Biden Bits: “Now & For Decades to Come”…

June 14, 2024 12:00 pm EDT Tiff Biden Tweets (Open Thread) Comments Off on Biden Bits: “Now & For Decades to Come”…
Biden Tweets Logo. Image by Lenny Ghoul.

It’s Friday…

President Biden’s public schedule for 06/14/2024:

1:30 AMOut-of-Town Pool Call Time

Out-of-Town Pool
2:00 AM
Presidential Daily Brief		The President receives the President’s Daily Brief

Closed Press
3:15 AMThe President departs en route to Borgo Egnazia

Out-of-Town Pool
3:25 AMThe President arrives to Borgo Egnazia

Out-of-Town Pool
3:30 AMThe President participates in Working Session IV of the G7 Summit

Closed Press
4:45 AMThe President holds a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Meloni of Italy

Out-of-Town Pool Spray
5:30 AMThe President participates in Working Session V of the G7 Summit

Closed Press
8:00 AMThe President participates in Working Session VI of the G7 Summit

Out-of-Town Pool Spray
11:30 AMThe President participates in a group photo with G7 leaders and Pope Francis

Out-of-Town Pool Spray
12:15 PMThe President holds a meeting with Pope Francis

Closed Press
12:45 PMThe President participates in the Closing Session of the G7 Summit

Closed Press
4:45 PMThe President departs en route to the San Domenico Landing Zone

Out-of-Town Pool
4:55 PMThe President arrives at the San Domenico Landing Zone

Out-of-Town Pool
5:05 PMThe President departs en route to Brindisi, Italy

Out-of-Town Pool
5:30 PMThe President arrives to Brindisi, Italy

Out-of-Town Pool
5:40 PMThe President departs Brindisi, Italy en route to Joint Base Andrews

Out-of-Town Pool

G7 Summit/U.S.-Ukraine Bilateral Security Tweets

From Thursday…

The video clip is 15 seconds long. There is no voice-over, just music. It shows the G7 leaders shaking hands and smiling.

Remarks by President Biden During Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment Event | Savelletri, Italy; the YouTube is 54 minutes and 56 seconds long.

Remarks by President Biden and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine in Joint Press Conference | Fasano, Italy; the YouTube is 29 minutes and 21 seconds long.

I’m very pleased to share that, this week — this week, the G7 signed a plan to finalize and unlock $50 billion from the proceeds of those frozen assets, to put that money to work for Ukraine.  Another reminder to Putin: We’re not backing down.  In fact, we’re standing together against this illegal aggression. 

Remarks by President Biden and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine in Joint Press Conference | Fasano, Italy; the YouTube is 29 minutes and 21 seconds long. 06/13/2024.

Background Press Call on the G7:

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:

 Yeah, thanks, everybody, for joining.  I’ll say a few words at the top on the sovereign assets, the (inaudible) deal, and then happy to take any questions that you have.

(Inaudible) — (in progress) — every G7 member that the situation on the battlefield remains difficult and that if the war continues, Ukraine is still going to have a large financial need next year and beyond, and that this summit is our best chance to act collectively to close the gap.  And it’s only fair that we close the gap by making Russia pay, not our taxpayers.  And we found a way to do so that respects the rule of law in every jurisdiction; it raises money at scale — $50 billion, to be precise, this year.  We’re going to move with urgency.  And we’re going to maintain solidarity, which has been our greatest strength.

But I would say, more fundamentally — and President Zelenskyy will probably speak to this in a couple of minutes here — this agreement is a signal from the leading democracies of the world that we’re not going to fatigue in defending Ukraine’s freedom and that Putin is not going to outlast us.

Let me just stop there.  I know you have questions, so please jump in

Q: Great.  Can I ask a follow-up question?  So can you walk us through some of the mechanics as they exist now?  Who will loan the money and how will it be backed up?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:

  Let me try to hit — I mean, I think I probably can guess some of your questions.  And they’re totally — they’re the right questions.

Okay, like, how did this get done?  I mean, honestly, the hard part is not so much the idea.  There are infinite ways to extract the present value of future cash flows.  That’s finance 101.  (Inaudible) diplomacy — the sausage making of diplomacy is hard enough domestically.  It’s an order of magnitude more difficult multilaterally.  But the President and Jake Sullivan really had leadership, and we executed across borders.

In terms of who makes the loan, we’ve said the U.S. is willing to make a loan of up to $50 billion.  We will not be the only lenders.  This will be a loan syndicate.  We’re going to share the risk because we have a shared commitment to get this done.

How will — I’ll just ask myself some questions.  Are we going to get repaid?  Russia pays.  So the interest — the income comes from the interest stream on the immobilized assets.  And that’s the only fair way to be repaid.  The principal is untouched for now, but we have full optionality to seize the principal later if the political will is there.  You’ll see a line in the communiqué that makes it clear that option is still on the table.

