.  This initiative supports interdisciplinary approaches to understanding neural systems.
• On September 14, 2023, the United States and Germany held the inaugural U.S.-Germany Space Dialogue, advancing collaboration in space exploration, satellite technology, and space security.  This dialogue promotes joint efforts in planetary science, climate monitoring, and managing space debris, while advancing international norms for responsible space operations.

CLIMATE & ENERGY

• In July 2021, the United States and Germany launched the U.S.-Germany Climate and Energy Partnership to deepen collaboration on the policies and sustainable technologies needed to accelerate the global net-zero future.  Notable outcomes of the Partnership include the first U.S.-Germany Climate and Energy Summit held in Pittsburgh September 2022, and the U.S.-German Clean Hydrogen Conference held in Berlin October 2023.
• Beyond our strong bilateral partnership, the United States and Germany are also intensifying our cooperation to accelerate the clean energy transition and promote clean economic growth in emerging and developing economies.  This includes leveraging and scaling-up our collective technical, policy, and financial support to catalyze investments in clean energy manufacturing and industrial decarbonization in developing countries, leveraging key international platforms such as the Climate Club and Clean Technology Fund.

GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT

• The United States participated in the International Humanitarian Conference on Sudan, hosted by France, Germany, and the European Commission on April 15, 2024, to address the vital need for greater humanitarian assistance for the Sudanese people.
• The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Germany’s Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) are strengthening their partnership through a Strategic Development Dialogue.  This initiative focuses on joint efforts to tackle global challenges in climate change, food security, gender equality, health, and G7 development priorities.
• The United States and Germany have worked closely across multiple presidencies of the G7 Food Security Working Group to support efforts to achieve long-term food and nutrition security.  As most recently affirmed in the Apulia G7 Leaders’ Communiqué, both countries have committed to promoting and supporting multi-stakeholder programs to build climate resilience in our food systems.  These programs include the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils, launched by the United States in partnership with the African Union and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

###

The post FACT SHEET: The U.S.-Germany Partnership appeared first on The White House.

Berlin Brandenberg International Airport
Schönefeld, Germany

10:13 P.M. CET

THE PRESIDENT:  It’s a good day for the world.  We got Si- — I called Bibi Netanyahu to congratulate him on getting Sinwar.  He has a lot of blood on his hands — American blood, Israeli blood, and others.

And I told him that we were really pleased with his actions and, further, that now is the time to move on — move on, move towards a ceasefire in Gaza, make sure that we move in a direction that we’re going to be in a position to make things better for the whole world. 

It’s time for this war to end and bring these hostages home.  And so, that’s what we’re ready to do.  That’s what we’re going to be — and I’m sending Tony Blinken to Israel — I guess he’s going in five days — four days — four or five days.  Anyway, he’s going.  And I talked with Bibi about that.  We’re going to work out what — what is the day after now, what — how do we secure Gaza and move on. 

So, thank you very much.

Q    Do you feel more hopeful, sir, about a ceasefire?

THE PRESIDENT:  I do.  I do feel more hopeful.

Q    Do you have a sense of when he will end the war, sir?

THE PRESIDENT:  Hopefully, he — very soon. 

10:14 P.M. CET

The post Remarks by President Biden After Air Force One Arrival | Schönefeld, Germany appeared first on The White House.

Berlin Brandenberg International Airport
Schönefeld, Germany

10:13 P.M. CET

THE PRESIDENT:  It’s a good day for the world.  We got Si- — I called Bibi Netanyahu to congratulate him on getting Sinwar.  He has a lot of blood on his hands — American blood, Israeli blood, and others.

And I told him that we were really pleased with his actions and, further, that now is the time to move on — move on, move towards a ceasefire in Gaza, make sure that we move in a direction that we’re going to be in a position to make things better for the whole world. 

It’s time for this war to end and bring these hostages home.  And so, that’s what we’re ready to do.  That’s what we’re going to be — and I’m sending Tony Blinken to Israel — I guess he’s going in five days — four days — four or five days.  Anyway, he’s going.  And I talked with Bibi about that.  We’re going to work out what — what is the day after now, what — how do we secure Gaza and move on. 

So, thank you very much.

Q    Do you feel more hopeful, sir, about a ceasefire?

THE PRESIDENT:  I do.  I do feel more hopeful.

Q    Do you have a sense of when he will end the war, sir?

THE PRESIDENT:  Hopefully, he — very soon. 

10:14 P.M. CET

The post Remarks by President Biden After Air Force One Arrival | Schönefeld, Germany appeared first on The White House.

2:15 P.M. EDT

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay.  So, I’m just going to get straight to it.  

As you can see, I have the national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, here to talk to us about the trip but also the latest in the Middle East.

Jake, the floor is yours. 

MR. SULLIVAN:  So, I don’t know if you guys have heard because of the lack of Wi-Fi back here, but the IDF has confirmed the death of Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader, and I’ll come to that in just a moment. 

But let me start by laying out what we hope to achieve over the course of the next 24 hours in Berlin.  This is the president’s first visit to Berlin as president, and he did not want his time in office to go by without going to the capital of one of — one of our most important partners and allies. 

Germany is a core Ally in NATO, a core partner in the G7.  They’ve been a core player in the Allied response to Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine.  And the president is looking forward to having the opportunity to talk to the chancellor and other German officials about where we go from here in Ukraine; about developments in the Middle East, in Iran, Lebanon, Gaza, Israel; about how we align our respective approaches on the PRC; about how we align our industrial and innovation strategies; about artificial intelligence and the clean energy transition. 

He will also have the opportunity to meet with the prime minister of the UK and president of France.  The four leaders — Germany, France, UK, U.S. — will sit together to particularly focus on two issues.

One, the war in Ukraine and the pathway ahead, particularly in light of the fact that they’ve all had the opportunity to engage in person with President Zelenskyy over the course of the last few weeks and heard from him about where he sees things going.  So, this is an opportunity to consult on that.

And then, second, to talk about the ongoing and fast-moving developments across the Middle East region.

The president will see President Steinmeier.  He’ll spend one-on-one time with Chancellor Scholz.  He’ll spend time with his delegation — with Chancellor Scholz and his delegation. 

And then, of course, there’ll be this meeting among the four leaders in the afternoon, and there’ll be an opportunity for press statements with the chancellor and the president. 

So, that’s the plan for tomorrow.

Of course, this comes against the backdrop of a pretty significant — very significant day in the Middle East, and that is that Yahya Sinwar has been taken off the battlefield.  This is a murderous terrorist responsible for the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.  He has a lot of blood on his hands — Israeli blood, American blood, Palestinian blood — and the world is better now that he’s gone. 

President Biden has just put out a written statement sharing his thoughts and reactions to the death of Sinwar, and he looks forward to the opportunity soon, perhaps very shortly, to speak to Prime Minister Netanyahu to congratulate the IDF and the brave Israeli soldiers and security professionals who carried out the operation that killed Sinwar but also to talk about the way forward, because Sinwar was a massive obstacle to peace and the day after in Gaza.  And now that that obstacle has been removed, President Biden looks forward to talking to Prime Minister Netanyahu about how we secure the return of the hostages, an end to the war, and a move to the day after in Gaza — a Gaza where Hamas is no longer in power or control. 

So they’ll have the opportunity to have an initial conversation about that, but this truly is an opportunity we need to seize together to bring about a better day for the people of Gaza, the people of Israel, the people of the whole region.  And the United States is committed to doing everything in our power to help contribute to that. 

Last thing I will say is that from shortly after October 7th, President Biden dispatched special operations personnel and intelligence professionals to Israel to work side by side with their Israeli counterparts in the hunt for Hamas leaders, including Sinwar, and it was with American intelligence help that many of these leaders, including Sinwar, were hunted and tracked, were flushed out of their hiding places, and put on the run.  And, ultimately, this is a credit to the IDF for taking out Sinwar over the course of the last hours and days, but we’re proud of the support that the United States has given to the IDF all along the way. 

So, with that, I’d be happy to take your questions.

Q    Jake —

Q    Can you say anything — well, go ahead.  I’m sorry. 

Q    Jake, thanks so much for doing this.  You kind of implied that Sinwar had been an obstacle to hostage release and ceasefire.  How big an obstacle is that?  And does this give you additional hope now of a ceasefire and possibly a hostage release?  How should we process this?

MR. SULLIVAN:  I didn’t just imply it; I stated it explicitly. 

At various points along the way, Sinwar was more interested in causing mayhem and chaos and death than in actually trying to achieve a ceasefire and hostage deal.  And we repeatedly saw moments where it was him, in particular, who stood in the way of making progress towards a ceasefire and hostage deal.  Now, there were other obstacles too along the way, but he was certainly a critical one. 

And, yes, I think his removal from the battlefield does present an opportunity to find a way forward that gets the hostages home, brings the war to an end, brings us to a day after.  That’s something we’re going to have to talk about with our Israeli counterparts.

Of course, there are still other Hamas actors who need to be brought to justice, and there are hostages, including Americans, being held by terrorists.  We’re going to have to deal with all of that, but we believe there is a renewed opportunity right now that we would like to seize.

Yeah.

Q    Do you assess this as being the cutting off of the head of the Hydra, or what — what’s your assessment of Hamas’ capabilities from now on?  Is there going to be a mop up?  And what — what would you recommend the Israelis do?

MR. SULLIVAN:  Sinwar was a critical figure operationally, militarily, and politically for Hamas.  He had, in fact, consolidated control of both the political and military wing under his singular leadership in — in recent weeks and months.  And so, this is a very significant event.

But what exactly it means for the future of Hamas as an organization, it’s early days yet.  We will have to see.

What we do know is that the broad military structure, the battalions of Hamas have been systematically dismantled.  We do know that Hamas does not pose the kind of threat to Israel that it posed on October 7th or anything close to it.  We also know that there are still Hamas terrorists wielding guns and holding hostages and harboring a desire to continue to attack Israel and attack others. 

And so, we’re going to have to sort through all of that.  But this is an incredibly significant blow to Hamas.  It is the removal of someone who, as I said, was unique in the consolidation of the control of the Hamas apparatus under his command.  And now we will have to work to ensure that his death actually does deal the kind of long-term blow to Hamas that all of us would like to see.

Q    Can you give —

Q    Do you get the sense that Netanyahu is done now, that he’s — he’s reached his objectives?  You just laid out the decimation of Hamas — 

MR. SULLIVAN:  No, his critical objective that — has not been reached.  That objective is the return of the hostages, including American hostages.  So, from the United States’ perspective, we now need to work with Israel, with Qatar and Egypt, with others — and this is something we’ll discuss with our European partners as well — to secure the release of those hostages.  We’d like to see that happen.

Q    You referenced U.S. intel.  To what extent did that play a role in this particular operation? 

MR. SULLIVAN:  This operation was an IDF operation.  I’m not here to overclaim or — or try to take credits for something where the credit belongs to them. 

But the Americans — the special operations personnel, the intelligence professionals — they also deserve our thanks for the work that they did alongside the IDF over the course of many months to help create the kind of counterterrorism pressure in Gaza that put a lot of these guys on the run.  And Sinwar was plainly on the run (inaudible).

Q    Earlier this — earlier this week, Secretary Blinken and Secretary Austin sent letters to their counterparts threatening legal action if the humanitari- — humanitarian situation in Gaza doesn’t improve.  Can you give us a sense of what that legal option would be and if there are any deadlines or specific actions that the president will raise with Prime Minister Netanyahu about that today?

MR. SULLIVAN:  The letter speaks for itself.  I think a lot of the headlines were breathless and overblown.  We have had an ongoing dialogue with Israel for months now about improving the humanitarian situation.  We have had previous communications that looked quite similar and that generated positive momentum towards opening crossings and getting more aid in.  We’ve had, actually, constructive back-and-forth with our Israeli counterparts over the last few days in response to our requests, and we expect that we’ll see progress on the ground. 

One thing that has unfolded this week is — is the reopening of some of the crossings that had been closed in the north and trucks going in.  We need to see that sustained and expanded as we go forward, among the other requests in that letter. 

But I’d — and I’d — just the other point I would make here is that it’s — it was a private diplomatic communication.  It was a serious, substantive laydown.  It’s part of our ongoing work and partnership with Israel.  And having it all out there in the open, leaked in the way that it was, I think, was highly unfortunate.  And I’ll leave it at that.

Q    Can you give us a sense of what the president will say in this conversation with Netanyahu?  Will he push for an accelerated timeline for a ceasefire?  Will he say, you

know, kind of, “Now you achieved the main direct- — main objective and we should move forward on — on other things,” or push for humanitarian aid?

MR. SULLIVAN:  I’m going to let the president speak to the prime minister before I preview what he’s going to say in the press on the record, but we’ll try to give you a good sense of both what the president is thinking and what he’s communicating to the prime minister at the appropriate time.

Q    To — to what extent do you think this success with Sinwar might embolden Netanyahu when it comes to retaliating against Iran?  Or do you see them as totally unrelated?  And what are your conversations right now with them in terms of restraint — or whatever you want to call it — when the president has thoughts about what the target should be when they hit back?

MR. SULLIVAN:  We’ve had very constructive communications with the Israelis about how they’re thinking about responding to the attack on October 1st.  Those conversations will continue. 

I can’t speculate as to the psychology of the prime minister based on what happened today.  What I can say is that the logic of deterrence, the logic of a response to a salvo of 200 ballistic missiles — nothing in the Middle East is unrelated, but that is a distinct logic from the killing of Sinwar today.

Q    Jake, going back to the trip.  What message will President Biden give his fellow leaders about America’s place in the world, given the uncertainty around our upcoming election?

MR. SULLIVAN:  Say that again.

Q    What reassurance will President Biden give his fellow leaders about America’s place in the world, given the uncertainty about our upcoming presidential election?

MR. SULLIVAN:  What President Biden can do is what he’s done for four years, which is lay out his vision of America’s place in the world and point the way forward based on what he thinks are in America’s national security interests and in the interests of our close allies. 

Beyond that, he can’t speak for anyone else and doesn’t intend to.

Q    Is there any —

Q    Does this change your calculus on whether Israel can come to the table on a ceasefire by the end of the year?

MR. SULLIVAN:  I’m sorry?

Q    Your calculus on whether a ceasefire could be reached by the end of the year.

MR. SULLIVAN:  I have long since given up on making predictions or drawing timelines.  All I can say is that we see an opportunity now that we want to seize to try to secure the release of the hostages, and we’re going to work at that as rapidly as we possibly can.

Q    Give- — given the situation, would the president reconsider possibly holding a press conference during his time in Berlin?  It would be good to hear from him firsthand on how he thinks about this and the situation in Ukraine. 

MR. SULLIVAN:  I will note for the record there are heads nodding.  (Laughter.)  I’ll also note for the record that that is a really fascinating way to bring the press into the middle of a world historical event.  So — (laughter) — and I’ll leave it at that.

Q    I’ll follow up on that.  The president talks about democracy as being a key part of his administration, of his vision for America that you just referenced.  Why would he not take questions from the press at what was originally going to be a state visit to Germany?  I don’t understand.

MR. SULLIVAN:  It’s fascinating how you guys can — (laughs) — make this the story.

Q    It’s not the story.  It’s just a question. 

MR. SULLVIAN:  I mean, honestly, I think invoking democracy and suggesting that President Biden is somehow insufficiently committed to it because of the structure of his press engagement on one day in Germany is a bit ludicrous. 

Q    I can ask a Germany question.  So, a lot of the moves that President Biden has made both domestically and internationally have been characterized as “Trump-proofing” the — the, you know, U.S. government for a future Trump presidency. 

How do you feel about that characterization?  I’m talking about moves like bringing NATO under — forgive me, it’s too complicated to explain, but you know what I’m talking about. 

So, do you think he’s Trump-proofing?

MR. SULLIVAN:  I — I don’t like characterizations like that because they’re inherently political.

Q    So, what is he doing, then?

MR. SULLIVAN:  What the president is trying to do is to make our commitment to Ukraine sustainable and institutionalized for the long term.  And every other ally agreed that that was the responsible thing to do. 

The la- —

Q    (Inaudible) necessarily reduced U.S. role, is that the idea?

MR. SULLIVAN:  Not at all.  The basic logic was what the president laid out at the Washington Summit this summer, which is the communiqué said Ukraine’s place, Ukraine’s future, is in NATO.  There is work to do to get from here to there, including reforms and security conditions being met. 

So, the question is, how do you build a bridge from where we are now to Ukraine’s eventual membership in NATO?  And the answer to that question was the set of deliverables in Washington, including the institutionalization of the security support apparatus for Ukraine.  That is what we were trying to accomplish, and that’s what we believe we did accomplish.

Q    Jake, on Iran.  Can you confirm and elaborate on reporting that President Biden directed the NSC to warn Iran that any attempt on President Trump’s life would be seen as an act of war?

MR. SULLIVAN:  I will tell you that President Biden has taken this issue with the utmost seriousness.  He asked to be updated on it regularly.  He gives us direction for how to respond to it regularly and in a very serious and consequential way.  We are following his directives and implementing them.  And I’m not going to get into specifics on what that looks like.

Q    Jake, what about these reports that President Trump and President Putin have had seven conversations?  Are you worried about this?  Are you worried about any sort of backdoor conversations President Trump is having with leaders?

MR. SULLIVAN:  I do not know if that’s true or not, but obviously that would raise red flags if it were true. 

