President Joe Biden on Thursday claimed that the surge in migrants at the border is because he’s a ‘nice guy’ as he kicked off his first formal press conference as president.
‘Look, I guess I should be flattered that people are coming because I am the nice guy, that that is why they are coming, that I am a decent man or however it was phrased. That that is why they are coming, because Biden is a decent guy. But the truth is nothing has changed,’ he said.
Biden was referring to Republican arguments that the migration surge is because of his more ‘humane’ policies. Republicans also claim that the border surge is because Biden rolled back some of former President Donald Trump’s stricter policies.
He repeated his argument that Trump is to blame for the thousand of migrants trying to cross into the United States. More than 5,000 migrant children are being held in U.S. custody after trying to cross the border alone.
‘Does anybody suggest there was a 31% increase under trump because he was a nice guy and he was doing good things at the border? That’s not the reason they are coming. The reason they are coming is that it’s the time they can travel with the least likelihood of dying on the way because of the heat and the desert, number one. Number two, they are coming because of the circumstances in-country,’ he said.
He claimed that President Trump left children to starve on the border although it’s unclear what he was referring to.
‘Look, the idea that I’m going to say, which I would never do, if an unaccompanied child ends up at the border we are just going to let them starve to death and stay on the other side. No previous administration did that, either. Except Trump. I’m not going to do it. I’m not going to do it,’ he said.
He expressed no regret for signing executive orders that rolled back Trump policies and for stopping construction on Trump’s border wall.
‘First of all, all of the policies that were underway did not help at all, did not slow up the amount of immigration, as many people coming. Rolling back the policies of separating children from their mothers? I make no apology for that. Rolling back the policies of remain in Mexico sitting on the edge of the Rio Grande, the muddy circumstances, not enough to eat. I make no apologies for that. I make no apologies for ending programs that did not exist before Trump became president that have an incredibly negative impact on the law, international law, as well as on human dignity. And so I make no apologies for that,’ he said.
He was referring to Trump’s decision to separate migrant children from their families, a policy that came under heavy criticism and was eventually repealed by Trump.
He also committed to letting the press into the shelters on the border holding migrant children, including the shelters where there is overcrowding and not enough bed.
And he said he hasn’t visited the border yet because of the large amount of people that travel with him as president. He has sent administration officials to the border to observe the situation and report back.
‘One of the reasons I haven’t gone down, my chief folks have gone down, is I don’t want to become the issue. I don’t want to be bringing all the Secret Service and everybody with me to get in the way. So this is being set up and you will have full access to everything once we get this thing moving,’ he said.
President Joe Biden claimed that the surge in migrants at the border is because he’s a ‘nice guy’ as he kicked off his first formal press conference
President Biden again blamed President Trump for the situation at the border
The president also challenged Republicans to work with him during his time in office, pointing out he didn’t need them to pass legislation.
‘I think my Republican colleagues are going to have to determine whether or not we want to work together,’ he said. ‘Or they want to proceed is to is to just to divide the country – continue to politics of division, but I’m not going to do that.
Democrats control both chambers of Congress on Capitol Hill and Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID relief plan was passed without a single Republican vote.
‘I want to get them done, consistent with what we promised the American people,’ he said.
‘People’s lives are changing. So let’s see what happens. All I know I’ve been hired to solve problems,’ he said.
Biden announced a new goal of 200 million COVID vaccine shots in his first 100 days in office.
‘Today I’m announcing that, we will by my 100 day in office, have administered 200 million shots in people’s arms. That’s right 200 million shots and 100 days. I know it’s ambitious – twice our original goal,’ he said before he took questions.
He made the pronouncement – double his original goal – from the East Room of the White House, standing at a podium with the presidential seal.
Biden hit his original benchmark of 100 million shots last Friday, his 59th day in office. It was a target critics called too low. At the current pace of 2.5 million shots a day, the administration is on track to hit the 200 million mark by April 30th, his 100th day in office.
He also expressed confidence that schools will be fully re-opened soon.
‘Nearly half of the K through eight schools are open now full time, five days a week for in person learning,’ he said.
The White House limited the number of reporters in the room because of the COVID pandemic
Biden also talked about school reopenings, the COVID pandemic, and working with Republicans
He also pointed out that he had 100 million checks sent out under his America Rescue Plan.
White House press officials limited the number of reporters in the room to 25 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Biden will pick the reporters he’ll call on but he has no control over what questions are asked. He had a list of names in his hand of reporters to call on.
The pressure is on Biden to look presidential and commanding while being grilled by members of the media.
The president himself put in much prep work for the event, including holding a practice session earlier this week, CNN reported.
Biden has been known to be prone to gaffes and verbal slips – he’s referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as ‘President Harris.’ And, at 78, he’ll be watched for any signs of ill health, particularly after he tripped trying to board Air Force One last week.
Ahead of the long-anticipated event, the administration has taken a series of steps on potential hot button issues.
Biden announced Wednesday that Vice President Kamala Harris will led his policy efforts on the border, where a surge in migration has resulted in thousands of children being held in shelters, some without beds or enough to eat.
The administration has sought to blame Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump, for the problems while Republicans blame Biden’s decision to roll back some of Trump’s stricter immigration policies for the situation.
The White House has notably refused to call it a ‘crisis.’
The Education Department held a summit this week on reopening schools. And first lady Jill Biden, a teacher, has visited schools around the nation that have safely opened during the coronavirus pandemic.
The White House is also weighing executive action on gun control amid doubts about Congress’ ability to act.
Administration officials have spoken to some Senate Democrats about three possible executive actions, The New York Times reported: one would classify as firearms so-called ghost guns — kits that allow a gun to be assembled from pieces; another would fund community violence intervention programs; and the third would strengthen the background checks system.
Thursday marks Biden’s 65th day in office, a record for a modern president in waiting to hold a press conference.
The White House has been criticized for not holding a formal press conference and faced accusations about their accountability to the public.
Biden has taken questions from reporters informally at events and on the South Lawn of the White House.
The East Room of the White House set up for Biden’s first presidential press conference
But the previous record for a formal press conference was set by President George W. Bush, who waited 33 days before hosting one.
Most presidents – including Donald Trump and Barack Obama – hold a press conference in the first month of their administration. Trump held one on day 27 while Obama held one on day 20.
A CNN analysis of the past 100 years found Biden is behind his 15 most recent predecessors, who all held a solo press conference within 33 days of taking office.
