Biden Bits: “Will Continue”…

June 12, 2024 12:00 pm EDT Tiff Biden Tweets (Open Thread) Comments Off on Biden Bits: “Will Continue”…
Biden Tweets Logo. Image by Lenny Ghoul.

It’s Wednesday…

President Biden’s public schedule for 06/12/2024:

5:45 AMSupplemental Pool Call Time
6:30 AMThe President receives the President’s Daily Brief
Closed Press
7:25 AMOut-of-Town Pool Call Time Joint Base Andrews Overhang Out-of-Town Pool
7:35 AMThe President departs Wilmington, Delaware en route to Joint Base Andrews
8:25 AMThe President arrives to Joint Base Andrews
Joint Base Andrews
Out-of-Town Pool
8:35 AMThe President departs Joint Base Andrews en route to Brindisi, Italy
Joint Base Andrews
Out-of-Town Pool
11:00 AM
Press Gaggle		Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and Jake Sullivan Gaggle Aboard Air Force One
4:45 PMThe President arrives to Brindisi, Italy
Out-of-Town Pool
4:55 PMOfficial ScheduleThe President departs Brindisi, Italy en route to Fasano, Italy
Out-of-Town Pool
5:20 PMThe President arrives to Fasano, Italy

Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and Jake Sullivan Gaggle Aboard Air Force One (this could go three ways; replay, in progress, or just starting when the post is posted):

From the White House…

On-the-Record Press Gaggle by White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby Previewing the G7 Summit (teleconference):

Thanks, Eduardo. Hey. Good afternoon, everybody.

I think as you all know, tomorrow President Biden will be heading to Puglia, Italy, for the G7 Leaders’ Summit.

I want to start by just taking a quick step back to the President’s very first G7 in Cornwall. The leaders hadn’t been in person for years at that point because of the pandemic, and there was a real sense of relief in the room that America was back and actually leading at the table. And that’s still more true now than ever. The President’s message on that G7 in Cornwall was that we need to step up in solidarity and demonstrate that democracies can still deliver for our people and for people all over the world.

And for the past few years, we’ve done that in a number of areas. That includes in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which not only threatens democracy in Ukraine but actually affects security across the European continent as well, and also affects the post-World War Two international order that the President talked about very eloquently in Normandy last week.

At the G7 meeting later this week, our commitment to Ukraine will continue to be right up front and clear. We will take bold steps to show Mr. Putin that time is not on his side and that he cannot outlast us, as we support Ukraine’s fight for freedom.

First, we will announce new steps to unlock the value of the immobilized Russian sovereign assets to benefit Ukraine and to help them recover from the destruction that Mr. Putin’s army has caused.

On Thursday, President Biden and President Zelenskyy will sit down to discuss our strong support for Ukraine now and into the future. And following that meeting, both leaders, President Biden and President Zelenskyy, will participate in a news conference.

Throughout the last two and a half years, we’ve also stood up to Putin in other ways: imposing the strongest set of sanctions and export controls ever placed on a major economy; moving in lockstep to immobilize Russia’s sovereign assets to deprive Putin’s war machine of critical funding; and to enforce a price cap on Russian oil.

We’re going to continue to drive up costs for the Russian war machine. And this week, we will announce an impactful set of new sanctions and export control actions.

These actions will follow through on several of the commitments that G7 leaders have made to date. The actions will target the entities and networks that are helping Russia procure what it needs for its war. They will make it harder for financial facilitators, for instance, to support Russia’s defense industrial base. And they will further restrict Russia’s future revenues in key sectors.

Now, you’ll also see in Italy that the G7 is more unified than ever as we stand up for shared values, to tackle global challenges, and to renew our commitment to partners around the world that we will help them invest in bright futures for their people.

We will build on the progress we made last year on our shared approach to the Indo-Pacific as well, including by advancing an Indo-Pacific region that is free, open, secure, prosperous, resilient, and connected.

We will address the PRC’s support for the Russian defense industrial base. And we will confront China’s non-market policies that are leading to harmful global spillovers, working with partners in and beyond the G7 to promote economic resilience and security.

This year, President Biden will again host a side event that will highlight our positive value proposition to countries around the world via the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, or PGI.

We will continue to offer a path to help countries overcome unsustainable debt burdens, to boost the World Bank’s lending firepower, to mobilize additional capital for high-standard infrastructure investments, and to make new commitments on food and health security.

And as many of you saw, leaders will be joined by His Holiness, Pope Francis, for a session on artificial intelligence, among other topics. This will be an important moment for our countries to come together and develop our shared approach to harnessing the benefits of AI while at the same time managing the risks to our national security and impacts that it may have to our workforces and inequality.

The bottom line here is that President Biden believes we must continue to imagine, to event — invent, I’m sorry, and to inspire. And we are committed to investing in that vision with our closest allies. We are very confident that if we do, the United States will continue to lead on the world stage for generations to come.