Q    Another one on — since you just said Putin.  There’s been reporting in Germany that Chancellor Scholz said he would be open to speaking with President Putin ahead of the G20 if asked — sort of various ways he said it.  Have you guys talked about this?  Has he told President Biden about this?  Do you think this would be a good idea to do a leader-level conversation with President Putin at this time?

MR. SULLIVAN:  That has not come up between the chancellor and the president.  You know, I was just in Germany at the end of last week with my German counterpart.  That — the question of a call to Putin didn’t come up.  So, I think that’s a question better put to the chancellor. 

Q    The official who briefed us yesterday about the Germany trip on the — on the phone mentioned that the Ramstein meeting would be rescheduled.  Does that mean the president will be going back to Ramstein at some point, or what — what did that mean?

MR. SULLIVAN:  We will hold a leaders-level Ramstein meeting virtually in November.

Q    One more.  On the frozen assets deal — the Russian frozen assets.  What’s the progress on that there?  I assume this comes up in the conversations.  Is there a plan B if the EU doesn’t figure out a sanctions regime?

MR. SULLIVAN:  I’m feeling very good about the progress that we’ve made on the G7 commitment to mobilize $50 billion from the proceeds of the Russian sovereign assets by the end of the year.  We intend to meet that commitment, and we intend to make a contribution — the United States.  The EU, obviously, has announced that it’s prepared to make a contribution.  So are other partners.  So, from my perspective, at this point, everything is on track. 

Q    Is there any update on when the president might talk to President Xi?

MR. SULLIVAN:  No.

Thank you, guys. 

Q    Thank you.

Q    Who you — wait, who are you rooting for in the playoffs, World Series?

MR. SULLIVAN:  I’m a Minnesota Twins fan, so I can’t root for the Guardians, but I definitely can’t root for the Yankees.

I don’t know.

Q    What about the Dodgers and Mets?

MR. SULLIVAN:  Yeah, I’m watching, but actually I don’t — I’ve not clearly determined who I’d prefer to win.  But, yeah, Dodgers or Mets. 

Q    Can you swing back and talk to us off the record later?

MR. SULLIVAN:  Sure. 

Q    Great.

Q    Thanks.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I don’t know.  Is there any real thing — anything else to discuss?  Let me t- —

Q    The only thing I would say is we disagree with the suggestion that democracy and speaking — and taking questions from the press is “ludicrous.” 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  All right.  Noted.

Q    I would argue that our stories allow the president to have a relationship with the world, not just with other leaders, and the ability to talk openly will help that. 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  All right.  Noted.  Noted. 

Let’s move on.

So, just want to talk about an announcement.  This is domestic, obviously, going to go to the — to that space.  I just wanted to touch on an announcement very quickly.

And so, today, the Biden-Harris administration announced an additional $4.5 billion in student debt cancelation for over 60,000 public service workers, bringing the total number of public — of public service workers who have had their student debt canceled under the Biden-Harris administration to over 1 million people. 

One such example is Kelly, a kindergarten teacher in Rhode Island, who had been paying off her student loans for a decade.  After the student let her know that her debt had been canceled, she tol- — after the president, pardon me — she told us that after 12 years of marriage, she might be able to take the honeymoon she never had.

The president — the president’s administration made it a priority to fix the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.  Prior to our administration, only 7,000 public service workers had received relief since the program was established in 2007. 

Thanks to the work of the Biden-Harris administration, as of today, 1 million teachers, nurses, firefighters, service members, first resp- — responders, and — and more who — who pursued careers in public service have gotten the relief they deserve. 

The relief brings the total loan forgiveness approved by the Biden-Harris administration — administration to over $175 billion for nearly 5 million Americans.  And while — meanwhile, our Republicans elected officials have repeatedly attempted to block student debt relief. 

President Biden and Vice President Harris remain committed to making education affordable for all Americans. 

With that, what else do you guys have for me?

Q    I have a question. 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Sure.

Q    Did President Biden talk to Vice President Harris ahead of this trip to see if she had any message for the world leaders or to get her input on what the situation should be going forward? 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  As you know, the president and the vice president talk regularly.  I don’t have a specific call to — to read out, but I think you can see the last almost four years of the — what we’ve been able to do, what the president has been able to do on the world stage, certainly has been in partnership with the vice president.  I know that she supports his trip and everything that he’s — he’s trying to do tomorrow in the — in the short trip that we have in — in Germany.

I just don’t have anything to read out as a call specifically on this trip.

Q    Is the president or the administration facing pressure from allies to get something done after the election but before he is out of office?  There’s been some talks that Zelenskyy — you know, whether that’s accelerating a push for Ukraine into NATO or — or other funding things for Ukraine?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Well, you’re talking about the victory plan.  Certainly, I’m going to let the Ukr- — Ukrainians speak to their victory plan as it relates to that question about NATO. 

Look, I think — I think what you have seen from this president, from this administration — obviously, including the vice president — is how much we have stand behind — next to, if you will — with Ukrainians and how they’re trying to beat back the aggression that we’ve seen from Russia.  And you have not just seen us standing there.  You’ve seen this president take action, and — which is why you see NATO much stronger than it was, and that’s why you see 50 countries have gotten behind Ukraine.  And you heard us — you heard us lay out yesterday an additional assistance package that we have provided to Ukrainians. 

And so, we’re going to have to continue — we’re going to continue having conversations with the Ukrainians on what they need on the battlefield and how else we can be helpful to them. 

As it relates to their victory plan — as it relates to what’s next, I’m certainly going to let the Ukrainians speak directly about that. 

Obviously, the president has had a conversation with the president, President Zelenskyy, on that plan.  I just don’t have anything beyond that, and I’m not — certainly, I’m not going to get into hypotheticals from here. 

Q    The president at the funeral yesterday had a — what looked like a spirited conversation with former President Obama.  Did you talk to him about what they discussed?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  No, it’s been kind of busy the last couple hours on the plane, as you can imagine. 

Look, I’ll — I’ll say this.  The president really very much looked — appreciated being there at the — at the funeral of Ethel Kennedy, who he saw as someone who was incredible and had a — was an incredible force, obviously, in her life, during her — her years.  And what he wanted to do is — was to lift up — lift her up and speak to her accomplishment and what she meant to him — not just to him but to her family and to the country.  So, he appreciated doing that. 

And we have said many times the president and — and president — and former President Biden [Obama] — they have a very close relationship.  They’ve had one for a long time, obviously, as he served as his vice president.

I don’t have anything else to — to share on that.  I have not had this conversation with the president.  Obviously, we’ve been pretty busy these past couple of hours on the plane. 

Q    Do you know if the president was able to watch any of the Fox News interview that Vice President Harris did?  And does —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yes, he —

Q    — did he talk to you about how — how she did? 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah, he was able to — to catch that.  And he saw her performance, her interview as strong.  And I think what you saw and what — and this is what he believes — is that you saw why Americans and people want to see her continuing to fight for them.  And that’s what he saw last night.  That’s what we all saw — many of us saw.  So, I think she was strong and incredibly impressive in that interview. 

Q    Karine, does the president believe that his vice president would be a markedly different leader?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I mean, look, he talked about this on Tuesday when he was in Philly, and he — and I talked a little bit about this as well, just reit- — really reiterating what the president shared, which is that, look, she’s going to be essentially her own person, right?  She is going to have her own direction, her own view of how to move forward. 

And he did that, right?  He was loyal to President Obama when he was vice president, but he cut his own path.  And so, that’s what he expects from the vice president to do. 

So, nothing — nothing new.  That’s what he expects her to do — to have her own path, to have — to build on — certainly, to build on the economic successes that we have seen and continuing the — the work that we’ve been able to do. 

But she’s going to cut her own path.  He was very clear about that a couple days ago.

Q    Karine —

Q    But on student loans — you talked about the PSLF 1 million, a huge achievement for those borrowers — what’s your message for the other 40 million-plus borrowers who’ve been caught up in a lot of legal limbo over the past three years?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look, I’ll — I’ll say this.  You know, I’m not going to speak to the legal — the legal components of this.  There are legal matters that are happening, so they are ongoing.  So, I’m not going to speak to that. 

But I think what you can take away from what this president has — trying to do, when Republicans have continued to block him, in promising to give Americans a little bit of breathing room, to make sure that Americans who have — borrows [borrowers] who have loans and — and are squeezed by those loans are not able to, you know, buy a home, start a family.

The president was very attuned to that and very clear that he wanted to give them an opportunity — an opportunity to really, you know, be able to — to start that life that they wanted.  And so, he’s been trying to do that, even though he’s been blocked and — and Republicans have gotten in the way. 

I think you can see over the past — certainly, the past six months, the president continuing to try to take actions to — to make sure he kept his commitment to Americans who, again, need a little bit of breathing room.

So, I’m not going to speak to the legal matter, but I think this announcement today shows his commitment to public service workers, right?  I talked about firefighters, nurses.  I talked about police officers, who put so much on the line, who give so much for — for everybody, for folks who need their assistance and their help, and wanted to give them that opportunity to really be able to — to move on economically in what they want to accomplish for themselves and for their family.

All right.  Anything else?

Q    On the —

Q    So —

Q    Sorry.  Go ahead.

Q    Sorry.

Now going back to the funeral for a minute.  Did he speak with Speaker Emeritus Pelosi?  And also, she was not seen at the Italian American celebration, when she’s been front and center in the past.  Was she not invited?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I — I don’t have anything to share with you on that.  I didn’t talk to the president about that at all.  But what you saw — obviously, you saw the president and the former president, Pres- — President Obama, connect, have a moment together.  The president m- — very much looked forward to that.  I just don’t have anything on Nancy Pelosi.

Q    Just —

Q    I noticed he didn’t recognize her when he recognized the other two presidents at the funeral.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Well, he wanted it — I can say this.  He wanted it to be, you know — to — to be very focused on the family.  He wanted it to be, you know, brief and — and very poignant.  And that’s what his focus was yesterday on his remarks.

Q    On the trip.  Obviously, this is a abbreviated agenda from, you know, the Ramstein summit —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — and other things.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    But can you explain to us, what’s the reason that it’s so short?  Why do we have to get out of Germany at 4:00 p.m. tomorrow?  Is there a reason on the German chancellor’s schedule why we have to —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, I mean —

Q    Regardless of the press conference, there was also talk about maybe doing a Holocaust memorial situation.  What’s —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  No, I totally understand what — totally — as you — let’s step back for a second. 

The reason that the president had to postpone his trip was because Hurricane Milton was coming, and it was — it was forecast to be a historical hurricane, and the president wanted to be in the States to deal with the response and what was needed, certainly, by the impacted region, for what folks on the ground really needed.

And so, that’s why we postponed the trip.  We said that we wanted to certainly get that back on the books.  We were able to do it — to your point, a truncated version, but it is a robust schedule.  And we were able to work with the Germans and to be able to get done what we can on this trip.

I mean, the president has a busy schedule.  He does.  There’s a lot going on in the next couple days, couple weeks.

Q    But he has to get back to the States for something in particular —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I mean, we’ll —

Q    — that we don’t know about?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  We’re certainly going to share with you what the — his — the next couple of days of his schedule is going to look like.  But he wanted to — and I said this yesterday in the briefing room.  He wanted to thank the chancellor for his partnership, for his leadership as well with Ukraine.  Outside of the U.S., U- — the U- — German is the second — have provided the second-most resources, assistance to Ukrainians.

And so, he wanted to be, you know, thankful to him.  And so, that’s what you’re seeing on this trip.  He wanted to make this happen.  He asked his team to make this trip happen.

And so, look, we have a busy schedule.  We got a lot going on in next couple of days, next couple of weeks.  And so, we tried to fit this in, and this is what we were able to do in working with the German government as well to make this happen.

Q    Does the president, as the election hits its final two weeks, expect to get more aggressive in outreach and participation?  Is that maybe what you’re referencing, or what’s his thinking on that?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, you know I can’t speak to political trips or any- —

Q    But if —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  But wa- —

Q    — you could speak on his schedule.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Well, I — I’m just — want to get that out of there.  And so, look, the president is certainly looking at — looking forward to being out there and supporting the vice president.

I just want to be super mindful.  But he will — you’ll see him — you’ll see him hit the road.  You’ll see him hit the road, for sure.

That’s all I got. 

All right.  Thanks, everybody.  Sorry my voice is a little hoarse.

Q    Thanks, Karine.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Thanks, everybody.

2:45 P.M. EDT

The post Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan En Route Berlin, Germany appeared first on The White House.

2:15 P.M. EDT

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay.  So, I’m just going to get straight to it.  

As you can see, I have the national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, here to talk to us about the trip but also the latest in the Middle East.

Jake, the floor is yours. 

MR. SULLIVAN:  So, I don’t know if you guys have heard because of the lack of Wi-Fi back here, but the IDF has confirmed the death of Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader, and I’ll come to that in just a moment. 

But let me start by laying out what we hope to achieve over the course of the next 24 hours in Berlin.  This is the president’s first visit to Berlin as president, and he did not want his time in office to go by without going to the capital of one of — one of our most important partners and allies. 

Germany is a core Ally in NATO, a core partner in the G7.  They’ve been a core player in the Allied response to Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine.  And the president is looking forward to having the opportunity to talk to the chancellor and other German officials about where we go from here in Ukraine; about developments in the Middle East, in Iran, Lebanon, Gaza, Israel; about how we align our respective approaches on the PRC; about how we align our industrial and innovation strategies; about artificial intelligence and the clean energy transition. 

He will also have the opportunity to meet with the prime minister of the UK and president of France.  The four leaders — Germany, France, UK, U.S. — will sit together to particularly focus on two issues.

One, the war in Ukraine and the pathway ahead, particularly in light of the fact that they’ve all had the opportunity to engage in person with President Zelenskyy over the course of the last few weeks and heard from him about where he sees things going.  So, this is an opportunity to consult on that.

And then, second, to talk about the ongoing and fast-moving developments across the Middle East region.

The president will see President Steinmeier.  He’ll spend one-on-one time with Chancellor Scholz.  He’ll spend time with his delegation — with Chancellor Scholz and his delegation. 

And then, of course, there’ll be this meeting among the four leaders in the afternoon, and there’ll be an opportunity for press statements with the chancellor and the president. 

So, that’s the plan for tomorrow.

Of course, this comes against the backdrop of a pretty significant — very significant day in the Middle East, and that is that Yahya Sinwar has been taken off the battlefield.  This is a murderous terrorist responsible for the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.  He has a lot of blood on his hands — Israeli blood, American blood, Palestinian blood — and the world is better now that he’s gone. 

President Biden has just put out a written statement sharing his thoughts and reactions to the death of Sinwar, and he looks forward to the opportunity soon, perhaps very shortly, to speak to Prime Minister Netanyahu to congratulate the IDF and the brave Israeli soldiers and security professionals who carried out the operation that killed Sinwar but also to talk about the way forward, because Sinwar was a massive obstacle to peace and the day after in Gaza.  And now that that obstacle has been removed, President Biden looks forward to talking to Prime Minister Netanyahu about how we secure the return of the hostages, an end to the war, and a move to the day after in Gaza — a Gaza where Hamas is no longer in power or control. 

So they’ll have the opportunity to have an initial conversation about that, but this truly is an opportunity we need to seize together to bring about a better day for the people of Gaza, the people of Israel, the people of the whole region.  And the United States is committed to doing everything in our power to help contribute to that. 

Last thing I will say is that from shortly after October 7th, President Biden dispatched special operations personnel and intelligence professionals to Israel to work side by side with their Israeli counterparts in the hunt for Hamas leaders, including Sinwar, and it was with American intelligence help that many of these leaders, including Sinwar, were hunted and tracked, were flushed out of their hiding places, and put on the run.  And, ultimately, this is a credit to the IDF for taking out Sinwar over the course of the last hours and days, but we’re proud of the support that the United States has given to the IDF all along the way. 

So, with that, I’d be happy to take your questions.

Q    Jake —

Q    Can you say anything — well, go ahead.  I’m sorry. 

Q    Jake, thanks so much for doing this.  You kind of implied that Sinwar had been an obstacle to hostage release and ceasefire.  How big an obstacle is that?  And does this give you additional hope now of a ceasefire and possibly a hostage release?  How should we process this?

MR. SULLIVAN:  I didn’t just imply it; I stated it explicitly. 

At various points along the way, Sinwar was more interested in causing mayhem and chaos and death than in actually trying to achieve a ceasefire and hostage deal.  And we repeatedly saw moments where it was him, in particular, who stood in the way of making progress towards a ceasefire and hostage deal.  Now, there were other obstacles too along the way, but he was certainly a critical one. 

And, yes, I think his removal from the battlefield does present an opportunity to find a way forward that gets the hostages home, brings the war to an end, brings us to a day after.  That’s something we’re going to have to talk about with our Israeli counterparts.

Of course, there are still other Hamas actors who need to be brought to justice, and there are hostages, including Americans, being held by terrorists.  We’re going to have to deal with all of that, but we believe there is a renewed opportunity right now that we would like to seize.

Yeah.

Q    Do you assess this as being the cutting off of the head of the Hydra, or what — what’s your assessment of Hamas’ capabilities from now on?  Is there going to be a mop up?  And what — what would you recommend the Israelis do?

MR. SULLIVAN:  Sinwar was a critical figure operationally, militarily, and politically for Hamas.  He had, in fact, consolidated control of both the political and military wing under his singular leadership in — in recent weeks and months.  And so, this is a very significant event.

But what exactly it means for the future of Hamas as an organization, it’s early days yet.  We will have to see.