How will we know the assets are going to remain immobilized?  I mean, my answer to that is: Because leaders have committed to do so.  And they’ve also committed to seek approval from the full membership of the EU to get another blessing.  And I would say when you have a commitment at the highest political levels, technocrats act and technical details get worked out.

Let’s see.  What if there’s a peace settlement and the assets are no longer immobilized?  Well, look, a just and sustained peace is, of course, what we all want.  And G7 leaders have committed that the assets will remain immobilized until Russia pays for the damages it’s caused.  So if there is a peace settlement, either the assets stay immobilized and keep generating interest to repay the loans, or Russia pays for the damage it’s caused.  Either way, there’s a source of repayment.

And let me stop talking to myself and listen to you, if you have more questions

Background Press Call on the G7. 06/13/2024.

I just sniped the above.

According to ABC News full details of the plan will be “formalized in the communique at the end of the summit.”

Two and a half years ago, Putin unleashed a brutal war on Ukraine.  And it’s been a horrifying ordeal for the Ukrainian people that are so brave and incredible.  It also been a test t- — for the world: Would we stand with Ukraine?  Would we stand for sovereignty, freedom, and against tyranny? 

The United States, the G7, and countries around the world have consistently answered the question by saying, “Yes, we will.”  And we will say it again.  Yes, again and again and again, we’re going to stand with Ukraine. 

Remarks by President Biden and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine in Joint Press Conference | Fasano, Italy; the YouTube is 29 minutes and 21 seconds long. 06/13/2024.

From the White House; G7 Summit…

06/11/2024:

06/12/2024:

06/13/2024:

06/14/2024:

The video clip is 27 seconds long.

President Zelenskyy and I have just now signed that agreement between the United States and Ukraine.  Our goal is to strengthen Ukraine’s credible defense and deterrence capabilities for the long term.  A lasting peace for Ukraine must be underwritten by Ukraine’s own ability to defend itself now and to deter future aggression anytime in the — in the future. 

Remarks by President Biden and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine in Joint Press Conference | Fasano, Italy; the YouTube is 29 minutes and 21 seconds long. 06/13/2024.

FACT SHEET: U.S.-Ukraine Bilateral Security Agreement

On June 13th, 2024, President Biden and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy signed a historic U.S.-Ukraine Bilateral Security Agreement reflecting the close partnership between our two democracies. Today, the United States is sending a powerful signal of our strong support for Ukraine now and into the future. Through this agreement, the United States will work with our partners to strengthen Ukraine’s ability to defend itself now and to deter future aggression. By doing so, we will bolster Ukraine’s security, which is central to European security and to American security. 

More than two years after Russia’s brutal and unprovoked assault on Ukraine, today, President Biden is stating unequivocally that United States and its partners will stand with Ukraine as it fights for its freedom and for the principles enshrined in the UN Charter.

With the signing of this 10-year agreement, the United States and Ukraine will work together to:

FACT SHEET: U.S.-Ukraine Bilateral Security Agreement. 06/13/2024.
  • Build and maintain Ukraine’s credible defense and deterrence capability. The agreement lays out a vision for a Ukrainian future force that is strong, sustainable, and resilient. The United States and Ukraine will deepen security and defense cooperation and collaborating closely with Ukraine’s broad network of security partners. We will support the full range of Ukraine’s current defensive needs now and over the long term by helping Ukraine win the war and strengthening its deterrence capabilities against future threats. Together, we will expand intelligence sharing, enhance interoperability between our militaries in line with NATO standards, and work with our allies and partners to position Ukraine as a long-term contributor to European security.
  • Strengthen Ukraine’s capacity to sustain its fight over the long term, including by building on efforts to bolster in Ukraine’s defense industrial base, and supporting its economic recovery and energy security.
  • Accelerate Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic integration, including through Ukraine’s implementation of reforms to its democratic, economic, and security institutions in line with its EU accession goals and NATO’s program of reforms.
  • Achieve a just peace that respects Ukraine’s rights under international law, is underwritten by broad global support, upholds the key principles of the UN Charter, including sovereignty and territorial integrity, and includes accountability for Russia’s actions.
  • Consult in the event of a future Russian armed attack against Ukraine at the highest levels to determine appropriate and necessary measures to support Ukraine and impose costs on Russia.

This agreement, together with the mutually reinforcing security agreements and arrangements Ukraine has signed with a broad network of partners under the G7 Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine, is a key part of Ukraine’s bridge to NATO membership. As President Biden said in Vilnius last year and as NATO allies have agreed, Ukraine’s future is in NATO. We are not waiting for the NATO process to be completed to make long-term commitments to Ukraine’s security to address the immediate threats they face and deter any aggression that may occur.

The United States will continue to work a broad coalition of Allies and Partners to continue to impose costs on the Russian Federation so long as its aggression against Ukraine continues.