So the President is very excited about getting over to Italy and having these important discussions at the G7. And I said — as I said earlier, you’ll all be able to hear directly from him and President Zelenskyy as well.

One last point before I turn it over to questions.

On behalf of the entire press team at the NSC, I want to congratulate Michael Feldman and his new bride, Wendy, who got married over the weekend in Virginia. Exciting time for them as they start a whole new chapter in their lives. And we wish them all the best and all the happiness.

As I’ve long noted and known myself, marriage is the only ocean for which no compass has yet been invented. And I think that’s one of the most special things about it. You start on a journey together; you don’t really know how long it’s going go and how far and how — and where you’re going to go. And I think that’s the exciting thing about it. And we’re all excited for Michael and Wendy.

And with that, we can take some questions.

On-the-Record Press Gaggle by White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby Previewing the G7 Summit (teleconference). 06/11/2024.

I omitted the Q&A.


Humanitarian Aid Tweet

From Tuesday…

Show more from the White House tweet =’s This new funding will provide food, safe drinking water, health care, protection, education, shelter, and psychosocial support. We remain committed to addressing the humanitarian needs of those affected by the crisis through all means necessary.

The State Department said on 06/11/2024:

The United States will provide an additional $404 million in lifesaving humanitarian aid to support Palestinian civilians in Gaza, the West Bank, and the region, bringing the total U.S. assistance to more than $674 million over the past eight months.  As the largest single country humanitarian donor to the Palestinian people, we recognize the urgent need for more assistance to reach civilians given the dire humanitarian conditions and call on all donors to support life-saving operations for Palestinians in Gaza and the region.

This new funding will provide essential support to vulnerable Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank and the region, including food, safe drinking water, health care, protection, education, shelter, and psychosocial support.  The United States remains committed to addressing the humanitarian needs of those affected by the crisis.

We urge other donors to contribute to the humanitarian response in Gaza and the region, increase support to those affected by the conflict, and work together to find lasting solutions to the crisis.

The State Department. 06/11/2024.

Everytown’s Gun Sense University Tweets

From Tuesday…

Remarks by President Biden at Everytown’s Gun Sense University; the YouTube is 23 minutes and 6 seconds long.

From Wednesday…

Folks, to Everytown and all the leaders and advocates here today, I want to thank you for the dedication to this vital issue you’ve shown.

And to all the survivors, veterans, families, moms who have turned their pain and your purpose into the loss you det- — and you’re determined to — to not focus on your anger but on what you can do.

Look, folks, you’ve helped power a movement that is turning this cause into reality — especially young people, who demanded our nation do better to protect us all — (applause) — who protested, who organized, who voted, who ran for office, and, yes, who marched for their lives.  (Applause.) 

From my perspective, today is about celebrating you.  You’re the reason I’m so optimistic about the future of our country, and I mean that.

Remarks by President Biden at Everytown’s Gun Sense University; the YouTube is 23 minutes and 6 seconds long. 06/11/2024.

Juneteenth White House Concert Tweet

From Tuesday…

Remarks by President Biden Hosting a Juneteenth Concert & Remarks by Vice President Harris at a Juneteenth Concert; the YouTube is 20 minutes and 47 seconds long.

Folks, Black history is American history.  (Applause.)  That’s why Kamala and I and our administration will always uplift it and protect it. 

Remarks by President Biden Hosting a Juneteenth Concert. 06/10/2024.

Port of Baltimore Reopens Tweet

From Wednesday…

France =’s Francis Scott Key Bridge.

I took a screen grab in case the White House replaces the post.

The White House social media intern is now trolling their bosses; they pinned the tweet with the typo…

The video clip is 59 seconds long.

It appears it was filmed on 05/28/2024, when President Biden met with; Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the Army Corps of Engineers Lieutenant General Scott Spellmon, and Deputy Commandant for Operations of the United States Coast Guard Vice Admiral Pete Gautier for an operational update on the Federal and State response to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.

From the White House…

05/29/2024:

06/01/2024:

06/12/2024:

Statement from President Joe Biden on the Reopening of the Port of Baltimore

I made clear that my Administration would move heaven and earth to reopen the Port of Baltimore – one of our nation’s largest shipping hubs. Today, thanks to the tireless work by the men and women in the Unified Command, the full navigation channel is now open to all vessel traffic, allowing a full return of commerce to the Port of Baltimore.

Within minutes of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, the U.S. Coast Guard arrived on the scene. They established a Unified Command the same day to support rescue and recovery operations, and worked with the Army Corps of Engineers around the clock to remove the wreckage from the channel.  My Departments of Transportation and Labor and the Small Business Administration worked hand-in-hand with federal and state partners to limit supply chain impacts and keep costs down for Americans, and to support impacted workers and small businesses. I want to thank Governor Moore for his steadfast leadership, Mayor Scott, County Executive Olszewski, and the Maryland congressional delegation. The partnership between federal, state, and local governments, labor leaders like the longshoremen who keep this hub running, and the business community shows what we can get done when we work together.