What we do know is that the broad military structure, the battalions of Hamas have been systematically dismantled.  We do know that Hamas does not pose the kind of threat to Israel that it posed on October 7th or anything close to it.  We also know that there are still Hamas terrorists wielding guns and holding hostages and harboring a desire to continue to attack Israel and attack others. 

And so, we’re going to have to sort through all of that.  But this is an incredibly significant blow to Hamas.  It is the removal of someone who, as I said, was unique in the consolidation of the control of the Hamas apparatus under his command.  And now we will have to work to ensure that his death actually does deal the kind of long-term blow to Hamas that all of us would like to see.

Q    Can you give —

Q    Do you get the sense that Netanyahu is done now, that he’s — he’s reached his objectives?  You just laid out the decimation of Hamas — 

MR. SULLIVAN:  No, his critical objective that — has not been reached.  That objective is the return of the hostages, including American hostages.  So, from the United States’ perspective, we now need to work with Israel, with Qatar and Egypt, with others — and this is something we’ll discuss with our European partners as well — to secure the release of those hostages.  We’d like to see that happen.

Q    You referenced U.S. intel.  To what extent did that play a role in this particular operation? 

MR. SULLIVAN:  This operation was an IDF operation.  I’m not here to overclaim or — or try to take credits for something where the credit belongs to them. 

But the Americans — the special operations personnel, the intelligence professionals — they also deserve our thanks for the work that they did alongside the IDF over the course of many months to help create the kind of counterterrorism pressure in Gaza that put a lot of these guys on the run.  And Sinwar was plainly on the run (inaudible).

Q    Earlier this — earlier this week, Secretary Blinken and Secretary Austin sent letters to their counterparts threatening legal action if the humanitari- — humanitarian situation in Gaza doesn’t improve.  Can you give us a sense of what that legal option would be and if there are any deadlines or specific actions that the president will raise with Prime Minister Netanyahu about that today?

MR. SULLIVAN:  The letter speaks for itself.  I think a lot of the headlines were breathless and overblown.  We have had an ongoing dialogue with Israel for months now about improving the humanitarian situation.  We have had previous communications that looked quite similar and that generated positive momentum towards opening crossings and getting more aid in.  We’ve had, actually, constructive back-and-forth with our Israeli counterparts over the last few days in response to our requests, and we expect that we’ll see progress on the ground. 

One thing that has unfolded this week is — is the reopening of some of the crossings that had been closed in the north and trucks going in.  We need to see that sustained and expanded as we go forward, among the other requests in that letter. 

But I’d — and I’d — just the other point I would make here is that it’s — it was a private diplomatic communication.  It was a serious, substantive laydown.  It’s part of our ongoing work and partnership with Israel.  And having it all out there in the open, leaked in the way that it was, I think, was highly unfortunate.  And I’ll leave it at that.

Q    Can you give us a sense of what the president will say in this conversation with Netanyahu?  Will he push for an accelerated timeline for a ceasefire?  Will he say, you

know, kind of, “Now you achieved the main direct- — main objective and we should move forward on — on other things,” or push for humanitarian aid?

MR. SULLIVAN:  I’m going to let the president speak to the prime minister before I preview what he’s going to say in the press on the record, but we’ll try to give you a good sense of both what the president is thinking and what he’s communicating to the prime minister at the appropriate time.

Q    To — to what extent do you think this success with Sinwar might embolden Netanyahu when it comes to retaliating against Iran?  Or do you see them as totally unrelated?  And what are your conversations right now with them in terms of restraint — or whatever you want to call it — when the president has thoughts about what the target should be when they hit back?

MR. SULLIVAN:  We’ve had very constructive communications with the Israelis about how they’re thinking about responding to the attack on October 1st.  Those conversations will continue. 

I can’t speculate as to the psychology of the prime minister based on what happened today.  What I can say is that the logic of deterrence, the logic of a response to a salvo of 200 ballistic missiles — nothing in the Middle East is unrelated, but that is a distinct logic from the killing of Sinwar today.

Q    Jake, going back to the trip.  What message will President Biden give his fellow leaders about America’s place in the world, given the uncertainty around our upcoming election?

MR. SULLIVAN:  Say that again.

Q    What reassurance will President Biden give his fellow leaders about America’s place in the world, given the uncertainty about our upcoming presidential election?

MR. SULLIVAN:  What President Biden can do is what he’s done for four years, which is lay out his vision of America’s place in the world and point the way forward based on what he thinks are in America’s national security interests and in the interests of our close allies. 

Beyond that, he can’t speak for anyone else and doesn’t intend to.

Q    Is there any —

Q    Does this change your calculus on whether Israel can come to the table on a ceasefire by the end of the year?

MR. SULLIVAN:  I’m sorry?

Q    Your calculus on whether a ceasefire could be reached by the end of the year.

MR. SULLIVAN:  I have long since given up on making predictions or drawing timelines.  All I can say is that we see an opportunity now that we want to seize to try to secure the release of the hostages, and we’re going to work at that as rapidly as we possibly can.

Q    Give- — given the situation, would the president reconsider possibly holding a press conference during his time in Berlin?  It would be good to hear from him firsthand on how he thinks about this and the situation in Ukraine. 

MR. SULLIVAN:  I will note for the record there are heads nodding.  (Laughter.)  I’ll also note for the record that that is a really fascinating way to bring the press into the middle of a world historical event.  So — (laughter) — and I’ll leave it at that.

Q    I’ll follow up on that.  The president talks about democracy as being a key part of his administration, of his vision for America that you just referenced.  Why would he not take questions from the press at what was originally going to be a state visit to Germany?  I don’t understand.

MR. SULLIVAN:  It’s fascinating how you guys can — (laughs) — make this the story.

Q    It’s not the story.  It’s just a question. 

MR. SULLVIAN:  I mean, honestly, I think invoking democracy and suggesting that President Biden is somehow insufficiently committed to it because of the structure of his press engagement on one day in Germany is a bit ludicrous. 

Q    I can ask a Germany question.  So, a lot of the moves that President Biden has made both domestically and internationally have been characterized as “Trump-proofing” the — the, you know, U.S. government for a future Trump presidency. 

How do you feel about that characterization?  I’m talking about moves like bringing NATO under — forgive me, it’s too complicated to explain, but you know what I’m talking about. 

So, do you think he’s Trump-proofing?

MR. SULLIVAN:  I — I don’t like characterizations like that because they’re inherently political.

Q    So, what is he doing, then?

MR. SULLIVAN:  What the president is trying to do is to make our commitment to Ukraine sustainable and institutionalized for the long term.  And every other ally agreed that that was the responsible thing to do. 

The la- —

Q    (Inaudible) necessarily reduced U.S. role, is that the idea?

MR. SULLIVAN:  Not at all.  The basic logic was what the president laid out at the Washington Summit this summer, which is the communiqué said Ukraine’s place, Ukraine’s future, is in NATO.  There is work to do to get from here to there, including reforms and security conditions being met. 

So, the question is, how do you build a bridge from where we are now to Ukraine’s eventual membership in NATO?  And the answer to that question was the set of deliverables in Washington, including the institutionalization of the security support apparatus for Ukraine.  That is what we were trying to accomplish, and that’s what we believe we did accomplish.

Q    Jake, on Iran.  Can you confirm and elaborate on reporting that President Biden directed the NSC to warn Iran that any attempt on President Trump’s life would be seen as an act of war?

MR. SULLIVAN:  I will tell you that President Biden has taken this issue with the utmost seriousness.  He asked to be updated on it regularly.  He gives us direction for how to respond to it regularly and in a very serious and consequential way.  We are following his directives and implementing them.  And I’m not going to get into specifics on what that looks like.

Q    Jake, what about these reports that President Trump and President Putin have had seven conversations?  Are you worried about this?  Are you worried about any sort of backdoor conversations President Trump is having with leaders?

MR. SULLIVAN:  I do not know if that’s true or not, but obviously that would raise red flags if it were true. 

Q    Another one on — since you just said Putin.  There’s been reporting in Germany that Chancellor Scholz said he would be open to speaking with President Putin ahead of the G20 if asked — sort of various ways he said it.  Have you guys talked about this?  Has he told President Biden about this?  Do you think this would be a good idea to do a leader-level conversation with President Putin at this time?

MR. SULLIVAN:  That has not come up between the chancellor and the president.  You know, I was just in Germany at the end of last week with my German counterpart.  That — the question of a call to Putin didn’t come up.  So, I think that’s a question better put to the chancellor. 

Q    The official who briefed us yesterday about the Germany trip on the — on the phone mentioned that the Ramstein meeting would be rescheduled.  Does that mean the president will be going back to Ramstein at some point, or what — what did that mean?

MR. SULLIVAN:  We will hold a leaders-level Ramstein meeting virtually in November.

Q    One more.  On the frozen assets deal — the Russian frozen assets.  What’s the progress on that there?  I assume this comes up in the conversations.  Is there a plan B if the EU doesn’t figure out a sanctions regime?

MR. SULLIVAN:  I’m feeling very good about the progress that we’ve made on the G7 commitment to mobilize $50 billion from the proceeds of the Russian sovereign assets by the end of the year.  We intend to meet that commitment, and we intend to make a contribution — the United States.  The EU, obviously, has announced that it’s prepared to make a contribution.  So are other partners.  So, from my perspective, at this point, everything is on track. 

Q    Is there any update on when the president might talk to President Xi?

MR. SULLIVAN:  No.

Thank you, guys. 

Q    Thank you.

Q    Who you — wait, who are you rooting for in the playoffs, World Series?

MR. SULLIVAN:  I’m a Minnesota Twins fan, so I can’t root for the Guardians, but I definitely can’t root for the Yankees.

I don’t know.

Q    What about the Dodgers and Mets?

MR. SULLIVAN:  Yeah, I’m watching, but actually I don’t — I’ve not clearly determined who I’d prefer to win.  But, yeah, Dodgers or Mets. 

Q    Can you swing back and talk to us off the record later?

MR. SULLIVAN:  Sure. 

Q    Great.

Q    Thanks.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I don’t know.  Is there any real thing — anything else to discuss?  Let me t- —

Q    The only thing I would say is we disagree with the suggestion that democracy and speaking — and taking questions from the press is “ludicrous.” 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  All right.  Noted.

Q    I would argue that our stories allow the president to have a relationship with the world, not just with other leaders, and the ability to talk openly will help that. 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  All right.  Noted.  Noted. 

Let’s move on.

So, just want to talk about an announcement.  This is domestic, obviously, going to go to the — to that space.  I just wanted to touch on an announcement very quickly.

And so, today, the Biden-Harris administration announced an additional $4.5 billion in student debt cancelation for over 60,000 public service workers, bringing the total number of public — of public service workers who have had their student debt canceled under the Biden-Harris administration to over 1 million people. 

One such example is Kelly, a kindergarten teacher in Rhode Island, who had been paying off her student loans for a decade.  After the student let her know that her debt had been canceled, she tol- — after the president, pardon me — she told us that after 12 years of marriage, she might be able to take the honeymoon she never had.

The president — the president’s administration made it a priority to fix the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.  Prior to our administration, only 7,000 public service workers had received relief since the program was established in 2007. 

Thanks to the work of the Biden-Harris administration, as of today, 1 million teachers, nurses, firefighters, service members, first resp- — responders, and — and more who — who pursued careers in public service have gotten the relief they deserve. 

The relief brings the total loan forgiveness approved by the Biden-Harris administration — administration to over $175 billion for nearly 5 million Americans.  And while — meanwhile, our Republicans elected officials have repeatedly attempted to block student debt relief. 

President Biden and Vice President Harris remain committed to making education affordable for all Americans. 

With that, what else do you guys have for me?

Q    I have a question. 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Sure.

Q    Did President Biden talk to Vice President Harris ahead of this trip to see if she had any message for the world leaders or to get her input on what the situation should be going forward? 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  As you know, the president and the vice president talk regularly.  I don’t have a specific call to — to read out, but I think you can see the last almost four years of the — what we’ve been able to do, what the president has been able to do on the world stage, certainly has been in partnership with the vice president.  I know that she supports his trip and everything that he’s — he’s trying to do tomorrow in the — in the short trip that we have in — in Germany.

I just don’t have anything to read out as a call specifically on this trip.

Q    Is the president or the administration facing pressure from allies to get something done after the election but before he is out of office?  There’s been some talks that Zelenskyy — you know, whether that’s accelerating a push for Ukraine into NATO or — or other funding things for Ukraine?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Well, you’re talking about the victory plan.  Certainly, I’m going to let the Ukr- — Ukrainians speak to their victory plan as it relates to that question about NATO. 

Look, I think — I think what you have seen from this president, from this administration — obviously, including the vice president — is how much we have stand behind — next to, if you will — with Ukrainians and how they’re trying to beat back the aggression that we’ve seen from Russia.  And you have not just seen us standing there.  You’ve seen this president take action, and — which is why you see NATO much stronger than it was, and that’s why you see 50 countries have gotten behind Ukraine.  And you heard us — you heard us lay out yesterday an additional assistance package that we have provided to Ukrainians. 

And so, we’re going to have to continue — we’re going to continue having conversations with the Ukrainians on what they need on the battlefield and how else we can be helpful to them. 

As it relates to their victory plan — as it relates to what’s next, I’m certainly going to let the Ukrainians speak directly about that. 

Obviously, the president has had a conversation with the president, President Zelenskyy, on that plan.  I just don’t have anything beyond that, and I’m not — certainly, I’m not going to get into hypotheticals from here. 

Q    The president at the funeral yesterday had a — what looked like a spirited conversation with former President Obama.  Did you talk to him about what they discussed?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  No, it’s been kind of busy the last couple hours on the plane, as you can imagine. 

Look, I’ll — I’ll say this.  The president really very much looked — appreciated being there at the — at the funeral of Ethel Kennedy, who he saw as someone who was incredible and had a — was an incredible force, obviously, in her life, during her — her years.  And what he wanted to do is — was to lift up — lift her up and speak to her accomplishment and what she meant to him — not just to him but to her family and to the country.  So, he appreciated doing that. 

And we have said many times the president and — and president — and former President Biden [Obama] — they have a very close relationship.  They’ve had one for a long time, obviously, as he served as his vice president.

I don’t have anything else to — to share on that.  I have not had this conversation with the president.  Obviously, we’ve been pretty busy these past couple of hours on the plane. 

Q    Do you know if the president was able to watch any of the Fox News interview that Vice President Harris did?  And does —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yes, he —

Q    — did he talk to you about how — how she did? 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah, he was able to — to catch that.  And he saw her performance, her interview as strong.  And I think what you saw and what — and this is what he believes — is that you saw why Americans and people want to see her continuing to fight for them.  And that’s what he saw last night.  That’s what we all saw — many of us saw.  So, I think she was strong and incredibly impressive in that interview. 

Q    Karine, does the president believe that his vice president would be a markedly different leader?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I mean, look, he talked about this on Tuesday when he was in Philly, and he — and I talked a little bit about this as well, just reit- — really reiterating what the president shared, which is that, look, she’s going to be essentially her own person, right?  She is going to have her own direction, her own view of how to move forward. 

And he did that, right?  He was loyal to President Obama when he was vice president, but he cut his own path.  And so, that’s what he expects from the vice president to do. 

So, nothing — nothing new.  That’s what he expects her to do — to have her own path, to have — to build on — certainly, to build on the economic successes that we have seen and continuing the — the work that we’ve been able to do. 

But she’s going to cut her own path.  He was very clear about that a couple days ago.

Q    Karine —

Q    But on student loans — you talked about the PSLF 1 million, a huge achievement for those borrowers — what’s your message for the other 40 million-plus borrowers who’ve been caught up in a lot of legal limbo over the past three years?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look, I’ll — I’ll say this.  You know, I’m not going to speak to the legal — the legal components of this.  There are legal matters that are happening, so they are ongoing.  So, I’m not going to speak to that. 

But I think what you can take away from what this president has — trying to do, when Republicans have continued to block him, in promising to give Americans a little bit of breathing room, to make sure that Americans who have — borrows [borrowers] who have loans and — and are squeezed by those loans are not able to, you know, buy a home, start a family.

The president was very attuned to that and very clear that he wanted to give them an opportunity — an opportunity to really, you know, be able to — to start that life that they wanted.  And so, he’s been trying to do that, even though he’s been blocked and — and Republicans have gotten in the way. 

I think you can see over the past — certainly, the past six months, the president continuing to try to take actions to — to make sure he kept his commitment to Americans who, again, need a little bit of breathing room.

So, I’m not going to speak to the legal matter, but I think this announcement today shows his commitment to public service workers, right?  I talked about firefighters, nurses.  I talked about police officers, who put so much on the line, who give so much for — for everybody, for folks who need their assistance and their help, and wanted to give them that opportunity to really be able to — to move on economically in what they want to accomplish for themselves and for their family.

All right.  Anything else?

Q    On the —

Q    So —

Q    Sorry.  Go ahead.

Q    Sorry.

Now going back to the funeral for a minute.  Did he speak with Speaker Emeritus Pelosi?  And also, she was not seen at the Italian American celebration, when she’s been front and center in the past.  Was she not invited?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I — I don’t have anything to share with you on that.  I didn’t talk to the president about that at all.  But what you saw — obviously, you saw the president and the former president, Pres- — President Obama, connect, have a moment together.  The president m- — very much looked forward to that.  I just don’t have anything on Nancy Pelosi.

Q    Just —

Q    I noticed he didn’t recognize her when he recognized the other two presidents at the funeral.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Well, he wanted it — I can say this.  He wanted it to be, you know — to — to be very focused on the family.  He wanted it to be, you know, brief and — and very poignant.  And that’s what his focus was yesterday on his remarks.