In 2024, the United States Congress appropriated $61 billion to respond to the war in Ukraine in a bipartisan show of support for Ukraine. To realize the goals laid out in this agreement and accompanying annex, the Biden Administration will work closely with the U.S. Congress to  build on the national security supplemental and develop sustainable levels of assistance to Ukraine over the long term. We will continue to with our allies and partners, including the 15 other countries that have already completed their own bilateral security agreements and the 16 additional countries that are negotiating agreements with Ukraine, to maintain a balanced division of responsibility and burden-sharing to meet the necessary capabilities for Ukraine’s future force.

We are sending the clearest possible message today: the United States stands with the people of Ukraine as they defend their freedom and democracy. Ukraine can count on the enduring strength of the U.S.-Ukrainian partnership.

FACT SHEET: U.S.-Ukraine Bilateral Security Agreement. 06/13/2024.

Reproductive Rights Tweets

From Thursday…

Show more =’s Women are being turned away from emergency rooms, or forced to go to court to plead for care that their doctor recommended or to travel hundreds of miles for care. Doctors and nurses are being threatened with jail time, including life in prison, for providing the health care they have been trained to provide. And contraception and IVF are under attack. The stakes could not be higher.

Statement from President Joe Biden on Supreme Court Decision on FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine

Today’s decision does not change the fact that the fight for reproductive freedom continues. It does not change the fact that the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago, and women lost a fundamental freedom. It does not change the fact that the right for a woman to get the treatment she needs is imperiled if not impossible in many states.

It does mean that mifepristone, or medication abortion, remains available and approved. Women can continue to access this medication – approved by the FDA as safe and effective more than 20 years ago. 

But let’s be clear: attacks on medication abortion are part of Republican elected officials’ extreme and dangerous agenda to ban abortion nationwide. Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Republican elected officials have imposed extreme abortion bans in 21 states, some of which include zero exceptions for rape or incest. Women are being turned away from emergency rooms, or forced to go to court to plead for care that their doctor recommended or to travel hundreds of miles for care. Doctors and nurses are being threatened with jail time, including life in prison, for providing the health care they have been trained to provide. And contraception and IVF are under attack.

The stakes could not be higher for women across America. Vice President Harris and I stand with the vast majority of Americans who support a woman’s right to make deeply personal health care decisions. We will continue to fight to ensure that women in every state get the health care they need and we will continue to call on Congress to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade in federal law — that is our commitment.

Statement from President Joe Biden on Supreme Court Decision on FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine. 06/13/2024.

Remarks by Vice President Harris on the Supreme Court Decision on FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine

So, before we get started, I just want to quickly address the Supreme Court’s ruling today on medication abortion.  This is not a cause for celebration, because the reality is certain things are still not going to change. 

We are looking at the fact that two thirds of women of reproductive age in America live in a state with a Trump abortion ban.  This ruling is not going to change that.  This ruling is not going to change the fact that Trump’s allies have a plan that if all else fails, to eliminate medication abortion through executive action. 

So, we must remain clear-eyed about the threats to reproductive freedom in America, and we must remain vigilant. 

And with that, I welcome all of you.  (Laughter.) 

PARTICIPANT:  Thank you.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And I am happy for us to get started.

Remarks by Vice President Harris on the Supreme Court Decision on FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine. 06/13/2024.

The Supreme Court decision PDF can be found here.

Statement from President Joe Biden on Senate Republicans’ Second Time Blocking Nationwide Protections for IVF

Once again, Senate Republicans refused to protect access to fertility treatments for women who are desperately trying to get pregnant. And just last week, Senate Republicans blocked nationwide protections for birth control. The disregard for a woman’s right to make these decisions for herself and her family is outrageous and unacceptable.
 
Republican officials have had every opportunity to protect reproductive freedom since the Supreme Court’s extreme decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, but they refuse to do so. Instead, Republicans’ dangerous, out-of-touch agenda is devastating women’s health and lives.
 
Vice President Harris and I believe that every woman should have the right to access the care they need, including fertility treatment, without interference from politicians. This is a basic issue of reproductive freedom, and we will continue fighting, alongside Democrats in Congress, until we restore the protections of Roe v. Wade in federal law for all women in every state.

Statement from President Joe Biden on Senate Republicans’ Second Time Blocking Nationwide Protections for IVF. 06/13/2024.

Antisemitism has no place in America Tweet

From Friday…

Show more =’s Antisemitism doesn’t just threaten Jewish Americans. It threatens all Americans, and our fundamental democratic values.

NBC News; Vandals deface homes of Brooklyn Museum’s Jewish leaders:


“New” from the White House…

06/13/2024:

06/14/2024:

This is an open thread

About the opinions in this article…

Any opinions expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this website or of the other authors/contributors who write for it.

About Tiff 3036 Articles
Member of the Free Press who is politically homeless and a political junkie.