Our hearts remain with the families of the victims of the bridge collapse, and we will continue to stand with the community throughout this period of recovery. Thank you to the people of Baltimore for showing us what it means to be Maryland tough and Baltimore strong.  Baltimore can count on us to stick with them every step of the way, and we will continue to have your back until the bridge is rebuilt.

Statement from President Joe Biden on the Reopening of the Port of Baltimore. 06/12/2024.

Violent Crime Dropping at Record Levels Tweets

From Wednesday…

The FBI said on 06/10/2024:

FBI Releases 2024 Quarterly Crime Report and Use-of-Force Data Update

On Monday, June 10, 2024, the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program released the Quarterly Uniform Crime Report (Q1), January-March, 2024 and the National Use-of-Force Data Collection Update, March 2024, on the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer (CDE) at https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov.

The Quarterly Uniform Crime Report (Q1), January-March, 2024, provides a preliminary look at crime trends for January through March 2024 compared to January through March 2023. A comparison of data from agencies that voluntarily submitted at least two or more common months of data for January through March 2023 and 2024 indicates reported violent crime decreased by 15.2 percent. Murder decreased by 26.4 percent, rape decreased by 25.7 percent, robbery decreased by 17.8 percent, and aggravated assault decreased by 12.5 percent. Reported property crime also decreased by 15.1 percent.

National Use-of-Force Data Collection data was historically released on a quarterly basis, with each release building cumulatively throughout a calendar year. This cadence required the participation percentage to reset at zero every year. Beginning in January 2024, the participation percentage for the National Use-of-Force Data Collection will be determined using a rolling 12-month span. This change provides continuity in the participation percentage.

Information released from the National Use-of-Force Data Collection in June 2024 reflects data from 72 percent of the law enforcement population participating in the collection. The following is a breakdown of the types of use-of-force events reported from April 1, 2023, through March 31, 2024:

FBI Releases 2024 Quarterly Crime Report and Use-of-Force Data Update. 06/10/2024.
  • Death – 31.7 percent
  • Serious Bodily Injury – 55.3 percent
  • Discharge – 13.6 percent 

The number of incidents will be publicly released when 80 percent participation levels are met.

Statement from President Biden on Record Decrease in Crime in First Quarter of 2024

Violent crime is dropping at record levels in America. It’s good news for our families and our communities. Today, the FBI released preliminary data collected from over 11,000 law enforcement agencies around the country showing that, in the first quarter of this year, murders decreased by 26%, robberies by almost 18%, and violent crime overall by 15%. These large decreases follow major reductions in crime in nearly every category in 2023 – including one of the lowest rates for all violent crime in 50 years and significant declines in murder.

This progress we’re seeing is no accident. My Administration is putting more cops on the beat, holding violent criminals accountable, and getting illegal guns off the street – and we are doing it in partnership with communities. As a result, Americans are safer today than when I took office.

After we saw the largest increase in murders ever recorded during the previous Administration, my Administration got to work protecting the American people. My America Rescue Plan – which every Republican voted against – delivered $15 billion to cities to hire and retain more cops and keep communities safe. I took on the gun lobby and signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act into law, the most significant gun violence legislation in nearly 30 years. But there is more to do. I will continue fighting for funding for 100,000 additional police officers, and crime prevention and community violence intervention programs. Every American deserves to feel safe in their community – which is why I will continue to invest in public safety.

Statement from President Biden on Record Decrease in Crime in First Quarter of 2024. 06/10/2024.

From the White House…

06/11/2024:

06/12/2024:

BLS.gov: The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) was unchanged in May on a seasonally adjusted basis, after rising 0.3 percent in April, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 3.3 percent before seasonal adjustment.

I have noticed that our grocery store bill is coming down; things like beef are still priced higher than I’d like, chicken is suffering for stock having to be slaughtered cause of bird flu. But, on items that we typically purchase weekly, the prices are slowly (so very slowly) inching downward.

FWIW: Note that while you read or hear the pundits on TV talking about inflation; their sole reason for breathing is trying to tea leaf read the FED. The market and investors want the FED to slash the interest rate. The FED is unlikely to deliver on that any time soon.

The Federal Reserve is meeting today; Fed Chair Jerome Powell will hold a presser this afternoon following the meeting; safe bet is the FED keeps interest rates unchanged.

Yahoo! finance: Fed Chair Powell delivers remarks on interest rates and monetary policy @2:00 p.m. D.C., time:

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 2818 Articles
Member of the Free Press who is politically homeless and a political junkie.