Q    On the trip.  Obviously, this is a abbreviated agenda from, you know, the Ramstein summit —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — and other things.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    But can you explain to us, what’s the reason that it’s so short?  Why do we have to get out of Germany at 4:00 p.m. tomorrow?  Is there a reason on the German chancellor’s schedule why we have to —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, I mean —

Q    Regardless of the press conference, there was also talk about maybe doing a Holocaust memorial situation.  What’s —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  No, I totally understand what — totally — as you — let’s step back for a second. 

The reason that the president had to postpone his trip was because Hurricane Milton was coming, and it was — it was forecast to be a historical hurricane, and the president wanted to be in the States to deal with the response and what was needed, certainly, by the impacted region, for what folks on the ground really needed.

And so, that’s why we postponed the trip.  We said that we wanted to certainly get that back on the books.  We were able to do it — to your point, a truncated version, but it is a robust schedule.  And we were able to work with the Germans and to be able to get done what we can on this trip.

I mean, the president has a busy schedule.  He does.  There’s a lot going on in the next couple days, couple weeks.

Q    But he has to get back to the States for something in particular —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I mean, we’ll —

Q    — that we don’t know about?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  We’re certainly going to share with you what the — his — the next couple of days of his schedule is going to look like.  But he wanted to — and I said this yesterday in the briefing room.  He wanted to thank the chancellor for his partnership, for his leadership as well with Ukraine.  Outside of the U.S., U- — the U- — German is the second — have provided the second-most resources, assistance to Ukrainians.

And so, he wanted to be, you know, thankful to him.  And so, that’s what you’re seeing on this trip.  He wanted to make this happen.  He asked his team to make this trip happen.

And so, look, we have a busy schedule.  We got a lot going on in next couple of days, next couple of weeks.  And so, we tried to fit this in, and this is what we were able to do in working with the German government as well to make this happen.

Q    Does the president, as the election hits its final two weeks, expect to get more aggressive in outreach and participation?  Is that maybe what you’re referencing, or what’s his thinking on that?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, you know I can’t speak to political trips or any- —

Q    But if —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  But wa- —

Q    — you could speak on his schedule.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Well, I — I’m just — want to get that out of there.  And so, look, the president is certainly looking at — looking forward to being out there and supporting the vice president.

I just want to be super mindful.  But he will — you’ll see him — you’ll see him hit the road.  You’ll see him hit the road, for sure.

That’s all I got. 

All right.  Thanks, everybody.  Sorry my voice is a little hoarse.

Q    Thanks, Karine.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Thanks, everybody.

2:45 P.M. EDT

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President Biden spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel to congratulate him on the mission conducted in Gaza that killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu also discussed how to use this moment to bring the hostages home and to bring the war to a close with Israel’s security assured and Hamas never again able to control Gaza. They agreed to remain in close contact over the coming days both directly and through their national security teams.

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The post Readout of President Joe Biden’s Call with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel appeared first on The White House.

President Biden spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel to congratulate him on the mission conducted in Gaza that killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu also discussed how to use this moment to bring the hostages home and to bring the war to a close with Israel’s security assured and Hamas never again able to control Gaza. They agreed to remain in close contact over the coming days both directly and through their national security teams.

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The post Readout of President Joe Biden’s Call with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel appeared first on The White House.

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

1:13 P.M. CDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Today, Israel confirmed that Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, is dead and justice has been served, and the United States, Israel, and the entire world are better off as a result.

Sinwar was responsible for the killing of thousands of innocent people, including the victims of October 7 and hostages killed in Gaza.  He had American blood on his hands.

Today, I can only hope that the families of the victims of Hamas feel a sense and measure of relief.

Sinwar was the mastermind of October 7, the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust — a terrorist attack that killed 1,200 innocent people and included horrific sexual violence and more than 250 hostages taken into Gaza, including 7 Americans, living and deceased, who remain in captivity; a terrorist attack that triggered a devastating war in Gaza — a war that has led to unconscionable suffering of many innocent Palestinians and greater instability throughout the Middle East.
    
In the past year, American special operations and intelligence personnel have worked closely with their Israeli counterparts to locate and track Sinwar and other Hamas leaders, and I commend their work.

And I will say to any terrorist who kills Americans, threatens the American people, or threatens our troops or our interests, know this: We will always bring you to justice.

Israel has a right to defend itself, and the threat Hamas poses to Israel must be eliminated.

Today, there is clear progress toward that goal.  Hamas is decimated, and its leadership is eliminated.

This moment gives us an opportunity to finally end the war in Gaza, and it must end such that Israel is secure, the hostages are released, the suffering in Gaza ends, and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, security, freedom, and self-determination.  And it is time for the day after to begin without Hamas in power.

We will not give up on these goals, and I will always work to create a future of peace, dignity, and security for all.

     I thank you all.

                             END                  1:16 P.M. CDT

The post Remarks by Vice President Harris on the Death of Yahya Sinwar appeared first on The White House.

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

1:13 P.M. CDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Today, Israel confirmed that Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, is dead and justice has been served, and the United States, Israel, and the entire world are better off as a result.

Sinwar was responsible for the killing of thousands of innocent people, including the victims of October 7 and hostages killed in Gaza.  He had American blood on his hands.

Today, I can only hope that the families of the victims of Hamas feel a sense and measure of relief.

Sinwar was the mastermind of October 7, the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust — a terrorist attack that killed 1,200 innocent people and included horrific sexual violence and more than 250 hostages taken into Gaza, including 7 Americans, living and deceased, who remain in captivity; a terrorist attack that triggered a devastating war in Gaza — a war that has led to unconscionable suffering of many innocent Palestinians and greater instability throughout the Middle East.
    
In the past year, American special operations and intelligence personnel have worked closely with their Israeli counterparts to locate and track Sinwar and other Hamas leaders, and I commend their work.

And I will say to any terrorist who kills Americans, threatens the American people, or threatens our troops or our interests, know this: We will always bring you to justice.

Israel has a right to defend itself, and the threat Hamas poses to Israel must be eliminated.

Today, there is clear progress toward that goal.  Hamas is decimated, and its leadership is eliminated.

This moment gives us an opportunity to finally end the war in Gaza, and it must end such that Israel is secure, the hostages are released, the suffering in Gaza ends, and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, security, freedom, and self-determination.  And it is time for the day after to begin without Hamas in power.

We will not give up on these goals, and I will always work to create a future of peace, dignity, and security for all.

     I thank you all.

                             END                  1:16 P.M. CDT

The post Remarks by Vice President Harris on the Death of Yahya Sinwar appeared first on The White House.

Early this morning, Israeli authorities informed my national security team that a mission they conducted in Gaza likely killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.  DNA tests have now confirmed that Sinwar is dead.  This is a good day for Israel, for the United States, and for the world. 

As the leader of the terrorist group Hamas, Sinwar was responsible for the deaths of thousands of Israelis, Palestinians, Americans, and citizens from over 30 countries.  He was the mastermind of the October 7th massacres, rapes, and kidnappings.  It was on his orders that Hamas terrorists invaded Israel to intentionally – and with unspeakable savagery – kill and massacre civilians, a Holocaust survivor, children in front of their parents, and parents in front of their children. 

Over 1,200 people were killed on that day, the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust, including 46 Americans.  More than 250 were taken hostage, with 101 still missing. That number includes seven Americans, four of whom are believed to still be alive and held by Hamas terrorists.  Sinwar is the man most responsible for this, and for so much of what followed.  

Shortly after the October 7 massacres, I directed Special Operations personnel and our intelligence professionals to work side-by-side with their Israeli counterparts to help locate and track Sinwar and other Hamas leaders hiding in Gaza. 

With our intelligence help, the IDF relentlessly pursued Hamas’s leaders, flushing them out of their hiding places and forcing them onto the run.  There has rarely been a military campaign like this, with Hamas leaders living and moving through hundreds of miles of tunnels, organized in multiple stories underground, determined to protect themselves with no care for the civilians suffering above ground.  Today, however, proves once again that no terrorists anywhere in the world can escape justice, no matter how long it takes.

To my Israeli friends, this is no doubt a day of relief and reminiscence, similar to the scenes witnessed throughout the United States after President Obama ordered the raid to kill Osama Bin Laden in 2011.

Israel has had every right to eliminate the leadership and military structure of Hamas. Hamas is no longer capable of carrying out another October 7.

I will be speaking soon with Prime Minister Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders to congratulate them, to discuss the pathway for bringing the hostages home to their families, and for ending this war once and for all, which has caused so much devastation to innocent people.  

There is now the opportunity for a “day after” in Gaza without Hamas in power, and for a political settlement that provides a better future for Israelis and Palestinians alike.  Yahya Sinwar was an insurmountable obstacle to achieving all of those goals. That obstacle no longer exists. But much work remains before us.

###

The post Statement from President Joe Biden on the Death of Yahya Sinwar appeared first on The White House.

Early this morning, Israeli authorities informed my national security team that a mission they conducted in Gaza likely killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.  DNA tests have now confirmed that Sinwar is dead.  This is a good day for Israel, for the United States, and for the world. 

As the leader of the terrorist group Hamas, Sinwar was responsible for the deaths of thousands of Israelis, Palestinians, Americans, and citizens from over 30 countries.  He was the mastermind of the October 7th massacres, rapes, and kidnappings.  It was on his orders that Hamas terrorists invaded Israel to intentionally – and with unspeakable savagery – kill and massacre civilians, a Holocaust survivor, children in front of their parents, and parents in front of their children. 

Over 1,200 people were killed on that day, the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust, including 46 Americans.  More than 250 were taken hostage, with 101 still missing. That number includes seven Americans, four of whom are believed to still be alive and held by Hamas terrorists.  Sinwar is the man most responsible for this, and for so much of what followed.  

Shortly after the October 7 massacres, I directed Special Operations personnel and our intelligence professionals to work side-by-side with their Israeli counterparts to help locate and track Sinwar and other Hamas leaders hiding in Gaza. 

With our intelligence help, the IDF relentlessly pursued Hamas’s leaders, flushing them out of their hiding places and forcing them onto the run.  There has rarely been a military campaign like this, with Hamas leaders living and moving through hundreds of miles of tunnels, organized in multiple stories underground, determined to protect themselves with no care for the civilians suffering above ground.  Today, however, proves once again that no terrorists anywhere in the world can escape justice, no matter how long it takes.

To my Israeli friends, this is no doubt a day of relief and reminiscence, similar to the scenes witnessed throughout the United States after President Obama ordered the raid to kill Osama Bin Laden in 2011.

Israel has had every right to eliminate the leadership and military structure of Hamas. Hamas is no longer capable of carrying out another October 7.

I will be speaking soon with Prime Minister Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders to congratulate them, to discuss the pathway for bringing the hostages home to their families, and for ending this war once and for all, which has caused so much devastation to innocent people.  

There is now the opportunity for a “day after” in Gaza without Hamas in power, and for a political settlement that provides a better future for Israelis and Palestinians alike.  Yahya Sinwar was an insurmountable obstacle to achieving all of those goals. That obstacle no longer exists. But much work remains before us.

###

The post Statement from President Joe Biden on the Death of Yahya Sinwar appeared first on The White House.

3:53 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello.  (Applause.)

Joe, thank you.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.  (Applause.) 

I’m sure you’re clapping because I’m the last speaker. 

Well, that was worth that partial comment — or concert.  You know what he said on the way out?  Can I tell them, pal?  He said, “If I get a Grammy, I’m going to give it to you,” the only guy in this whole darn church who can’t sing a note.  (Laughter.)

My dad used to have a band and sang.  He said, “Joey, I don’t know where the hell you came from.  You can’t carry a tune.  You can’t sing.  You can’t dance.  I don’t know where you came from, but I love you anyway.”  (Laughter.)

Father MacMillan, thank you for everything.  Thank you for — for being so good to us. 

President Clinton, President Obama, distinguished guests; the Kennedy family, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and extended family, it’s been an emotional journey listening to all of you.  When I knew I was going to be the last speaker, I thought, “How did that happen?”  Because, you know, it brings back so many memories. 

Ethel was always there for so many people, and she played an essential role in my life as well — maybe a little different than with others.  She was there as soon as I entered political office in 1972 as a 29-year-old kid before I got sworn in. 

I was in her brother-in-law’s office — Teddy’s office — hiring staff — I was only 29; you had to be 30 years old to be sworn in, and I wasn’t 30 yet — when I got a phone call from the fire department in my — by my house saying there had been an accident.  A tractor-trailer had broadsided my wife’s automobile, Christmas shopping with a Christmas tree on top, on December 18th, and killed my wife and killed my daughter, and my boys weren’t expected to live. 

When I lost my family — and she was there.  Joe, your mom was there then — then.  

As soon as I got elected president, I received a letter from your mom.  The letterhead was titled Mrs. Robert Kennedy, and in her very neat handwriting, she had written that she took great comfort in knowing the country was in good hands. 

She had no idea, for a 29-year-old kid in that circumstance, how much it meant.  Because as some of you know — Bill knows — I didn’t plan on sticking around after that accident. 

She said she was honored and proud there was a bust of her husband, Bobby Kennedy, in my office, the Oval Office. 

I have only two political heroes in my life: Dr. King and Bobby Kennedy.  Not a joke.  So, I didn’t realize — my two colleagues from the — who were president know — you get to pick what you want in your office, and I wanted to be able to see both of them from my — from the Resolute Desk by the fireplace: Dr. King and Bobby Kennedy.

And days later, I received another letter from her that I’ll always remember, and I know all of you look forward to each year: a valentine card — a valentine card.  Which, in our house, Valentine’s Day is known as “Jill’s holiday.”  (Laughter.)

Like Ethel, Jill is a practical joker.  This was no surprise — it was no surprise that Jill loved Ethel’s card that year, which said — I’m not sure the hundred others who receive it felt the same way because, apparently, she sent that card — she sent it to everyone that year.  (Laughter.)  It was a picture of me and Ethel surrounded by hearts.  (Laughter.)  Oh, you think I’m kidding.  I — it meant a lot to me, I’m telling you.

Printed — the language on the card, it said — in the printed language of the card, it said, “I’m not Biden my time waiting for you, Valentine.”  (Laughter.)  And then in her handwriting, she says, “‘Cause he’s no ordinary Joe.”  (Laughter.) 

I don’t know how many of you got that damn valentine, but I tell you what, it meant a lot to me.  (Laughter.)  I’ve received a lot honors in my life, but that might be the best one I’ve ever received.  (Laughter and applause.)

You know, yes, Ethel was Mrs. Robert Kennedy.  She was one of my politi- — he was my — as I said, one of my political heroes.  But I always knew her as Ethel Kennedy, a hero in her own right.  I loved Bobby Kennedy.  I’ve only met him once when I was in Syracuse law school and he was campaigning.  But I — I just — I admired him so damn much. 

I’ve told John Kerry this, my buddy.  I — I could picture Bobby at my kitchen table with my dad and my mom.  I could picture him there.

But, you know, Ethel was a hero in her own right, full of character, full of integrity and empathy — and genuine empathy. 

She was full of laughter and joy and light.  She was a great athlete in her own right, for real.  She was a mother.  Literally, there was nothing, from my perspective and, I suspect, most of you, that she couldn’t do — nothing.

Four years later, after I had gotten — after Bobby — she lost her beloved Bobby, she invited me and my boys to her home after the accident left my family broken, having lost my wife and daughter, my boys barely making it.  Along with Teddy, she got me through a time I didn’t want to stick around.  I wanted no part of being in the Congress or the Senate.  I mean it.

I’d spoken to my governor, because we had elected a Democratic governor, to find a replacement for me.  But Teddy and Ethel Kennedy would hear nothi- — none of it. 

You know, the fact is, like she did for the country, Ethel helped my family find a way forward with principle and purpose. 

We saw how she picked up Bobby’s cause and stamped her own mark on the country.  Marching for civil rights, as you heard about today, and working to end poverty at home, attempting to secure peace abroad, and so much more.  She once said, “For anyone to achieve something, you have to show a little courage.  You’re only on this Earth once.  You must give it all you’ve got.”

Reminded me of my mom.  My mom used to say, “Joey, courage lives in every heart, and one day you’ll be called upon.  Be ready to stand up.”  And that’s not — that’s from Catherine Eugenia Finnegan Biden, and she meant it.  She meant it.

For over 50 years, with Ethel’s own iron will and moral courage, she gave it everything she had, and we’re a better nation and a better world because of Ethel Kennedy. 

Let me close with this.  On a Sunday in May this year, I delivered a commencement speech at Morehouse College in Atlanta.  I noted that had we been in church that day, there’d be a reflection about the resurrection and redemption.  We remember Jesus was buried on Friday, and on Sunday, he rose again.  But we don’t talk nearly enough about that Saturday when his disciples felt all hope was lost — all hope was lost. 

In our lives and in the life of the nation, we have those Saturdays — and thank God your mom, your grandmom, your great-grandmom was — was there for me — to bear witness to the day before glory, to see people’s pain and not look away.  But work is to be done on Saturday, is to move pain to purpose.  How can faith get a person, get a nation through what is coming? 

Well, my message to all of us here today and to the entire the country is look to Ethel Kennedy’s faith. 

To the Kennedy family — presumptuous of me to say this and maybe sound inappropriate, but to the Kennedy family, the Biden family is here for you, as you’ve always been for us.  You changed the life of my boys.  You really did.

When I lost my son Beau, he was attorney general of the state of Delaware.  And he volunteered to join the National Guard as attorney general.  You either have to be state property or federal property.  And he temporarily gave up his office to go with his unit for a year in Iraq.  And unfortunately, I was in — in out — in and out of Iraq, as Barack knows, because — and Afghanistan 30-some times.  And I got to see him several times.

But the bad news was he was about a quarter to a half mile away from a burn pit — 100 yards long, 10 feet deep, burning everything from waste to — everything, poisoning the air.  And he came home with Stage 4 glioblastoma and he died.  Your mom was there then too. 

I apologize.

So, from the Biden family to the Kennedy family, the hymn that’s very close to our heart based on the 91st psalm, it goes like this: “May he raise you up on eagle’s wings and bear you on the breath of dawn, and make you to shine like the sun, and hold you in the palm of his hand.” 

May God bless Ethel Kennedy, and may we — she re- — may be — she be reunited with the blessed pieces of her soul in Heaven.

God bless you all.  And thank you for letting me participate.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

4:04 P.M. EDT

The post Remarks by President Biden at a Memorial Service for Mrs. Robert F. Kennedy appeared first on The White House.

3:53 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello.  (Applause.)

Joe, thank you.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.  (Applause.) 

I’m sure you’re clapping because I’m the last speaker. 

Well, that was worth that partial comment — or concert.  You know what he said on the way out?  Can I tell them, pal?  He said, “If I get a Grammy, I’m going to give it to you,” the only guy in this whole darn church who can’t sing a note.  (Laughter.)

My dad used to have a band and sang.  He said, “Joey, I don’t know where the hell you came from.  You can’t carry a tune.  You can’t sing.  You can’t dance.  I don’t know where you came from, but I love you anyway.”  (Laughter.)

Father MacMillan, thank you for everything.  Thank you for — for being so good to us. 

President Clinton, President Obama, distinguished guests; the Kennedy family, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and extended family, it’s been an emotional journey listening to all of you.  When I knew I was going to be the last speaker, I thought, “How did that happen?”  Because, you know, it brings back so many memories. 

Ethel was always there for so many people, and she played an essential role in my life as well — maybe a little different than with others.  She was there as soon as I entered political office in 1972 as a 29-year-old kid before I got sworn in. 

I was in her brother-in-law’s office — Teddy’s office — hiring staff — I was only 29; you had to be 30 years old to be sworn in, and I wasn’t 30 yet — when I got a phone call from the fire department in my — by my house saying there had been an accident.  A tractor-trailer had broadsided my wife’s automobile, Christmas shopping with a Christmas tree on top, on December 18th, and killed my wife and killed my daughter, and my boys weren’t expected to live. 

When I lost my family — and she was there.  Joe, your mom was there then — then.  

As soon as I got elected president, I received a letter from your mom.  The letterhead was titled Mrs. Robert Kennedy, and in her very neat handwriting, she had written that she took great comfort in knowing the country was in good hands. 

She had no idea, for a 29-year-old kid in that circumstance, how much it meant.  Because as some of you know — Bill knows — I didn’t plan on sticking around after that accident. 

She said she was honored and proud there was a bust of her husband, Bobby Kennedy, in my office, the Oval Office. 

I have only two political heroes in my life: Dr. King and Bobby Kennedy.  Not a joke.  So, I didn’t realize — my two colleagues from the — who were president know — you get to pick what you want in your office, and I wanted to be able to see both of them from my — from the Resolute Desk by the fireplace: Dr. King and Bobby Kennedy.

And days later, I received another letter from her that I’ll always remember, and I know all of you look forward to each year: a valentine card — a valentine card.  Which, in our house, Valentine’s Day is known as “Jill’s holiday.”  (Laughter.)

Like Ethel, Jill is a practical joker.  This was no surprise — it was no surprise that Jill loved Ethel’s card that year, which said — I’m not sure the hundred others who receive it felt the same way because, apparently, she sent that card — she sent it to everyone that year.  (Laughter.)  It was a picture of me and Ethel surrounded by hearts.  (Laughter.)  Oh, you think I’m kidding.  I — it meant a lot to me, I’m telling you.

Printed — the language on the card, it said — in the printed language of the card, it said, “I’m not Biden my time waiting for you, Valentine.”  (Laughter.)  And then in her handwriting, she says, “‘Cause he’s no ordinary Joe.”  (Laughter.) 

I don’t know how many of you got that damn valentine, but I tell you what, it meant a lot to me.  (Laughter.)  I’ve received a lot honors in my life, but that might be the best one I’ve ever received.  (Laughter and applause.)

You know, yes, Ethel was Mrs. Robert Kennedy.  She was one of my politi- — he was my — as I said, one of my political heroes.  But I always knew her as Ethel Kennedy, a hero in her own right.  I loved Bobby Kennedy.  I’ve only met him once when I was in Syracuse law school and he was campaigning.  But I — I just — I admired him so damn much. 

I’ve told John Kerry this, my buddy.  I — I could picture Bobby at my kitchen table with my dad and my mom.  I could picture him there.

But, you know, Ethel was a hero in her own right, full of character, full of integrity and empathy — and genuine empathy. 

She was full of laughter and joy and light.  She was a great athlete in her own right, for real.  She was a mother.  Literally, there was nothing, from my perspective and, I suspect, most of you, that she couldn’t do — nothing.

Four years later, after I had gotten — after Bobby — she lost her beloved Bobby, she invited me and my boys to her home after the accident left my family broken, having lost my wife and daughter, my boys barely making it.  Along with Teddy, she got me through a time I didn’t want to stick around.  I wanted no part of being in the Congress or the Senate.  I mean it.

I’d spoken to my governor, because we had elected a Democratic governor, to find a replacement for me.  But Teddy and Ethel Kennedy would hear nothi- — none of it. 

You know, the fact is, like she did for the country, Ethel helped my family find a way forward with principle and purpose. 

We saw how she picked up Bobby’s cause and stamped her own mark on the country.  Marching for civil rights, as you heard about today, and working to end poverty at home, attempting to secure peace abroad, and so much more.  She once said, “For anyone to achieve something, you have to show a little courage.  You’re only on this Earth once.  You must give it all you’ve got.”

Reminded me of my mom.  My mom used to say, “Joey, courage lives in every heart, and one day you’ll be called upon.  Be ready to stand up.”  And that’s not — that’s from Catherine Eugenia Finnegan Biden, and she meant it.  She meant it.

For over 50 years, with Ethel’s own iron will and moral courage, she gave it everything she had, and we’re a better nation and a better world because of Ethel Kennedy. 

Let me close with this.  On a Sunday in May this year, I delivered a commencement speech at Morehouse College in Atlanta.  I noted that had we been in church that day, there’d be a reflection about the resurrection and redemption.  We remember Jesus was buried on Friday, and on Sunday, he rose again.  But we don’t talk nearly enough about that Saturday when his disciples felt all hope was lost — all hope was lost. 

In our lives and in the life of the nation, we have those Saturdays — and thank God your mom, your grandmom, your great-grandmom was — was there for me — to bear witness to the day before glory, to see people’s pain and not look away.  But work is to be done on Saturday, is to move pain to purpose.  How can faith get a person, get a nation through what is coming? 

Well, my message to all of us here today and to the entire the country is look to Ethel Kennedy’s faith. 

To the Kennedy family — presumptuous of me to say this and maybe sound inappropriate, but to the Kennedy family, the Biden family is here for you, as you’ve always been for us.  You changed the life of my boys.  You really did.

When I lost my son Beau, he was attorney general of the state of Delaware.  And he volunteered to join the National Guard as attorney general.  You either have to be state property or federal property.  And he temporarily gave up his office to go with his unit for a year in Iraq.  And unfortunately, I was in — in out — in and out of Iraq, as Barack knows, because — and Afghanistan 30-some times.  And I got to see him several times.

But the bad news was he was about a quarter to a half mile away from a burn pit — 100 yards long, 10 feet deep, burning everything from waste to — everything, poisoning the air.  And he came home with Stage 4 glioblastoma and he died.  Your mom was there then too. 

I apologize.

So, from the Biden family to the Kennedy family, the hymn that’s very close to our heart based on the 91st psalm, it goes like this: “May he raise you up on eagle’s wings and bear you on the breath of dawn, and make you to shine like the sun, and hold you in the palm of his hand.” 

May God bless Ethel Kennedy, and may we — she re- — may be — she be reunited with the blessed pieces of her soul in Heaven.

God bless you all.  And thank you for letting me participate.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

4:04 P.M. EDT

The post Remarks by President Biden at a Memorial Service for Mrs. Robert F. Kennedy appeared first on The White House.

5:54 P.M. EDT
 
THE FIRST LADY:  Thank you.  (Applause.)
 
Thank you, Alexa.  And I’m excited to see your generation forging new connections to our past and shining such a bright light into our future.
 
And I’m also grateful to the National Italian American Foundation.  (Applause.)  John, Robert, you’ve all — you’ve helped so many people experience our heritage in Italy and preserve it here in the United States.  So, thank you.
 
Buonasera, everyone.  (Laughter.) 
 
AUDIENCE:  Buonasera!
 
THE FIRST LADY:  And welcome to the White House.
 
When I was a little girl, I learned what it means to be Italian American in my grandparents’ tiny, well-worn kitchen — and not only because there were ribbons of pasta — homemade pasta and sauce bubbling over on the stove.
 
No, the most important lesson that I learned in their kitchen was that, when you’re Italian American, there’s always room for one more chair at the table — (applause) — enough bread toast to feed one more guest, enough space in our hearts for another friend to become like family. 
 
And even when times are hard, there’s —
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Looking at me.  (Laughter.)
 
THE FIRST LADY:  There’s always enough time to — (the president makes the sign of the cross) — (laughter) — enjoy the pleasures of life together.
 
My grandparents also taught me to never waste an opportunity to invite more people to the table and make a difference together.  So, I knew I had to bring those values of love, abundance, and service to the White House as the first Italian American first lady.  (Applause.)
 
That’s why I’ve used this platform to give more women a seat at the table in discussions about their own health — (applause) — to hear from military families about how we can support them, to uplift community college students. 
 
And I’ve had the opportunity to bring so many more people inside the historic walls of the White House by creating new educational experiences that allow more Americans to immerse themselves in this house, the People’s House; by using these rooms to celebrate the young people who are changing our world; by honoring the immigrants who helped build this country; and tonight — (applause) — thank you — and tonight, gathering with this community — my community — to celebrate our culture.  (Laughter.)
 
So, it’s been the honor of my life to serve as first lady.  And during my time here, I’ve often thought of my great-grandparents leaving everything they knew behind to chase the promise of America.  And then, when they arrived on Ellis Island to take their first strides into a new life, I don’t think that they could ever have imagined that a group of hundreds of Italian Americans — coming together in the White House.
 
When our roots run deep, there’s no limit to how high we can reach.  So, tonight, I hope that you feel the power of our ancestors’ values beating inside of us as we carry their legacy forward; that you feel home — you feel at home, eat good food, and end up with a little something sweet together, as a family.  (Laughter.)
 
Now, it’s my pleasure to introduce a man who’s always felt at home — (laughs) — with Italian Americans.  (Applause.)  In fact, Joe first met my family at a big cookout at my grandparents’ house in Hammonton, New Jersey. 
 
So, I was pretty nervous, you know, about Joe coming to meet my family.  But as soon as Joe pulled up into the driveway — and you kn- — you can picture this — my tiny grandmom bolted out of the house, bounded down the porch steps, in her housecoat and her apron, and she gave Joe this huge hug, as if she’d known him his entire life.  And before he could even get a plate, Joe was greeted not as a stranger but as family.
 
Over the years, I’ve seen the Italian American community extend the same joyful love and support to Joe.  You mean so much to him.  (Laughs.)
 
So, please welcome — I don’t know why I’m getting so emotional — your president, my husband, Joe.  (Applause.)
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Welcome to the White House.  (Applause.)   My name is Joe Biden, and I’m Jill Biden’s husband.  (Laughter and applause.)
 
Now, I may be Irish, but I’m not stupid.  (Laughter.)  I married Dominic Giacoppa’s granddaughter. 
 
And five years ago, I want you to know, I received the Sons of Italy Man of the Year award.  To the best of my knowledge, I’m the only non-Italian ever to receive that award.  (Laughter and applause.)  There was a large crowd when I received that award.  It was down by the train station. 
 
You know, I said I — I moved from an Irish Catholic neighborhood in Scranton to an Italian Catholic neighborhood in Claymont, Delaware.  And I went from a — where — a place where you ended like Finnegan and Murphy and all that, down if your name didn’t lend — end in “O,” you’re in real trouble.  (Laughter.) 
 
I was one of the few guys whose name didn’t end in “O.”  I’d look out there and look at all my friends.  You know, I accepted the award and named some of the guys I grew up with next door: Sonny Daramo, whose mom would say, “Joey, it’s not sauce; it’s gravy, Joey.  It’s gravy, Joey.”  (Laughter and applause.)  Oh, you think I’m kidding.  I’m not.  (Laughter.)
 
No, Anzilotti, De- — Sabatino, Buchini, Bifferato, Ceni, Congialdi, Deluterio, Monaco — no, you think I’m kidding —  Tancr- —
 
By the way, after I talked about it, I looked down at that crowd and said, “You know…” — thinking about it, I said, “I deserve this damn award.”  (Laughter.)  “With that many Italian friends, man, I deserve that award.”  (Laughter.)
 
Thank you, Alexa, for being here and sharing your pride in your family and your heritage. 
 
Look, and it’s great to see so many friends from the National Italian American Foundation, you know, the Sons and Daughters of Italy, and so many other Italian American leaders and organization from all across the country.
 
You know, I can honestly say I wouldn’t be president without you.  I wouldn’t be president without the Italian American community. 
 
Now, what she didn’t say is we do have something in common.  I’m Catherine Eugenia Finnegan — Irish Catholics background.  You guys, a lot of you are Catholics, you know.  (Laughter.)  I know you don’t admit it as much, but there — (laughter).
 
This month is about celebrating the extraordinary contributions and proud, proud herita- — heritage of Italian Americans to our nation.  And it’s kind of endless. 
 
For some of our families, your story is America’s story.  It stretches back generations.  For others, it just started.  No matter when these st- — stories of immigrants who left everything behind to travel across the ocean in pursuit of the American dream just for a shot — just a simple shot.  You and your ancestors worked hard to help build this country and build the middle class. 
 
People like my college friend, the late Congressman Bill Pascrell — he’s been — Bill, Jr. is here.  Where — where are you, Bill?  (Applause.)  There you are. 
 
I used to kid his dad all the time.  I said, “You know, Delaware may be the second-smallest state in the Union, but we own the Delaware River up to the highwater mark in New Jersey.”   (Laughter.)  There was actually a Supreme Court case about that.  Anyway.  (Laughter.)
 
But he represented New Jersey, and his son represents the House of Representatives.  And Bill did it for 27 years, when he passed away this summer.  He was the grandson of Italian immigrants, a giant in the community, and a devoted patriot to the nation.  You got good blood, kid, as my dad would say.  (Applause.) 
 
He was a part of a proud, proud heritage of Italian Americans who enrich every part of American life: entrepreneurs, educators, scientists, chefs, diplomats, doctors, servicemembers, veterans, athletes, actors, artists, and so much more.  There’s nothing the Italian community is not engaged in — I mean, virtually nothing.  There’s noth- — no community you don’t excel in.
 
But I also know it wasn’t always easy.  Many of your ancestors faced horrific discrimination, like my ancestors faced horrific discrimination, when they first came to our shores.  Yet, even in the face of — Italian Americans proved that they had the resilient spirit and a devotion to family and community, an unshakeable faith in the promise of a better tomorrow. 
 
You know, my dad used to have an expression.  He’d say, “Joey, family is the beginning, the middle, and the end — the beginning, the middle, and the end.”  It’s a faith that has carried through to today, both at home and abroad. 
 
Italian Americans are central to our nation’s deep friendship and strategic partnership with Italy.  I’ve — I’ve worked out a really good relationship with the Italians.  I’m — well, Ital- — I better have done that but at home.  (Laughter.)  But all kidding aside, with th- — with Italy.  What a magnificent country.
 
You know, and — anyway, I won’t get started.  But — (laughter) — you know, the bond between our countries is founded on a shared principle and shared commitments, including the shared support for the brave people of Ukraine as they defend themselves against Russia’s illegal (inaudible).  (Applause.)
 
I might add, they have a female leader.  (Applause.)  I wish Sonny Daramo were here to hear that.  (Laughter.)
 
In addition, Italy’s remarkable stewardship with the presidency of the G7 this year, as well as Italy’s long-standing contributions to transatlantic security through NATO — look, and their strong leadership in the European Union — it underscores how important Italy’s role is on the global stage, not just, you know, for America but for the world.   
 
You know, let me close with this.  You know, Michelangelo famously said he “saw an angel in the marble, and I carved until I set it free.”  “I saw an angel in the marble, and I carved until I set it free.”  To me, that’s the essence of what Italian Americans have done to our country for our entire history.  You’ve carved until you set us free.  I’m — I’m being dead- — deadly earnest.  
 
We’re all reminded that when Jill and I had the honor to host one of the greatest singers of all time, in my view, Andrea Bocelli, here at the White House for Christmas in our first year in office, he performed with his son and his daughter as if they were a choir of herald angels.  They were incredible.  You know, with their God-given talent, the Bocelli family moved our hearts, pierced our souls — and I mean this sincerely — I have all of the music on my — and they embodied the spirit and beauty of all that connects us as people.  A powerful reminder that America’s story depends on — not on any one of us but on — not on some of us but all of us. 
 
It’s a story I see in all of you, working tirelessly — tirelessly to help realize the promise of America — and I mean it — for all Americans.  Not a joke.  Because some of you have been on the short end of the stick like my family growing up had been. 
 
This is what the Italian American Heritage Month is all about.  It’s about celebrating and connecting, feeling the pride in heritage and community, remembering who the hell we are. 
 
We’re the United States of America, and there’s nothing beyond our capacity when we do it together — nothing, nothing, nothing.  (Applause.)  No, I really mean it.
 
So, thank you.  Thank you, thank you, thank you. 
 
And I want to tell you, you know what made me mo- — the — probably one of the most famous guys in my family — the whole family?  Not being president.  I took her to a beautiful little island off of Sicily.  (Laughter.)  And she keeps saying, “I’m going back.”  (Laughter.)
 
THE FIRST LADY:  Soon!
 
THE PRESIDENT:  “With — with or without you.”  (Laughter.)
 
So, folks, all kidding aside, thank you.  You’re an incredible community.  (Applause.) 
 
THE FIRST LADY:  Thank you.
 
THE PRESIDENT:  You’re an essential part of my life. 
 
Thank you, thank you, thank you.  (Applause.)  Enjoy the day. 
 
God bless you all.  And may God protect our troops. 
 
Thank you.  (Applause.)  All right.
 
6:07 P.M. EDT

The post Remarks by President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at an Italian American Heritage Month Reception appeared first on The White House.

5:54 P.M. EDT
 
THE FIRST LADY:  Thank you.  (Applause.)
 
Thank you, Alexa.  And I’m excited to see your generation forging new connections to our past and shining such a bright light into our future.
 
And I’m also grateful to the National Italian American Foundation.  (Applause.)  John, Robert, you’ve all — you’ve helped so many people experience our heritage in Italy and preserve it here in the United States.  So, thank you.
 
Buonasera, everyone.  (Laughter.) 
 
AUDIENCE:  Buonasera!
 
THE FIRST LADY:  And welcome to the White House.
 
When I was a little girl, I learned what it means to be Italian American in my grandparents’ tiny, well-worn kitchen — and not only because there were ribbons of pasta — homemade pasta and sauce bubbling over on the stove.
 
No, the most important lesson that I learned in their kitchen was that, when you’re Italian American, there’s always room for one more chair at the table — (applause) — enough bread toast to feed one more guest, enough space in our hearts for another friend to become like family. 
 
And even when times are hard, there’s —
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Looking at me.  (Laughter.)
 
THE FIRST LADY:  There’s always enough time to — (the president makes the sign of the cross) — (laughter) — enjoy the pleasures of life together.
 
My grandparents also taught me to never waste an opportunity to invite more people to the table and make a difference together.  So, I knew I had to bring those values of love, abundance, and service to the White House as the first Italian American first lady.  (Applause.)
 
That’s why I’ve used this platform to give more women a seat at the table in discussions about their own health — (applause) — to hear from military families about how we can support them, to uplift community college students. 
 
And I’ve had the opportunity to bring so many more people inside the historic walls of the White House by creating new educational experiences that allow more Americans to immerse themselves in this house, the People’s House; by using these rooms to celebrate the young people who are changing our world; by honoring the immigrants who helped build this country; and tonight — (applause) — thank you — and tonight, gathering with this community — my community — to celebrate our culture.  (Laughter.)
 
So, it’s been the honor of my life to serve as first lady.  And during my time here, I’ve often thought of my great-grandparents leaving everything they knew behind to chase the promise of America.  And then, when they arrived on Ellis Island to take their first strides into a new life, I don’t think that they could ever have imagined that a group of hundreds of Italian Americans — coming together in the White House.
 
When our roots run deep, there’s no limit to how high we can reach.  So, tonight, I hope that you feel the power of our ancestors’ values beating inside of us as we carry their legacy forward; that you feel home — you feel at home, eat good food, and end up with a little something sweet together, as a family.  (Laughter.)
 
Now, it’s my pleasure to introduce a man who’s always felt at home — (laughs) — with Italian Americans.  (Applause.)  In fact, Joe first met my family at a big cookout at my grandparents’ house in Hammonton, New Jersey. 
 
So, I was pretty nervous, you know, about Joe coming to meet my family.  But as soon as Joe pulled up into the driveway — and you kn- — you can picture this — my tiny grandmom bolted out of the house, bounded down the porch steps, in her housecoat and her apron, and she gave Joe this huge hug, as if she’d known him his entire life.  And before he could even get a plate, Joe was greeted not as a stranger but as family.
 
Over the years, I’ve seen the Italian American community extend the same joyful love and support to Joe.  You mean so much to him.  (Laughs.)
 
So, please welcome — I don’t know why I’m getting so emotional — your president, my husband, Joe.  (Applause.)
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Welcome to the White House.  (Applause.)   My name is Joe Biden, and I’m Jill Biden’s husband.  (Laughter and applause.)
 
Now, I may be Irish, but I’m not stupid.  (Laughter.)  I married Dominic Giacoppa’s granddaughter. 
 
And five years ago, I want you to know, I received the Sons of Italy Man of the Year award.  To the best of my knowledge, I’m the only non-Italian ever to receive that award.  (Laughter and applause.)  There was a large crowd when I received that award.  It was down by the train station. 
 
You know, I said I — I moved from an Irish Catholic neighborhood in Scranton to an Italian Catholic neighborhood in Claymont, Delaware.  And I went from a — where — a place where you ended like Finnegan and Murphy and all that, down if your name didn’t lend — end in “O,” you’re in real trouble.  (Laughter.) 
 
I was one of the few guys whose name didn’t end in “O.”  I’d look out there and look at all my friends.  You know, I accepted the award and named some of the guys I grew up with next door: Sonny Daramo, whose mom would say, “Joey, it’s not sauce; it’s gravy, Joey.  It’s gravy, Joey.”  (Laughter and applause.)  Oh, you think I’m kidding.  I’m not.  (Laughter.)
 
No, Anzilotti, De- — Sabatino, Buchini, Bifferato, Ceni, Congialdi, Deluterio, Monaco — no, you think I’m kidding —  Tancr- —
 
By the way, after I talked about it, I looked down at that crowd and said, “You know…” — thinking about it, I said, “I deserve this damn award.”  (Laughter.)  “With that many Italian friends, man, I deserve that award.”  (Laughter.)
 
Thank you, Alexa, for being here and sharing your pride in your family and your heritage. 
 
Look, and it’s great to see so many friends from the National Italian American Foundation, you know, the Sons and Daughters of Italy, and so many other Italian American leaders and organization from all across the country.
 
You know, I can honestly say I wouldn’t be president without you.  I wouldn’t be president without the Italian American community. 
 
Now, what she didn’t say is we do have something in common.  I’m Catherine Eugenia Finnegan — Irish Catholics background.  You guys, a lot of you are Catholics, you know.  (Laughter.)  I know you don’t admit it as much, but there — (laughter).
 
This month is about celebrating the extraordinary contributions and proud, proud herita- — heritage of Italian Americans to our nation.  And it’s kind of endless. 
 
For some of our families, your story is America’s story.  It stretches back generations.  For others, it just started.  No matter when these st- — stories of immigrants who left everything behind to travel across the ocean in pursuit of the American dream just for a shot — just a simple shot.  You and your ancestors worked hard to help build this country and build the middle class. 
 
People like my college friend, the late Congressman Bill Pascrell — he’s been — Bill, Jr. is here.  Where — where are you, Bill?  (Applause.)  There you are. 
 
I used to kid his dad all the time.  I said, “You know, Delaware may be the second-smallest state in the Union, but we own the Delaware River up to the highwater mark in New Jersey.”   (Laughter.)  There was actually a Supreme Court case about that.  Anyway.  (Laughter.)
 
But he represented New Jersey, and his son represents the House of Representatives.  And Bill did it for 27 years, when he passed away this summer.  He was the grandson of Italian immigrants, a giant in the community, and a devoted patriot to the nation.  You got good blood, kid, as my dad would say.  (Applause.) 
 
He was a part of a proud, proud heritage of Italian Americans who enrich every part of American life: entrepreneurs, educators, scientists, chefs, diplomats, doctors, servicemembers, veterans, athletes, actors, artists, and so much more.  There’s nothing the Italian community is not engaged in — I mean, virtually nothing.  There’s noth- — no community you don’t excel in.
 
But I also know it wasn’t always easy.  Many of your ancestors faced horrific discrimination, like my ancestors faced horrific discrimination, when they first came to our shores.  Yet, even in the face of — Italian Americans proved that they had the resilient spirit and a devotion to family and community, an unshakeable faith in the promise of a better tomorrow. 
 
You know, my dad used to have an expression.  He’d say, “Joey, family is the beginning, the middle, and the end — the beginning, the middle, and the end.”  It’s a faith that has carried through to today, both at home and abroad. 
 
Italian Americans are central to our nation’s deep friendship and strategic partnership with Italy.  I’ve — I’ve worked out a really good relationship with the Italians.  I’m — well, Ital- — I better have done that but at home.  (Laughter.)  But all kidding aside, with th- — with Italy.  What a magnificent country.
 
You know, and — anyway, I won’t get started.  But — (laughter) — you know, the bond between our countries is founded on a shared principle and shared commitments, including the shared support for the brave people of Ukraine as they defend themselves against Russia’s illegal (inaudible).  (Applause.)
 
I might add, they have a female leader.  (Applause.)  I wish Sonny Daramo were here to hear that.  (Laughter.)
 
In addition, Italy’s remarkable stewardship with the presidency of the G7 this year, as well as Italy’s long-standing contributions to transatlantic security through NATO — look, and their strong leadership in the European Union — it underscores how important Italy’s role is on the global stage, not just, you know, for America but for the world.   
 
You know, let me close with this.  You know, Michelangelo famously said he “saw an angel in the marble, and I carved until I set it free.”  “I saw an angel in the marble, and I carved until I set it free.”  To me, that’s the essence of what Italian Americans have done to our country for our entire history.  You’ve carved until you set us free.  I’m — I’m being dead- — deadly earnest.  
 
We’re all reminded that when Jill and I had the honor to host one of the greatest singers of all time, in my view, Andrea Bocelli, here at the White House for Christmas in our first year in office, he performed with his son and his daughter as if they were a choir of herald angels.  They were incredible.  You know, with their God-given talent, the Bocelli family moved our hearts, pierced our souls — and I mean this sincerely — I have all of the music on my — and they embodied the spirit and beauty of all that connects us as people.  A powerful reminder that America’s story depends on — not on any one of us but on — not on some of us but all of us. 
 
It’s a story I see in all of you, working tirelessly — tirelessly to help realize the promise of America — and I mean it — for all Americans.  Not a joke.  Because some of you have been on the short end of the stick like my family growing up had been. 
 
This is what the Italian American Heritage Month is all about.  It’s about celebrating and connecting, feeling the pride in heritage and community, remembering who the hell we are. 
 
We’re the United States of America, and there’s nothing beyond our capacity when we do it together — nothing, nothing, nothing.  (Applause.)  No, I really mean it.
 
So, thank you.  Thank you, thank you, thank you. 
 
And I want to tell you, you know what made me mo- — the — probably one of the most famous guys in my family — the whole family?  Not being president.  I took her to a beautiful little island off of Sicily.  (Laughter.)  And she keeps saying, “I’m going back.”  (Laughter.)
 
THE FIRST LADY:  Soon!
 
THE PRESIDENT:  “With — with or without you.”  (Laughter.)
 
So, folks, all kidding aside, thank you.  You’re an incredible community.  (Applause.) 
 
THE FIRST LADY:  Thank you.
 
THE PRESIDENT:  You’re an essential part of my life. 
 
Thank you, thank you, thank you.  (Applause.)  Enjoy the day. 
 
God bless you all.  And may God protect our troops. 
 
Thank you.  (Applause.)  All right.
 
6:07 P.M. EDT

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Higher education should be a pathway to economic opportunity – not a lifetime of debt. That is why I have fought to make education more affordable and reduce the burden of student debt throughout my career.

When President Biden and I took office, only 7,000 people had ever been approved for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Today, I am proud to say that a record one million teachers, nurses, first responders, social workers, and other public service workers have received student debt cancellation. As I travel our nation, I meet many of these public servants who say they now have more money in their pocket to put towards buying a home, renting an apartment, getting a car, starting a family, and saving up for the future.

Our Administration has forgiven over $170 billion in student debt for nearly five million people throughout the country — more than any Administration in history. And while Republican elected officials do everything in their power to block millions of their own constituents from receiving this much needed economic relief, I will continue our work to lower costs, make higher education more affordable, and relieve the burden of student debt. I am fully committed to doing what is necessary to build an economy that works for every American.

###

The post Statement from Vice President Kamala Harris on One Million Public Service Workers Receiving Student Debt Cancellation appeared first on The White House.

Higher education should be a pathway to economic opportunity – not a lifetime of debt. That is why I have fought to make education more affordable and reduce the burden of student debt throughout my career.

When President Biden and I took office, only 7,000 people had ever been approved for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Today, I am proud to say that a record one million teachers, nurses, first responders, social workers, and other public service workers have received student debt cancellation. As I travel our nation, I meet many of these public servants who say they now have more money in their pocket to put towards buying a home, renting an apartment, getting a car, starting a family, and saving up for the future.

Our Administration has forgiven over $170 billion in student debt for nearly five million people throughout the country — more than any Administration in history. And while Republican elected officials do everything in their power to block millions of their own constituents from receiving this much needed economic relief, I will continue our work to lower costs, make higher education more affordable, and relieve the burden of student debt. I am fully committed to doing what is necessary to build an economy that works for every American.

###

The post Statement from Vice President Kamala Harris on One Million Public Service Workers Receiving Student Debt Cancellation appeared first on The White House.

Via Teleconference

4:11 P.M. EDT

MODERATOR:  All right, thank you, everyone, for joining us this afternoon/early evening for our background call to preview the President’s travel to Germany tomorrow. 

On the line with us tonight is [senior administration official].  He has a quick topper for you all, and then we can go ahead and get to your questions.  Again, if you have any questions, just please raise your hand and we’ll call folks — or call on folks, as many as we can in the time that we have today. 

All right, over to you.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Great.  Thank you.  And good afternoon, everyone, and thank you all for joining us. 

So, tomorrow, President Biden will travel to Berlin, Germany, where he’ll have a meeting with President Steinmeier and Chancellor Scholz about the full spectrum of global issues that we’re working on together: strengthening our militaries and shared security, bolstering our economies and bilateral trade, and making our democracies more resilient. 

Germany has been an incredibly close ally and partner over the past few decades and has risen to the moment in the last three-plus years of this administration.

On security, we’re working closely to advance not just our own bilateral defenses, but also those of NATO Allies and partners.  As you well know, Germany is host to one of the largest U.S. troop presences overseas.  I believe it’s around 39,000 troops.  Germany is also Ukraine’s second largest donor, after the United States, to Ukraine, including critical security assistance and advanced capabilities.  And earlier this year, Chancellor Scholz also announced that Germany had met for the first time its NATO spending goal of 2 percent of GDP on defense. 

Economically, Germany is one of our most important trade partners and the economic engine of Europe.  We have — last year, we had about $325 billion in two-way trade in goods and services.  This year, the United States became Germany’s biggest trading partner, and the U.S. and German industries are leading the world in strategic sectors such as climate, infrastructure, health, advanced manufacturing, and transportation, as well as contributing to energy security.

The United States and Germany also have very close people-to-people ties and an enduring bond based on shared democratic values, and that’s exemplified in the people-to-people ties, for example, through our bilateral Fulbright Program, which brings students both to Germany and to the United States in both directions.

Such close relationships with our friends and allies across the globe matter, and they deliver for our people at home.  Germany was also critical to securing the release earlier this year of 16 prisoners, including Americans and Germans, from Russian and Belarusian custody, as I said, earlier this year.  That took significant political leadership.  And because of that concerted effort and, frankly, bold decision-making, our citizens are home with their families and friends, and some of Russia’s most important dissidents are now living free. 

So, President Biden’s visit this week is really a testament to this partnership, and we’re looking forward to our conversations over the next few days.  To this end, you can expect several announcements that illustrate our unique, enduring relationship. 

The President will announce a new exchange program that builds on our commitment to democracy and the democratic values that we safeguard.  We’re also going to announce a new dialogue focused on aligning private investment with emerging technologies — for example, artificial intelligence. 

All of these announcements are, of course, grounded in the bond that the U.S. and Germany share as friends and allies. 

And with that, I’m happy to take any questions that you might have.

MODERATOR:  Thank you.  First up, we’ll go with Kayla from CNN.  Kayla, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Q    Thank you so much, Jess.  And thank you, [senior administration official], for taking my question.

First, I just wanted to ask, big picture, how the President is viewing the significance of the trip in the context of the final months of his presidency and also the choice that Americans have in three weeks at the ballot box. 

And then second, I was just hoping that you could go into a little bit more detail about the conversation that the European Quad will be having on the future of the conflict in Ukraine, and whether you expect any change of heart or change in policy from any of the allies as it regards longer-range weapons into Russia or Ukraine’s victory plan that has been presented to all of them.  Thank you.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Okay.  Thanks, Kayla.  So, in terms of the partnership between President Biden and Chancellor Scholz, it’s been a very, very close working relationship between the two leaders.  President Biden feels he has accomplished a lot by working closely with Chancellor Scholz on a range of issues, including especially the response, I would say, to Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine, but then also on a range of other issues, including U.S.-EU relations, which were reset under this administration; working on critical issues of trade and technology, of secure supply chains; the complex issues that we’re dealing with currently in the Middle East; security in the Indo-Pacific. 

There’s just a range of issues where we have worked very closely with the current German leadership and especially with Chancellor Scholz.

And then also on key issues for President Biden.  You’ve heard him talk about why he entered the race, why he wanted to run for office three and a half years ago, and it was about building up America’s democratic values and institutions, safeguarding those.  And we have had a partnership with Germany that’s very strong on combating antisemitism, combating xenophobia; promoting tolerance, promoting fundamental freedoms, not just in our countries, but around the world; supporting frontline democracies; building resilience in places like Moldova and Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia. 

So the relationship spans a lot of different issue areas, and it’s become very important.  So I think President Biden will be happy to be able to thank Chancellor Scholz for the incredible partnership that they’ve had over these last three and a half years. 

And then in terms of the Quad meeting, Quad leaders — meaning the United States, the UK, France, and Germany — will have an opportunity to discuss pressing global issues, including Ukraine, including the Middle East. 

And as you know, President Zelenskyy has — he just had a call with President Biden earlier today, and he has been talking about his plan for victory.  He briefed his own parliament, the Rada, earlier today on the elements of that plan. 

And as you know, when President Biden met with President Zelenskyy here in Washington about three weeks ago, I think it was, they discussed in detail the elements of the plan.  President Biden announced a surge of $8 billion in additional military assistance for Ukraine.  Today, he announced an additional presidential drawdown of $425 million.  It includes Javelin anti-tank missiles, some air defense missile capabilities, other ammunition and supplies that are critical to Ukraine’s needs on the frontlines right now. 

So I have no doubt that the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine, the trajectory of the war, how allies can best support Ukraine will be a subject of conversation, as well as the Middle East and perhaps some other topics as well. 

Q    But do you expect a change in policy as a result of any of these conversations, given the fact that Ukraine has asked for longer-term security guarantees and that Zelenskyy —

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  I don’t have any announcements on changes in policy to make today.

MODERATOR:  All right, next up we’ll go to Jeff Mason with Reuters.  Jeff, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Q    Great.  Thanks very much.  Following up on that question, just confirming that the leaders of Britain and France will come to Berlin for this meeting.  So they will be meeting in person on these — on the Quad issues?

And following up on what Kayla asked with regard to Ukraine, can you just expand a little bit more on what you expect him to discuss on the Middle East and the latest there?  Thank you.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Yeah.  So, you know, I don’t want to get ahead of our German hosts who are organizing the meetings in Berlin, but President Biden looks forward to having a conversation with other leaders about the critical issues of the day, which obviously include Russia’s war against Ukraine, the situation there; also the situation in the Middle East, finding a sustainable diplomatic solution concerning the conflict now between Israel and Lebanon; the situation in Gaza, of course; the risk of escalation with Iran.  All of those are important issues that I’m sure leaders will discuss.

Q    Do you not — forgive me — you’re not getting ahead of them.  You just referred to his meeting with the Quad.  So I just wanted to clarify so that we get it right in our stories that he’s meeting with the Quad leaders when he’s in Berlin.  If not, I’m presuming you wouldn’t have said that they’re meeting.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  I can tell you that there is a planned meeting. 

Q    Okay, great.  And my second question had been on the Middle East.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Yeah, I think I just answered your second question.

Q    You got anything more on that?  I mean, can you give us more of an update of what they intend to discuss?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Well, no, in advance of the meeting, I think I just previewed the topics that they will discuss.  I can’t tell you in advance exactly where the conversation is going to go, but it will certainly include a discussion of, as I said, building a sustainable diplomatic solution to the conflict.  That includes the conflict between Israel and Lebanon, but then also escalation concerns regarding Iran and the region, and then also the situation in Israel-Gaza.  All of those are obviously interconnected in different ways, and I’m sure the leaders will have a chance to discuss that in detail and align their positions on the way forward.

MODERATOR:  Thank you.  Next up, we’ll go to Nick Schifrin with PBS.  Nick, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Q    Thanks, Jess.  Thanks very much, [senior administration official].  Appreciate it.  Can I ask a specific question about the victory plan?  Zelenskyy laid it out to the Rada pretty publicly compared to in the past.  First point is an invitation for Ukraine to join NATO.  It also talks about economic incentives, allowing the West to invest in natural resources.  The fifth point is to replace some NATO troops in Europe with Ukrainian troops.  And when Yermak gave a speech about it at CFR, he specifically said it would also require the unfreezing of Russian frozen assets. 

And I’m wondering if the U.S. supports those aspects of the victory plan and the victory plan overall.  Thanks.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  So, what I can tell you is that there is an active conversation about the different elements of the plan that were laid out by President Zelenskyy.  He’s been having that conversation with President Biden, both when he presented the plan a few weeks ago and then again today in their phone call.  There are certain elements that we are currently fulfilling in terms of providing additional military capability, which is also an element of the plan.  I referenced that earlier. 

There’s a discussion amongst NATO Allies about an invitation.  There is not consensus at this time to offer Ukraine an invitation.  But as you know, at the NATO Summit just, what, a couple months ago — in July, mid-July — all 32 Allies affirmed that Ukraine is on an irreversible path to membership.  So the question is about the tactics of how to encourage that path and how to gain consensus on the next steps.

In terms of some of the other elements of the plan, you referenced the discussion on critical minerals.  You know, I don’t know where other nations will come out on this, but this is an issue that we’re engaging on together with the other elements of the plan. 

So, some of these are obviously long-term things that Ukraine would like to see in place over the course of many, many years, perhaps even decades.  Others are more short term, especially in terms of some of the military capabilities that they’re looking to secure for themselves right now.  And some of that we are already, in fact, actively doing.  And so, this is going to be an ongoing conversation. 

We want to — the bottom line for the United States and for President Biden is that we want to put Ukraine in a position of strength.  We want it to prevail in this war.  And we need to give it the capabilities that it needs to do that.  But we cannot do that alone.  We need to do that with our partners and allies, which is why President Biden had called for a Ramstein Summit, or a leaders-level meeting of what is called formally the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.  And we have postponed that, and that will likely take place next month, in November.  I don’t have a date to announce for you, but we are looking to hold that meeting next month.

MODERATOR:  Thank you.  Next up, we’ll go to Josh from the AP.  Josh, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Q    Hi.  Thanks so much for doing this.  I was wondering if you could speak to the timing of this meeting, given that it’s so close to the election and that U.S. allies in the past have expressed concerns about the stability of U.S. democracy, as President Biden himself has said in speeches.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Well, as you know, the bilateral meeting with Germany was planned a week ago, and the President had intended to go then.  Obviously, we had Hurricane Milton come up as a major hurricane, threatening a major city in the United States, in Florida, and so the President had to postpone the trip.  And so, it’s falling to this Friday. 

But, look, I expect that the President, both with President Steinmeier and with Chancellor Scholz, will discuss the importance of democratic values, which, as I mentioned at the top, is really at the root of our bilateral relationship with Germany and where we both have invested considerable amounts — I mean, not just talking financially, but politically, diplomatically — in supporting other democracies around the world, including in places like Ukraine and Moldova, which are really on the frontlines and vulnerable in different ways but where both our countries have invested an enormous amount.

And look — and both countries have also invested in strengthening democratic institutions, election integrity, the fight against misinformation and disinformation, and a range of other topics that are similar.  So, I expect that this will come up, and I guess I’ll just leave it at that. 

MODERATOR:  Thank you.  Next up, we’ll go to Stefanie Bolzen.  Stefanie, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Q    Hello.  Can you hear me?

MODERATOR:  Yep, loud and clear.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  I can hear you just fine, yep.

Q    Okay.  Thank you very much for doing this briefing.  Both the U.S. President and Chancellor Scholz, in their meetings since the war began in Ukraine, have always been emphasizing how much both nations were in lockstep confronting the war in Ukraine.  Now, the German Chancellor at times has been very slow taking decisions in terms of military aid to Ukraine.  Why do you think the U.S. President has been at times so patient and understanding of the domestic situation of Chancellor Scholz?  Thank you.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  So, you’re right that Germany and the United States, and our other NATO Allies as well, have been in lockstep in terms of supporting Ukraine, also in terms of imposing costs on Russia through sanctions, export controls, and other measures, which is an important part of the equation in terms of holding Russia accountable and also helping Ukraine to strengthen itself and ultimately to prevail in this war.

Germany has been a critical partner.  It has been the second largest provider of military aid to Ukraine, after the United States, and has provided a number of high-end capabilities, including tanks and other artillery systems.  And so, it’s a very important relationship. 

We also have worked together to convince other allies and partners to also step up in terms of not just the equipment that they provide to Ukraine, but it’s also critically important right now that Ukraine is able to train its new brigades for the frontlines, that Allies work through this new NATO mission that was stood up as a result of the Washington Summit here in July.  It’s called the NATO Support and Training Assistance Ukraine.  Clumsy acronym, but that’s essentially a mission that supports training coordination, equipping coordination, force development, and logistics for the Ukrainian Armed Forces and Germany and the United States. 

It’s located in Wiesbaden, in Germany, by the way, that mission.  And it’s very important in terms of helping Ukraine with the support that it needs to be able to defend itself against this brutal aggression. 

And then, Germany, as I said earlier, has also been critical in helping to uphold consensus within the European Union in terms of sanctions.  It’s an essential member of the G7 grouping, which, as you know, has pledged to provide a 15 — excuse me — a $50 billion loan to Ukraine, an accelerated revenue loan, which will function essentially as a grant for Ukraine based on frozen assets from Russia that are held overseas.

And so, on any number of different issue areas, we have worked with Germany to hold strong, support Ukraine, and push back on aggression and those actors who would upend the rules-based international order.

MODERATOR:  All right, thank you.  Next up, we’ll go to Anita Powell with VOA.  Anita, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Q    Thank you so much.  I want to pick up on talk of that $50 billion loan and some of the conversations that European ministers are having about that amid Hungary’s opposition to request it, to extend sanctions. 

What role could President Biden play in these discussions?  What is he going to advocate when he meets with these other four leaders on this particular issue?

And then, just looking at the — you’d mentioned antisemitism.  Do we expect any remarks, any events around that, especially since both countries have seen a rise in antisemitic incidents?  Thank you.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Yeah, so on the ERA, we’re continuing to talk with all of our G7 partners about how to land this $50 billion loan.  I’m confident that we will succeed.  There are a lot of technicalities here in terms of assurances and in terms of coordination, and those conversations are occurring within the European Union, which has pledged to contribute up to — I believe it’s 35 billion euros, which is approximately 39 billion dollars.  And then, the United States has committed to doing its share as well. 

And so, those technical conversations are continuing, but I think leaders will probably cover this in terms of the political will to make this happen by the end of the year.  It’s very important that we get this done soon.

And then, sorry, your other question?  Oh, antisemitism.  Yes. 

So, this is an area where the United States and Germany have worked very closely.  I believe it’s the 20-year anniversary of the Berlin Conference on Antisemitism, where we have worked in a variety of different issue areas, from combating Holocaust distortion and denial, combating antisemitic speech, and generally on literacy and education around the Holocaust. 

So, you know, this is a very short visit on the ground, so I don’t know that there will be an event that is specifically dedicated to this issue, but it’s one that is very important to President Biden and one that he has — that we have discussed with the German government over the years and continue to do so.

MODERATOR:  All right, thank you.  Next up, we’ll go to Selina Wang.  Selina, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Q    Hi.  Thanks so much for doing this.  I just had a question.  Given, you know, people have been talking about how the election is just a few weeks away, how is the President going to address the possibility of a change of administration and how that could impact relations with Germany as well as U.S. policy in regards to both the conflict in the Middle East and Ukraine?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Well, you know, I don’t really — in my current role, I don’t really do politics.  Obviously, there will be a change of administration no matter which way the election goes, but, frankly, I don’t see that as a central talking point for the President in his various meetings.

MODERATOR:  All right, thank you.  And for our last question today, we’ll go to Trudy Rubin with the Philadelphia Inquirer.  Trudy, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Q    Yes.  Thanks very much for doing this.  I want to ask something about Ukraine.  Clearly, there is a tremendous sense of urgency in Ukraine, with breakthroughs in the east by the Russians; 10,000 North Koreans coming; bombing the grain route from Odessa to Istanbul. 

And on the Ukrainian side, there seems to be a feeling that if there isn’t progress on the victory plan immediately, and especially before the November 5th election, there is a real chance that Ukraine could lose this war. 

So, I’m wondering if you can comment on whether the same sense of urgency is felt in the White House and will likely be a factor in the coming discussions in Germany, whether there is any sense that Ukraine could lose this war, and if weapons aren’t delivered immediately or sooner, there could be catastrophe. 

And just one last part of this question.  On long-range fires and U.S. greenlighting them inside Russia, that is very high up on the victory plan list.  And a discussion of an invitation to NATO is number one.  I know you said there’s no announcement yet on change of policy, but do you think those issues will be high up on the discussion list in Germany?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  So, absolutely, there is a sense of urgency in the White House, and coming from President Biden’s direction at the very top, to do everything that we can to put Ukraine in a position of strength and then ultimately to prevail in this conflict. 

And, look, I know that the situation on the frontlines, especially in the Donbas, in Donetsk and Luhansk Oblast, at times is difficult, and this may be one of those times, but we are surging capability precisely to help Ukraine with this effort, as well as training and equipping its new brigade so that it can hold those lines and hopefully reverse some of the trajectory that we’ve seen, as I mentioned, in the Donbas. 

I mean, this is not just a war about Ukraine’s independence, its sovereignty, its territorial integrity, and its democratic character, although it is all of those things.  But above and beyond that, this is about the world order.  It is about the principle that a stronger country cannot just invade another country by force of arms, violate its territorial integrity, violate the sanctity of its borders, and then engage in, frankly, what we have seen — namely war crimes, crimes against humanity on the ground, some of the most barbaric types of assault on the dignity of civilians and combatants alike. 

So, there’s a lot at stake.  The urgency of the moment is certainly appreciated, which is why the President is leading this effort to supply Ukraine with the equipment that it needs and to, frankly, take seriously all of the elements that are being proposed by the Ukrainians and to work with them on a strategy to secure their victory in this war. 

President Biden wants Ukraine to win, and we’re going to resource this effort appropriately.  And again, that’s why the President called for this leaders-level meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, or what’s been called the Ramstein Summit — and that meeting will be held in the near future — to elicit the same sort of urgency and contributions from some of our allies and partners so that we can sustain this. 

And so, Putin knows that time is not on his side, that time is, in fact, on Ukraine’s side, and that we will stand with Ukraine and give it what it needs to prevail.  And so, that is very much at the top of the President’s mind and, frankly, all of our minds here in the National Security Council. 

Q    Could I just ask a very quick follow-up?  The United States has promised, as I understand it — correct me if I’m wrong — two additional Patriot systems to Ukraine, one at the NATO Summit and one since then that was going to be refurbished.  Can you tell me whether either of them has been delivered yet?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  I am not going to get into the status because I don’t have that at my fingertips, but we can follow up with you.

MODERATOR:  All right.  Thanks, everyone, for joining today.  This is all the time that we have.

As a reminder, this call is on background to a senior administration official, and the contents of this conversation is embargoed until five o’clock tomorrow morning. 

As always, if you have any follow-up questions, don’t hesitate to reach out.  Looking forward to hearing from anyone who has questions.  Thanks.

4:39 P.M. EDT

The post Background Press Call on the President’s Travel to Berlin, Germany appeared first on The White House.

Via Teleconference

4:11 P.M. EDT

MODERATOR:  All right, thank you, everyone, for joining us this afternoon/early evening for our background call to preview the President’s travel to Germany tomorrow. 

On the line with us tonight is [senior administration official].  He has a quick topper for you all, and then we can go ahead and get to your questions.  Again, if you have any questions, just please raise your hand and we’ll call folks — or call on folks, as many as we can in the time that we have today. 

All right, over to you.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Great.  Thank you.  And good afternoon, everyone, and thank you all for joining us. 

So, tomorrow, President Biden will travel to Berlin, Germany, where he’ll have a meeting with President Steinmeier and Chancellor Scholz about the full spectrum of global issues that we’re working on together: strengthening our militaries and shared security, bolstering our economies and bilateral trade, and making our democracies more resilient. 

Germany has been an incredibly close ally and partner over the past few decades and has risen to the moment in the last three-plus years of this administration.

On security, we’re working closely to advance not just our own bilateral defenses, but also those of NATO Allies and partners.  As you well know, Germany is host to one of the largest U.S. troop presences overseas.  I believe it’s around 39,000 troops.  Germany is also Ukraine’s second largest donor, after the United States, to Ukraine, including critical security assistance and advanced capabilities.  And earlier this year, Chancellor Scholz also announced that Germany had met for the first time its NATO spending goal of 2 percent of GDP on defense. 

Economically, Germany is one of our most important trade partners and the economic engine of Europe.  We have — last year, we had about $325 billion in two-way trade in goods and services.  This year, the United States became Germany’s biggest trading partner, and the U.S. and German industries are leading the world in strategic sectors such as climate, infrastructure, health, advanced manufacturing, and transportation, as well as contributing to energy security.

The United States and Germany also have very close people-to-people ties and an enduring bond based on shared democratic values, and that’s exemplified in the people-to-people ties, for example, through our bilateral Fulbright Program, which brings students both to Germany and to the United States in both directions.

Such close relationships with our friends and allies across the globe matter, and they deliver for our people at home.  Germany was also critical to securing the release earlier this year of 16 prisoners, including Americans and Germans, from Russian and Belarusian custody, as I said, earlier this year.  That took significant political leadership.  And because of that concerted effort and, frankly, bold decision-making, our citizens are home with their families and friends, and some of Russia’s most important dissidents are now living free. 

So, President Biden’s visit this week is really a testament to this partnership, and we’re looking forward to our conversations over the next few days.  To this end, you can expect several announcements that illustrate our unique, enduring relationship. 

The President will announce a new exchange program that builds on our commitment to democracy and the democratic values that we safeguard.  We’re also going to announce a new dialogue focused on aligning private investment with emerging technologies — for example, artificial intelligence. 

All of these announcements are, of course, grounded in the bond that the U.S. and Germany share as friends and allies. 

And with that, I’m happy to take any questions that you might have.

MODERATOR:  Thank you.  First up, we’ll go with Kayla from CNN.  Kayla, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Q    Thank you so much, Jess.  And thank you, [senior administration official], for taking my question.

First, I just wanted to ask, big picture, how the President is viewing the significance of the trip in the context of the final months of his presidency and also the choice that Americans have in three weeks at the ballot box. 

And then second, I was just hoping that you could go into a little bit more detail about the conversation that the European Quad will be having on the future of the conflict in Ukraine, and whether you expect any change of heart or change in policy from any of the allies as it regards longer-range weapons into Russia or Ukraine’s victory plan that has been presented to all of them.  Thank you.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Okay.  Thanks, Kayla.  So, in terms of the partnership between President Biden and Chancellor Scholz, it’s been a very, very close working relationship between the two leaders.  President Biden feels he has accomplished a lot by working closely with Chancellor Scholz on a range of issues, including especially the response, I would say, to Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine, but then also on a range of other issues, including U.S.-EU relations, which were reset under this administration; working on critical issues of trade and technology, of secure supply chains; the complex issues that we’re dealing with currently in the Middle East; security in the Indo-Pacific. 

There’s just a range of issues where we have worked very closely with the current German leadership and especially with Chancellor Scholz.

And then also on key issues for President Biden.  You’ve heard him talk about why he entered the race, why he wanted to run for office three and a half years ago, and it was about building up America’s democratic values and institutions, safeguarding those.  And we have had a partnership with Germany that’s very strong on combating antisemitism, combating xenophobia; promoting tolerance, promoting fundamental freedoms, not just in our countries, but around the world; supporting frontline democracies; building resilience in places like Moldova and Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia. 

So the relationship spans a lot of different issue areas, and it’s become very important.  So I think President Biden will be happy to be able to thank Chancellor Scholz for the incredible partnership that they’ve had over these last three and a half years. 

And then in terms of the Quad meeting, Quad leaders — meaning the United States, the UK, France, and Germany — will have an opportunity to discuss pressing global issues, including Ukraine, including the Middle East. 

And as you know, President Zelenskyy has — he just had a call with President Biden earlier today, and he has been talking about his plan for victory.  He briefed his own parliament, the Rada, earlier today on the elements of that plan. 

And as you know, when President Biden met with President Zelenskyy here in Washington about three weeks ago, I think it was, they discussed in detail the elements of the plan.  President Biden announced a surge of $8 billion in additional military assistance for Ukraine.  Today, he announced an additional presidential drawdown of $425 million.  It includes Javelin anti-tank missiles, some air defense missile capabilities, other ammunition and supplies that are critical to Ukraine’s needs on the frontlines right now. 

So I have no doubt that the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine, the trajectory of the war, how allies can best support Ukraine will be a subject of conversation, as well as the Middle East and perhaps some other topics as well. 

Q    But do you expect a change in policy as a result of any of these conversations, given the fact that Ukraine has asked for longer-term security guarantees and that Zelenskyy —

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  I don’t have any announcements on changes in policy to make today.

MODERATOR:  All right, next up we’ll go to Jeff Mason with Reuters.  Jeff, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Q    Great.  Thanks very much.  Following up on that question, just confirming that the leaders of Britain and France will come to Berlin for this meeting.  So they will be meeting in person on these — on the Quad issues?

And following up on what Kayla asked with regard to Ukraine, can you just expand a little bit more on what you expect him to discuss on the Middle East and the latest there?  Thank you.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Yeah.  So, you know, I don’t want to get ahead of our German hosts who are organizing the meetings in Berlin, but President Biden looks forward to having a conversation with other leaders about the critical issues of the day, which obviously include Russia’s war against Ukraine, the situation there; also the situation in the Middle East, finding a sustainable diplomatic solution concerning the conflict now between Israel and Lebanon; the situation in Gaza, of course; the risk of escalation with Iran.  All of those are important issues that I’m sure leaders will discuss.

Q    Do you not — forgive me — you’re not getting ahead of them.  You just referred to his meeting with the Quad.  So I just wanted to clarify so that we get it right in our stories that he’s meeting with the Quad leaders when he’s in Berlin.  If not, I’m presuming you wouldn’t have said that they’re meeting.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  I can tell you that there is a planned meeting. 

Q    Okay, great.  And my second question had been on the Middle East.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Yeah, I think I just answered your second question.

Q    You got anything more on that?  I mean, can you give us more of an update of what they intend to discuss?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Well, no, in advance of the meeting, I think I just previewed the topics that they will discuss.  I can’t tell you in advance exactly where the conversation is going to go, but it will certainly include a discussion of, as I said, building a sustainable diplomatic solution to the conflict.  That includes the conflict between Israel and Lebanon, but then also escalation concerns regarding Iran and the region, and then also the situation in Israel-Gaza.  All of those are obviously interconnected in different ways, and I’m sure the leaders will have a chance to discuss that in detail and align their positions on the way forward.

MODERATOR:  Thank you.  Next up, we’ll go to Nick Schifrin with PBS.  Nick, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Q    Thanks, Jess.  Thanks very much, [senior administration official].  Appreciate it.  Can I ask a specific question about the victory plan?  Zelenskyy laid it out to the Rada pretty publicly compared to in the past.  First point is an invitation for Ukraine to join NATO.  It also talks about economic incentives, allowing the West to invest in natural resources.  The fifth point is to replace some NATO troops in Europe with Ukrainian troops.  And when Yermak gave a speech about it at CFR, he specifically said it would also require the unfreezing of Russian frozen assets. 

And I’m wondering if the U.S. supports those aspects of the victory plan and the victory plan overall.  Thanks.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  So, what I can tell you is that there is an active conversation about the different elements of the plan that were laid out by President Zelenskyy.  He’s been having that conversation with President Biden, both when he presented the plan a few weeks ago and then again today in their phone call.  There are certain elements that we are currently fulfilling in terms of providing additional military capability, which is also an element of the plan.  I referenced that earlier. 

There’s a discussion amongst NATO Allies about an invitation.  There is not consensus at this time to offer Ukraine an invitation.  But as you know, at the NATO Summit just, what, a couple months ago — in July, mid-July — all 32 Allies affirmed that Ukraine is on an irreversible path to membership.  So the question is about the tactics of how to encourage that path and how to gain consensus on the next steps.

In terms of some of the other elements of the plan, you referenced the discussion on critical minerals.  You know, I don’t know where other nations will come out on this, but this is an issue that we’re engaging on together with the other elements of the plan. 

So, some of these are obviously long-term things that Ukraine would like to see in place over the course of many, many years, perhaps even decades.  Others are more short term, especially in terms of some of the military capabilities that they’re looking to secure for themselves right now.  And some of that we are already, in fact, actively doing.  And so, this is going to be an ongoing conversation. 

We want to — the bottom line for the United States and for President Biden is that we want to put Ukraine in a position of strength.  We want it to prevail in this war.  And we need to give it the capabilities that it needs to do that.  But we cannot do that alone.  We need to do that with our partners and allies, which is why President Biden had called for a Ramstein Summit, or a leaders-level meeting of what is called formally the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.  And we have postponed that, and that will likely take place next month, in November.  I don’t have a date to announce for you, but we are looking to hold that meeting next month.

MODERATOR:  Thank you.  Next up, we’ll go to Josh from the AP.  Josh, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Q    Hi.  Thanks so much for doing this.  I was wondering if you could speak to the timing of this meeting, given that it’s so close to the election and that U.S. allies in the past have expressed concerns about the stability of U.S. democracy, as President Biden himself has said in speeches.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Well, as you know, the bilateral meeting with Germany was planned a week ago, and the President had intended to go then.  Obviously, we had Hurricane Milton come up as a major hurricane, threatening a major city in the United States, in Florida, and so the President had to postpone the trip.  And so, it’s falling to this Friday. 

But, look, I expect that the President, both with President Steinmeier and with Chancellor Scholz, will discuss the importance of democratic values, which, as I mentioned at the top, is really at the root of our bilateral relationship with Germany and where we both have invested considerable amounts — I mean, not just talking financially, but politically, diplomatically — in supporting other democracies around the world, including in places like Ukraine and Moldova, which are really on the frontlines and vulnerable in different ways but where both our countries have invested an enormous amount.

And look — and both countries have also invested in strengthening democratic institutions, election integrity, the fight against misinformation and disinformation, and a range of other topics that are similar.  So, I expect that this will come up, and I guess I’ll just leave it at that. 

MODERATOR:  Thank you.  Next up, we’ll go to Stefanie Bolzen.  Stefanie, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Q    Hello.  Can you hear me?

MODERATOR:  Yep, loud and clear.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  I can hear you just fine, yep.

Q    Okay.  Thank you very much for doing this briefing.  Both the U.S. President and Chancellor Scholz, in their meetings since the war began in Ukraine, have always been emphasizing how much both nations were in lockstep confronting the war in Ukraine.  Now, the German Chancellor at times has been very slow taking decisions in terms of military aid to Ukraine.  Why do you think the U.S. President has been at times so patient and understanding of the domestic situation of Chancellor Scholz?  Thank you.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  So, you’re right that Germany and the United States, and our other NATO Allies as well, have been in lockstep in terms of supporting Ukraine, also in terms of imposing costs on Russia through sanctions, export controls, and other measures, which is an important part of the equation in terms of holding Russia accountable and also helping Ukraine to strengthen itself and ultimately to prevail in this war.

Germany has been a critical partner.  It has been the second largest provider of military aid to Ukraine, after the United States, and has provided a number of high-end capabilities, including tanks and other artillery systems.  And so, it’s a very important relationship. 

We also have worked together to convince other allies and partners to also step up in terms of not just the equipment that they provide to Ukraine, but it’s also critically important right now that Ukraine is able to train its new brigades for the frontlines, that Allies work through this new NATO mission that was stood up as a result of the Washington Summit here in July.  It’s called the NATO Support and Training Assistance Ukraine.  Clumsy acronym, but that’s essentially a mission that supports training coordination, equipping coordination, force development, and logistics for the Ukrainian Armed Forces and Germany and the United States. 

It’s located in Wiesbaden, in Germany, by the way, that mission.  And it’s very important in terms of helping Ukraine with the support that it needs to be able to defend itself against this brutal aggression. 

And then, Germany, as I said earlier, has also been critical in helping to uphold consensus within the European Union in terms of sanctions.  It’s an essential member of the G7 grouping, which, as you know, has pledged to provide a 15 — excuse me — a $50 billion loan to Ukraine, an accelerated revenue loan, which will function essentially as a grant for Ukraine based on frozen assets from Russia that are held overseas.

And so, on any number of different issue areas, we have worked with Germany to hold strong, support Ukraine, and push back on aggression and those actors who would upend the rules-based international order.

MODERATOR:  All right, thank you.  Next up, we’ll go to Anita Powell with VOA.  Anita, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Q    Thank you so much.  I want to pick up on talk of that $50 billion loan and some of the conversations that European ministers are having about that amid Hungary’s opposition to request it, to extend sanctions. 

What role could President Biden play in these discussions?  What is he going to advocate when he meets with these other four leaders on this particular issue?

And then, just looking at the — you’d mentioned antisemitism.  Do we expect any remarks, any events around that, especially since both countries have seen a rise in antisemitic incidents?  Thank you.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Yeah, so on the ERA, we’re continuing to talk with all of our G7 partners about how to land this $50 billion loan.  I’m confident that we will succeed.  There are a lot of technicalities here in terms of assurances and in terms of coordination, and those conversations are occurring within the European Union, which has pledged to contribute up to — I believe it’s 35 billion euros, which is approximately 39 billion dollars.  And then, the United States has committed to doing its share as well. 

And so, those technical conversations are continuing, but I think leaders will probably cover this in terms of the political will to make this happen by the end of the year.  It’s very important that we get this done soon.

And then, sorry, your other question?  Oh, antisemitism.  Yes. 

So, this is an area where the United States and Germany have worked very closely.  I believe it’s the 20-year anniversary of the Berlin Conference on Antisemitism, where we have worked in a variety of different issue areas, from combating Holocaust distortion and denial, combating antisemitic speech, and generally on literacy and education around the Holocaust. 

So, you know, this is a very short visit on the ground, so I don’t know that there will be an event that is specifically dedicated to this issue, but it’s one that is very important to President Biden and one that he has — that we have discussed with the German government over the years and continue to do so.

MODERATOR:  All right, thank you.  Next up, we’ll go to Selina Wang.  Selina, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Q    Hi.  Thanks so much for doing this.  I just had a question.  Given, you know, people have been talking about how the election is just a few weeks away, how is the President going to address the possibility of a change of administration and how that could impact relations with Germany as well as U.S. policy in regards to both the conflict in the Middle East and Ukraine?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Well, you know, I don’t really — in my current role, I don’t really do politics.  Obviously, there will be a change of administration no matter which way the election goes, but, frankly, I don’t see that as a central talking point for the President in his various meetings.

MODERATOR:  All right, thank you.  And for our last question today, we’ll go to Trudy Rubin with the Philadelphia Inquirer.  Trudy, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Q    Yes.  Thanks very much for doing this.  I want to ask something about Ukraine.  Clearly, there is a tremendous sense of urgency in Ukraine, with breakthroughs in the east by the Russians; 10,000 North Koreans coming; bombing the grain route from Odessa to Istanbul. 

And on the Ukrainian side, there seems to be a feeling that if there isn’t progress on the victory plan immediately, and especially before the November 5th election, there is a real chance that Ukraine could lose this war. 

So, I’m wondering if you can comment on whether the same sense of urgency is felt in the White House and will likely be a factor in the coming discussions in Germany, whether there is any sense that Ukraine could lose this war, and if weapons aren’t delivered immediately or sooner, there could be catastrophe. 

And just one last part of this question.  On long-range fires and U.S. greenlighting them inside Russia, that is very high up on the victory plan list.  And a discussion of an invitation to NATO is number one.  I know you said there’s no announcement yet on change of policy, but do you think those issues will be high up on the discussion list in Germany?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  So, absolutely, there is a sense of urgency in the White House, and coming from President Biden’s direction at the very top, to do everything that we can to put Ukraine in a position of strength and then ultimately to prevail in this conflict. 

And, look, I know that the situation on the frontlines, especially in the Donbas, in Donetsk and Luhansk Oblast, at times is difficult, and this may be one of those times, but we are surging capability precisely to help Ukraine with this effort, as well as training and equipping its new brigade so that it can hold those lines and hopefully reverse some of the trajectory that we’ve seen, as I mentioned, in the Donbas. 

I mean, this is not just a war about Ukraine’s independence, its sovereignty, its territorial integrity, and its democratic character, although it is all of those things.  But above and beyond that, this is about the world order.  It is about the principle that a stronger country cannot just invade another country by force of arms, violate its territorial integrity, violate the sanctity of its borders, and then engage in, frankly, what we have seen — namely war crimes, crimes against humanity on the ground, some of the most barbaric types of assault on the dignity of civilians and combatants alike. 

So, there’s a lot at stake.  The urgency of the moment is certainly appreciated, which is why the President is leading this effort to supply Ukraine with the equipment that it needs and to, frankly, take seriously all of the elements that are being proposed by the Ukrainians and to work with them on a strategy to secure their victory in this war. 

President Biden wants Ukraine to win, and we’re going to resource this effort appropriately.  And again, that’s why the President called for this leaders-level meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, or what’s been called the Ramstein Summit — and that meeting will be held in the near future — to elicit the same sort of urgency and contributions from some of our allies and partners so that we can sustain this. 

And so, Putin knows that time is not on his side, that time is, in fact, on Ukraine’s side, and that we will stand with Ukraine and give it what it needs to prevail.  And so, that is very much at the top of the President’s mind and, frankly, all of our minds here in the National Security Council. 

Q    Could I just ask a very quick follow-up?  The United States has promised, as I understand it — correct me if I’m wrong — two additional Patriot systems to Ukraine, one at the NATO Summit and one since then that was going to be refurbished.  Can you tell me whether either of them has been delivered yet?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  I am not going to get into the status because I don’t have that at my fingertips, but we can follow up with you.

MODERATOR:  All right.  Thanks, everyone, for joining today.  This is all the time that we have.

As a reminder, this call is on background to a senior administration official, and the contents of this conversation is embargoed until five o’clock tomorrow morning. 

As always, if you have any follow-up questions, don’t hesitate to reach out.  Looking forward to hearing from anyone who has questions.  Thanks.

4:39 P.M. EDT

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